Arts in Alexandria
|
|
Saluting Alexandrians who have made
a significant contribution to the
cultural fabric of our community.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS:
Friday, February 10, 2012
5 p.m.
Nominations may be submitted online at:
http://survey.alexandriava.gov/s3/AlexAwards.
To receive a nomination form or to request
further information,please call the
Commission’s office at 703.746.5588
email aca@alexandriava.gov.
Alexandria Commission for the Arts
Durant Arts Center
1605 Cameron Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
|
Public Art Committee Vacancies
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts is
seeking volunteers to serve on the
Public Art Committee. Applications
must be received no later than 5 p.m.
on Friday, February 10, 2012.
There are three openings for individuals
who will represent the West End area
of Alexandria. Two openings are for
artists or arts professionals and one
opening for an individual who has
an interest in art.
Individuals who are interested in serving
should send a letter of interest and
resume or curriculum vitae to:
aca@alexandriava.gov or via postal mail to:
Alexandria Commission for the Arts
1605 Cameron Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
For more information, please contact
Pat Miller at (703) 258-4516
or e-mail: pmiller1806@comcast.net.
|
|
About Us
Office of the Arts
The Office of The Arts promotes the value of arts and culture in the City of Alexandria by nurturing, investing in and celebrating the creative contributions of artists and arts organizations. Through engaging the community, encouraging participation, and facilitating access to the arts, the Office strives to build a vibrant community for all of the City's residents, workers and visitors.
Alisa J. Carrel, Director
Cheryl Anne Colton, Regional Program Director, Durant Center
.jpg "Art Commisssion Logo")
Alexandria Commission for the Arts
The role of the Arts Commission is to provide leadership in the development of a vibrant and sustainable arts community that engages audiences, and to encourage support and appreciation for the arts as a cornerstone of Alexandria's identity and cultural, social, and economic vitality. To accomplish this mission, the Arts Commission administers City grant funds and arts programs; advises City Council on policy, funding and development needs for the arts; collaborates with partners on initiatives that further the development of, and participation in, the arts; and generally advocates for the arts.
The Arts Commission is composed of 16 citizen volunteers appointed to a three-year term by the Mayor and City Council. Meetings are held at 7 pm on the third Tuesday of the month at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center at 1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA. All meetings are open to the public.
- Pat Miller, Chair - aca@alexandriava.gov
- Donna Fowler, Vice Chair
- Ross Simons, Vice Chair
- Jeannie Hodges, Secretary
- Olivia Bambara
- Barbara Boehm
- Joshua Carpenter
- Leisa Collins
- Karen Conkey
- Sydney-Chanele Dawkins
- Richard Fowler
- Marla Howell
- David Martin
- Reba Winstead
- Margaret Wohler
- VACANT POSITION
Arts Commissioners | Committee Members | Panelists | 2011-2012 Commission Meeting Schedule
For additional information on the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, please call 703.746.5588.
Contact Us
BACK TO TOP
Services
Grants Program | Calls to Artists | Training | Internships | Jobs | Volunteers
Grants Program
Each year, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts advises City Council on the allocation of City funds designated for the arts. Approximately $180,000 in funding is available to assist local artists and arts organizations. This year's grants deadline was Friday, November 18, 2011.
Grants Workshops
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts conducted four grant program workshops on Tuesday, September 13, 7:00 pm; Thursday, September 22, 2:00 pm; Wednesday, October 5, 7:00 pm; and Wednesday, October 26, 2 pm at the Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St. The workshops provided information about the Commission’s annual grant program, which provides funding to non-profit arts organizations for various arts programs, and instructions for the on-line application process. All applicants including past grant recipients were encouraged to attend one of the grant workshops.
The Guide to Funding for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 and application forms for all grant programs are now posted HERE.
Grants Program Goals:
- Encourage artistic excellence in the City of Alexandria;
- Ensure that Commission funded arts programs are accessible to all;
- Assist Alexandria based arts organizations in improving their financial, administrative and management capabilities;
- Provide individual artists with opportunities to create, perform and present their works;
- Support the development of knowledgeable audiences by encouraging projects and programs to make the arts experience more rewarding and significant for its citizens;
- Encourage arts organizations to undertake activities to increase earned income and to develop new sources of revenue to reduce the percentage of City funds as a portion of their income; and
- Provide significant impact on the citizens of Alexandria and on the visibility of the Alexandria arts community.
