City of Alexandria, VA

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Welcome to the City of Alexandria's 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 of the Arts works with local artists and arts organizations to build a vibrant community for all of the City's residents, workers and visitors.

Diane Ruggiero, Director

Alexandria's Creative Economy

Arts & Economic Prosperity IV

The Arts and Economic Prosperity IV study was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. Established in 1960, Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.

This study - the largest of its kind - shows that arts and culture is a $70.7 million industry in Alexandria supporting 1,774 full-time equivalent jobs, generating $38 million in household income to local residents, and providing $4.8 million in local and state government revenue.

Of the over 1,100 audience members who were surveyed, people who attend a cultural event spend an additional $19.21 above the cost of admission or tickets for items such as dining out souvenirs.

The Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study also shows that during 2010 4,284 volunteers donated 213,351 hours to local non-profit arts and culture organizations. This contribution has an estimated value of over $4,557,000 (the Independent Sector estimates the dollar value of the average 2010 volunteer to be $21.36).

To view the complete study, click here.

To view the national study, click here.

For a quick at-a-glance page, click here.

The City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts served as the lead study partner for Alexandria, one of 182 study partners in the United States. Special thanks to the 62 non-profit arts and culture organizations who provided all of the data for the study and for gathering 1,108 audience surveys and to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Alexandria Arts Forum for their support.

Local Arts Index

Launched in 2012, the Local Arts Index (LAI) provides a set of measures to understand the breadth, depth and character of the cultural life of a community. It provides a framework for relating arts and culture to community priorities and aspirations. Those community priorities may range from economic development and revitalization through jobs or infrastructure, or to youth, education or health concerns. As we know, most American communities regularly struggle with all of these challenges. The LAI can serve as a tool to frame questions about the roles or arts and culture in pursuing these priorities and aspirations, as well as show where a community may stand in relation to national norms.

To read the full report for Alexandria, click here.

To view the nation-wide study information, click here.

The City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts served as the lead study partner with Americans for the Arts and is thankful to all of the arts organizations who worked to provide the critical data necessary to complete the study.

Non-Profit Workshops

The Alexandria Collaborators (ACT for Alexandria, Alexandria Regional Council for the United Way of the National Capital Area and the City of Alexandria) are hosing a series of FREE workshops for local non-profit organizaitons sponsored by Brighter Strategies in celebration of their 5th Business Anniversary.

All workshops are FREE but advance registration is required. To register for an upcoming workshop, contact Office of the Arts: 703.746.5588.

All workshops are held at the Durant Arts Center 1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

8:30 am, registration and light breakfast
9 am - 10:30 am, workshop

Upcoming workshops:

The Basics of Program Evaluation

Wednesday, September 11th
Facilitated by: Dr. Margo Bailey

Strategic Communication

Wednesday, November 13^thFacilitated by: Dr. Dionne Clemons

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.

For additional information on the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, click here

Alexandria Commission for the Arts' Annual Reports: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

Grants Program

Each year, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts advises City Council on the allocation of City funds designated for the arts. Approximately $170,000 in funding is available to assist local artists and arts organizations. The goals of the grant program are to:

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:

Operating Grant
Program Grant

Congratulations to the 2013-2014 Grant Recipients:

For additional information, call the Office of the Arts/Durant Arts Center at 703.746.5588.

Internship Program

The Office of the Arts encourages 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 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.

For further information, contact Cheryl Anne Colton, Regional Program Director, Office of the Arts at: Internship Program, Office of the Arts, Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St., Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.746.5588 (office), 703.838.6344 (fax), or by email at cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov.

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.

Volunteer Application Form

Alexandria Arts Calendar

The Office of the Arts has partnered with the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association to bring you a City-wide Arts Calendar.

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.

Art in City Hall

Art in City Hall is a collaborative program of the Office of the Arts, the Alexandria Commission for 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

The following City Hall Exhibitions by appointment only, 703.746.5588.

Mayor's Office, Room 2331
Marge Holtz, Quilts, through July 2013

City Manager's Office, Room 3500
Tracie Griffth Tso, Mixed Media, through July 2013.
City Council Room, Room 2204
Stephen Schiff, Color Series, through June 28, 2013
Market Square Lobby
2013 Living Legends of Alexandira, Photographs by Nina Tisara, through March 2014.
Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, Fourth Floor
Eric Spiegel, Photographs, through July 2013.
Third Floor Gallery
Outloud Artists, Mixed Media, through July 2013.

City Galleries

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St.

Main Gallery:
Art Uniting People, Mixed Media, through July 2013.
Periodical Room:
F11, Photographs, through July 2013.

Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St.

Upstairs Gallery:
Tracie Wilkerson, Mixed Media, through June 28, 2013.
Director's Area:
Soomin Ham, Paintings, through June 28, 2013.

Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St.

Main Gallery:
Lillis Werder, Photographs, through September 2013
Community Arts Room:
David Ghezzi, Mixed Media, through July 2013.

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.

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.

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.

Reports & Research

Arts Organization Structure and Community Visioning Plan (Lord Report)

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.

Contact Us

Diane Ruggiero
Deputy Director,
Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activites
Office of the Arts
1108 Jefferson St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.746.5590
diane.ruggiero@alexandriava.gov

Donna Fowler, Chair
Alexandria Commission for the Arts
Durant Arts Center
1605 Cameron St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.746.5588
aca@alexandriava.gov

Activities are partially funded by the generous support of:

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