From left: Jennifer Wintzer, Artistic Director of Theatre; Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Co-Artistic Director of Dance; Bill Carson, Board President; Kelly Pollock, Executive Director; Shereen Fischer, Board Vice President of Programs; Kim Kuehner, Board Secretary; Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Co-Artistic Director of Dance.
COCA
The Building of St. Louis’ World Class Arts and Culture Ecosystem Written by Craig Kaminer
There are few arts nonprofits in the United States that are as successful, nimble, and adaptable as COCA -- Center of Creative Arts -- now the fourth-largest multidisciplinary community arts center in the country and a leader in innovative arts education -- anywhere. If you haven’t sent a child to a dance or music class, performance, summer camp, or a whole host of its programs that encourage creativity, you don’t know what you’re missing. Its artsbased events, training, and programming encourage people to see, think, and express themselves in new ways. With a focus on equity and access, COCA serves as a regional hub for learning in and through the arts for all ages from all backgrounds. One of the most diverse cultural institutions in St. Louis, COCA serves over 50,000 students, audience members, artists, and families from more than 220 zip codes across the St. Louis region every year. COCA is committed to supporting the vitality and creativity of more than 200 artists at the heart of its work in schools, 26 slmag.net
community centers, local businesses, cultural organizations, and on-site at its campus in University City. COCA’s story starts in 1986 with a small group of friends united by their ideals, big dreams, and an entrepreneurial spirit: Richard D. Baron, co-founder and chairman of McCormack Baron Salazar, a leading urban real-estate development company focusing on revitalizing neighborhoods throughout the United States, along with Dorothy Dubinsky, Mark Twain Bank, Robert Orchard, the Sachs Fund, and Trivers architects. Together, they transformed the vacated historic B’nai Amoona Synagogue on Delmar Blvd., at the entrance to the University City Loop as we now know it, into a communitybased visual and performing arts center. The idea: through the arts, COCA would serve as a bridge to connect people. And connect them it has. The transition of this architectural treasure from B’nai Amoona to COCA is a rich story with a consistent theme: providing a place to nourish the soul.