Types of Grants:
- City Arts Operational Grant
- City Arts Project
- City Arts Technical Assistance Grants
- Special Opportunities Awards
Funded Partners for Fiscal Year 2011 - 2012:
Current Calls to Artists
Training
To be scheduled
Internship Program
The Office of the Arts and the Alexandria Commission for the Arts seek applicants for the internship program which provides arts management training for high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Interns assist with advancing the Office of the Arts and Commission's short and long-term organizational goals. Each intern will have the opportunity to develop a plan reflecting specific learning objectives relating to the intern's academic program. A flexible schedule (preferred hours from 8 am - 5 pm Monday-Friday) can be developed. Ten to thirty hours per week for two or three months is requested. Internships are available in the following three areas:
- Public Art Associate: the intern will assist in maintaining a public art inventory for the City of Alexandria; will track and research information for new public art to the City; prepare reports; and will assist with preparing grants for public art;
- Program Associate: the intern will work with volunteers in planning the annual Film Festival and Alex Awards programs, these activities include, but are not limited to, preparing timelines, writing press releases, drafting correspondence, and creating flyers and brochures; and,
- Research Associate: the intern will conduct local, state, regional and national research on arts related issues; this includes web-based research, soliciting information via email and telephone, writing reports and presentations based on the research, and sharing the findings through oral presentations to Committee, Commission or staff members.
For further information, call or write Cheryl Anne Colton, Regional Program Director, Office of the Arts at: Internship Program, Office of the Arts/Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St., Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.746.5588 (office), 703.838.6344 (fax), or by email at aca@alexandriava.gov.
Jobs
Volunteer
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts seeks volunteers with expertise in dance, literature, music, theatre, visual arts, arts education, arts administration, business, marketing, and fund raising to serve on its Committees and Resource Panels.
BACK TO TOP
Events & Programs
Arts Events Calendar | Alex Awards | Film Festival | Festival of the Arts | Poet Laureate
Arts Calendar
The Office of the Arts has partnered with the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association to bring you a City-wide comprehensive arts calendar. To view, please click on the link below. To add your arts events to the calendar, you must be a member of The Alexandria Arts Forum. For information on becoming a member, please send an e-mail: AlexandriaArtsForum@gmail.com.
Alex Arts Awards
 2009 Alex Arts Awards
Pictured: (L to R) Cheryl Anne Colton, Alisa Carrel,
Marga Fripp (award recipient), Mayor William D. Euille,
Ilona Savage (award recipient) and Pat Miller
Photo by Steven Halperson of Tisara Photography.
|
The 2011-2012 Call for Nominations will be posted soon.
On October 23, the 2009 Alex Arts Awards were presented to two individuals who have made a significant contribution to our City's vibrant arts culture. Marga Fripp, Empowered Women International, and Ilona Savage, Alexandria Performing Arts Association, are the recipients of the 2009 Alex Arts Awards. The awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Alexandria's "Taste for Giving." More than 300 people attended the event, held at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which included live music, silent and live auctions, tastings from several Alexandria restaurants, and the Alex Arts Awards ceremony.
Marga Fripp founded Empowered Women International (EWI) to address the isolation and cultural and economic barriers many immigrant and refugee women experience and help them promote their art and cultures and learn entrepreneurial skills. Each year, she helps more than 300 of these women, while reaching more than 1500 community members who participate in EWI's art programs.
Ilona Savage is credited with launching a new program for the Alexandria Performing Arts Association called ENCORE (ENtertainment Carried Out to the Retired and Elderly), which seeks to bring high-quality performing arts to elderly residents who lack the mobility to attend performances in one of the City's traditional venues. Through Ilona's efforts, the program has become one of the most vital new arts initiatives in Alexandria.
Mayor William D. Euille presented Marga and Ilona with a beautiful piece of ceramic art created by Blair Meerfeld and a brass star created by David Martin of Gold Works, each commissioned especially for the occasion. The Alexandria Commission for the Arts and Office of the Arts are pleased to recognize Marga and Ilona for their contributions to our community and for inspiring others to do the same.
