June 26, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez

A music venue that has been in the works for several months is set to open next year in the Kaufman Arts District.

The Arc, the name of the 20,000 square foot concert hall, will open at 36-30 36th St. sometime in early 2019, according to its operators.

The site will hold live concert performances and will also provide space for artists to record audio and video, according to DMDNR, the name of the operating group.

The large space, expanding an entire block, will hold up to 2,000 people, and includes a sound stage, state-of-the-art acoustics, and studios with full sound and video recording capabilities, all within a building with a unique, arched ceiling. Both emerging and established artists are expected to showcase their music at the venue.

The site will also have a 24-hour cafe with foods from over 600 local food vendors. Musicians will also be able to access The Arc all day to rehearse, record music, and collaborate.

In addition, the space will be managed by Rich Pawelczyk, the former executive vice president of Webster Hall in Manhattan. Pawelczyk will be in charge of overseeing concert promotions, brand partnerships, and business development.

“During Rich’s tenure, Webster Hall became one of the leading concert venues of its size in the world,” said John Belitsky, founder and president of DMDNR. “His unparalleled ability to attract the most relevant talent in music—both established artists and emerging talent—couple with our attention to acoustical excellence—will make The Arc a world-class performance hall and incubator for talent, and create unforgettable experiences for fans.”

Pawelczyk said The Arc is poised to “fill a void” in the city’s music scene and in the industry.

“We’re already seeing a flood of initial interest among artists and sponsors,” he said.

The Dutch Kills site used to be a former sushi restaurant, and received Community Board 1 support back in May, according to the Queens Courier. The plans for the site were first revealed in 2017.

DMNDR, according to its website, is a “community of music lovers, photographers, filmmakers, musicians, artists, writers, curators and creators,” where artists use the DMNDR platform to share their work.