Director
Jamal Toye
Producer
Jason Biehl
Editor
Jamal Toye
Consulting Editor
Co-Editor
Assistant Editor
Cinematographer
Additional Cinematography
Music
Sound
Narration
Contact
Centered on the now-vanished warehouse at 411 New York Avenue NE, the film chronicles the history and legacy of Union Arts DC—a vibrant artist hub that from 2012 to 2016 was home to visual artists, musicians, performers, and dreamers. Through archival footage, intimate interviews, and the voices of artists who worked and performed there, the documentary captures the spirit of a space where art thrived and community flourished—until developers arrived with plans for a boutique hotel. MAKING SPACES: THE LEGEND OF UNION ARTS provides insight into the significance of art spaces to the city’s creative community and contemplates what’s still at stake in the future of DC’s cultural landscape.
Jamal Toye is a non-fiction filmmaker and video producer, born and based in Washington, D.C. He previously served as associate producer and story editor for Black Fire: The Documentary, which won best historical documentary short film at the Baltimore International Black Film Festival and Best Short Film at the Prince George’s Film Festival in 2022.