Past Alex Award Recipients
The 5th Annual Alexandria Film Festival was held November 3 - 6, 2011 at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, Old Town Theater, The Athenaeum, Alexandria Black History Museum, Four Mile Run Community Center, and other locations throughout the City. Sponsored by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Office of the Arts, the Festival brought high-quality independent short and feature length films and documentaries, filmmaker panels, and arts presentations to Alexandria, Virginia. More than 200 volunteers made this event possible. For more information, please visit AlexandriaFilm.org.
Poet Laureate
The City's Poet Laureate, Amy Young, was appointed in April, 2010 by City Council. She was selected from a pool of applicants by a panel of residents, writers and educators who recommended her to City Council. As Poet Laureate, Ms. Young will promote an appreciation of poetry, encourage creative writing and reading, and promote literacy through poetry. Ms. Young is currently working on three projects: creation of a Poetry Slam Team, a multicultural writing and translation workshop entitled "Poems and Memories of Home" and a free Writers Workshop. If you are interested in volunteering for the Poet Laureate program or have ideas that you would like to share with Ms. Young, please e-mail: poet@alexandriava.gov.
Dog Days of August
Residents of Alexandria were invited to write poems honoring current or past dogs in their lives. Poems were displayed at The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter and Alexandria’s 6 enclosed dog parks. The Alexandria Gazette also published 2 poems a week. The Alexandria Library also participated.
Arlandria Young Poets Club Workshop
For 2 hours each morning, from August 1-5, eight 9-12 year olds gathered at the Tenants and Workers United building in Arlandria to translate poetry by Hispanic authors into English. The students also wrote their own poems in Spanish or English and in some cases, translated their poems and each other’s poems into Spanish or English. They performed their poems in a Poetry Flash Mob at Del Ray’s First Thursday on August 4th. Pat Miller arranged for a sign as well as gift certificates to Artfully Chocolate.
Youth Arts Festival
Elementary student poet laureate Eileen Powell read 3 of her poems. Kids were invited to create poems on recycled cereal boxes.
Jean Elliott, a 78-year-old Alexandria resident, was the first Poet Laureate for the City. The Alexandria City Council appointed Ms. Elliot "Poet in Residence" and honored her by placing a plaque on her South Fairfax Street home in 1979. She passed away in 1999.
BACK TO TOP
Public Art
Projects | Art in City Hall | City Galleries Program | Collection
Projects
- Charles Houston Memorial Public Art Project
- Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery
- Police Memorial
- The Alexandria Police Foundation is assisting in the effort to raise private funds to construct the Memorial. To contribute to the Alexandria Police Memorial, please send your check in any amount to:
- Alexandria Police Foundation - Police Memorial
c/o Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co.
Attention: C.K. Collum, Jr., Treasurer
P.O. Box 268
Alexandria, VA 22313
Checks should be made payable to the Alexandria Police Foundation
- Concepts:
Art in City Hall
Art in City Hall is a collaborative program of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the Office of the Arts, The Art League, Del Ray Artisans and the Torpedo Factory Arts Center.
City Hall, 301 King St.
Monday through Friday, 8 am-5 pm
- Second Floor
Bi-Annual Art in City Hall Juried Exhibition through December 17, 2011. New Exhibit March 24, 2012 through September 15, 2012.
Exhibition is a partnership between the Art League and the Alexandria Commission for the Arts with the following participating arts organizations: Del Ray Artisans and the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
The following City Hall Exhibitions by appointment only, 703.746.5588.
- Mayor's Office, Room 2331
Polk Elementary School students Norman Rockwell-inspired "Saturday Evening Polk" photographs, through January 2012.
Jail Exhibit sponsored by The Public Safety Center and The Sheriff's Office - January 2012 through June 2012.
- City Manager's Office, Room 3500
Robert Keating, wildlife photography, through January 2012.
- City Hall, Employee Lounge, Fifth Floor
Regina Barker-Barzel, paintings, through January 2012.
- City Council Room, Room 2204
Linda Bankerd, paintings, through January 2012.
- Planning and Zoning Office, Room 2100
Charles Whitesone, paintings, through June 2012.
- Market Square Lobby
Living Legends of Alexandria, photographs by Nina Tisara, through March 2012.
- Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, Fourth Floor
Gary Meus, photography, through July 2012.
- Third Floor Gallery
Growing Panes, Restored Windows, through June 2012.
City Galleries
Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St.
- Foyer: Rick Jones, bust sculptures, through January 2012.
Kimberly Bush, ceramics, January 2012 through June 2012.
- Main Gallery: Art Uniting People: A Celebration of Creativity and Mental Health, Mental Health Anti-Stigma Hope Campaign is a partnership between the Community Services Board, the City's Therapeutic Recreation Program, the Alexndria Office of the Arts and the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, through January 2012.
Carol Dupre, paintings, January 2012 through June 2012.
- Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St.
- Upstairs Gallery: David Camero, paintings, through June 2012.
Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St.
- Main Gallery: Nina Tisara and Stephen Halperson, photographs, through February 2012.
Living Legends, Three Years of History, February 2012 through June 2012.
- Community Arts Room: Ryan Schering, paintings, through June 2012.
For additional information about the City Galleries program, or if you are a visual artist and want to exhibit your work, call the Office of the Arts at 703.746.5588 or email images (media and sizes) to aca@alexandriava.gov.
Public Art Collection
BACK TO TOP
Venues
The Alexandria Harmonizers have developed a Catalog of Performing Arts Venues in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area to provide a source of information for performing arts organizations seeking performance space. The Catalog is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible venues. Many churches, for example, are used by performing arts groups, but are not included in this edition of the catalog. Thank you to the Alexandria Harmonizers for providing this valuable tool.
These Alexandria sites, many of whom are listed in the Catalog, offer exhibit and/or performance space. The Office of the Arts manages the Durant Community Arts Center which is available for rehearsals, performances, meetings, classes and special events. For more information follow the links below.
Alexandria Black History Museum
Athenaeum
The Birchmere
Bishop Ireton's Whaley Auditorium
Carlyle House
Convergence
Durant Arts Center
Episcopal High School Auditorium - Ainslie Arts Center
Fort Ward Amphitheatre
Gadsby's Tavern
George Washington Memorial Masonic Temple
The Lab at Convergence
Landmark Mall
Lee Center Kauffman Auditorium
Lee-Fendall House
Lloyd Museum
Lyceum
Market Square
Nicholas Colasanto Center (managed by the Del Ray Artisans)
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub
Torpedo Factory Art Center
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Many houses of worship also offer performance space.
BACK TO TOP
News & Information
eNews | Press Releases | Policies | Reports & Research | National Arts and Humanities Month
 |
Stay informed with eNews!
To receive information about Department programs, special events, community meetings, and more, update your subscription or subscribe to eNews by visiting enews.alexandriava.gov. |
Press Releases
5th Annual Alexandria Film Festival is Seeks Entries - Deadline for submissions is July 15 (May 16, 2011)
City of Alexandria Hosts 34th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival on Monday, May 30 (May 16, 2011)
2011 Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment (May 16, 2011)
Public Meeting for Charles Hamilton Houston Memorial Set for April 21 (April 12, 2011)
City of Alexandria Celebrates April as National Poetry Month (March 24, 2011)
Artwork Concepts on Public Display for the Mark Center Transportation Center (March 23, 2011)
“Meet the Artists” Reception to Honor the Finalists for the Charles Hamilton Houston Memorial on April 2 (March 22, 2011)
Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library Call for Entries 2011 - 2014 (March 7, 2011)
Alexandria Art Organizations Are Invited To Participate in a Local, Regional and National Arts Study (March 7, 2011)
City of Alexandria Announces 2010 Holiday Concert Series (November 11, 2010)
City of Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeking Volunteers to Serve on Resource Panels (November 9, 2010)
Fourth Annual Alexandria Film Festival Adds "Race to Nowhere" to Critically Acclaimed Lineup (October 26, 2010)
City of Alexandria Seeks Artist Proposals to Exhibit Work in City Galleries (October 15, 2010)
Fourth Annual Alexandria Film Festival Opens Thursday, November 4 (October 7, 2010)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Announce Finalists for the Police Memorial (September 20, 2010)
City of Alexandria Film Festival Seeks Entries (June 10, 2010)
City of Alexandria Voted Third Best Arts Destination Among Mid-Size Cities in the Nation
City of Alexandria Names Amy Young as New Poet Laureate (April 22, 2010)
City of Alexandria Searches for Poet Laureate (November 16, 2009)
"Tea and Talk" Sharing Alexandria's Parker-Gray and Civil Rights Stories (November 16, 2009)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeks Public Art Committee Members (October 22, 2009)
2009 Alex Arts Awards Announced (October 21, 2009)
Third Annual City of Alexandria Film Festival Features Local and International Artists (September 19, 2009)
Call for Artists Announced for Alexandria Police Memorial (September 3, 2009)
Grant Workshops Scheduled for On-Line Grant Applications for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 (September 1, 2009)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeks Nominations for the 2009 Alex Arts Awards (August 31, 2009)
Call for Artists Announced for Charles Hamilton Houston Memorial (August 18, 2009)
City to Hold Community Meeting on Alexandria Police Memorial on July 28 (July 17, 2009)
Juneteenth Film and Music Celebration: "Come Walk in My Shoes" Film and Gospel Choir Concert (June 1, 2009)
"Tea and Talk" Sharing Alexandria's Civil Rights History (June 1, 2009)
Torpedo Factory Art Center's Target Gallery Special Event (May 21, 2009)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeks Public Comment on a Mural to Be Hung in the Future Alexandria Soft Playroom (May 8, 2009)
April 30 Is Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day (April 23, 2009)
Alexandria Film Festival Seeks Entries (April 23, 2009)
2008 Holiday Concert Schedule Announced for Historic Old Town Alexandria (November 21, 2008)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeks Applicants To Serve on Arts Resource Panels (November 10, 2008)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Announces Call for Special Opportunity Award Applications (November 3, 2008)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Announces 2008 Alex Awards Recipients (October 17, 2008)
Commission for the Arts Grant Workshops Scheduled for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 (September 19, 2008)
City of Alexandria Hosts Reel Politics: Second Annual Alexandria Film Festival (September 17, 2008)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeks Nominations for 2008 Alex Awards (July 25)
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Revisions to the Acquired Art Policy (July 18, 2008)
Policies
Policy on Acquired Art
Reports & Research
Alexandria Commission for the Arts' Annual Reports: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
Arts & Economic Prosperity Study III
Arts Organization Structure and Community Visioning Plan (Lord Report)
Torpedo Factory Art Center Efficiency and Productivity Study by Management Analysis, Inc.
National Arts and Humanities Month
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts and Office of the Arts join thousands of arts organizations and communities across the nation in celebrating National Arts and Humanities Month throughout October with activities that honor the efforts of artists, historians, teachers, and cultural groups working to make the arts and humanities a part of everyone's life. Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts and national coordinator of Arts and Humanities month, says, "Everyone recognizes the creative and cultural value of the arts and humanities. National Arts and Humanities Month offers us a chance to celebrate the often overlooked economic, educational, and civic engagement values that the arts impart in our daily lives."
Please join us in the country's largest annual collective celebration of the arts and humanities.
BACK TO TOP
Donate
Arts Commission Donation Account
Contributions may be unrestricted or designated to support a specific program such as: Annual Grants Program, Charles Houston Public Art Project, Police Memorial, Alex Awards, Alexandria Film Festival, Art Chats, Poet Laureate Program, Arts in City Hall and City Galleries Program. Your gift in any amount is appreciated. Donations may be mailed to Office of the Arts, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
We thank our current donors for their generous support.
BACK TO TOP
Links
Alexandria Arts Forum
Americans for the Arts
Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
National Arts Strategies
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
National Endowment for the Arts
Virginia Alliance of Local Arts Agencies
Virginia Commission for the Arts
Virginians for the Arts
BACK TO TOP
Contact Us
Alisa Carrel
Deputy Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Office of the Arts
1108 Jefferson St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.746.5590
alisa.carrel@alexandriava.gov |
Cheryl Anne Colton
Regional Program Director
Office of the Arts
Durant Arts Center
1605 Cameron St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.746.5565
cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov |
Pat Miller
Chair
Alexandria Commission for the Arts
1108 Jefferson St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.746.5588
aca@alexandriava.gov
|
Activities are partially funded by the generous support of:
.jpg "VCA_Logo")
.jpg "NEA_Logo_sm")
Search
City of Alexandria, VA
GMail
Yahoo! Mail
AOL Mail
Hotmail
My Email
Facebook
Twitter