Dear Arts Patrons, Aficionados and Supporters,
We hope everyone had a nice and safe Thanksgiving, and we wish you best wishes for the upcoming holiday season. We have lots of arts updates for everyone. Read on for all the details.
Calendar of Live Events (Subject to Change)
December – February
8/22-12/13 – “Passage” exhibit by Lynda Andrews-Barry, Arlington Arts Center
9/26-12/19 – “Solos 2020,” Arlington Arts Center
9/26-12/19 – “By Proxy,” Arlington Arts Center
10/1-12/15 – “Flattening Time” exhibit by David Carlson, Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, Appointment only: 703-495-1642
11/1-12/31 – “Illuminations,” Studio 10 Artists, Sterling Picture Framing 2103 North Pollard Street
2/1-2/26 – “Dreams and Nightmares,” Juried Exhibition, Gallery Underground
2/13 – “A Russian Valentine,” National Chamber Ensemble, Gunston Arts Center, Tickets here.
Calendar of Arlington Arts Organization Online Productions/Events
December – February
10/16-4/16 – “The Roost,” UrbanArias, Info here.
“Beethoven in Vienna” (available after 10/23), National Chamber Ensemble, Tickets here.
11/1-12/20 – “Dance for PD,” Bowen McCauley Dance Company, (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays), Sign up at dance@bmdc.org.
11/5-5/6/2021 – Signature Vinyl (Cinematic concert), Signature Theatre, Buy tickets.
“NCE Holiday Celebration” (available after 12/19), National Chamber Ensemble, Tickets here.
12/7-12/28 – “The Story of Walter” by Audrey Cefaly play reading, Signature Theatre, Watch here.
12/17 — Educational Theatre Company (ETC) and McKinley Elementary present “Royal Ribbit,” a student-written musical online! Check it out here.
1/15/2021 – Play Reading, “Monsters of the American Cinema,” Prologue Theatre, Info here.
2/8/2021-2/23/2021 – “One-Shot” by Andrew Rosendorf play reading, Signature Theatre, Watch here.
2/12/2021 – Play Reading, “The Whole Shebang,” Prologue Theatre, Info here.
To view the entire calendar, as well as the continuously streaming events, click here.
“State of the Arts in Arlington” Survey Results/Letter to County Board:
Embracing Arlington Arts just released the results of a survey covering the “State of the Arts” in Arlington. The results prove that this critical industry is badly hurting and the situation will likely worsen over the next six months. The organization forwarded this report, along with our “Arts Recovery in Arlington: Partnership Suggestions for the Arlington County Board” paper that offers a multitude of suggestions of ways we all can partner together to help keep artists and arts organizations in business and as healthy as possible when we get to the other side of this pandemic. Support is necessary as arts are and continue to be a crucial component of our healing process as we start to conquer this pandemic.
Arts organizations have had to lay off or furlough 15% of their full-time staff and 55% of their part-time staffs since the shutdown began in mid-March. Additionally, these numbers do not encompass the contractors and “gig” workers who lost most of their expected income due to projects being cancelled. All of the organizations surveyed experienced a loss in income due to COVID-19 and over half have lost 41-60% of their total expected income this year for a total of over $10 million. This does not include lost income expected in 2021.
However, we are proud to point out that these artists and arts organizations have continued their generous assistance giving back to the community and its residents in so many ways. From our younger generations to our seniors to residents with disabilities to those struggling with depression or mental illness, the arts can help us survive this pandemic and be stronger when we can all come together again. Examples are highlighted on the last page of the survey.
To read more, as well as get all the survey results, follow this link.
Arlington Chamber of Commerce Includes Arts in Policy Statement:
We want to send a thank you to the Arlington Chamber of Commerce which included a reference to their support and recognition of the importance of the arts in Arlington in their 2021 Local Policy Positions statement. Here is an excerpt:
Arts and entertainment businesses also account for significant economic impacts in their communities, and they have been particularly hard-hit by social distancing restrictions on groups and gatherings. Arts and entertainment are a source of employment in their own right, and have continuing economic impacts as patrons often support other businesses as part of their recreation activities, for example dining out before or after attending a performance or gallery event. The Chamber encourages Arlington County to support arts, entertainment, and recreation organizations and workers as they continue to contend with restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To read the entire document, click here.
Corporate Sponsor of the Month:
Our corporate sponsor of the month is the architectural firm HGA. This firm is a national multi-disciplinary design firm that stresses that the best design results from deep insight into the people and passions that animate each unique environment. More than 850 people in 10 offices from coast to coast work to make a positive, lasting impact for clients in healthcare, arts and culture, community, corporate, education, government and energy markets. They also have special expertise in theater and museum design, and they are currently working on the Capital One Tysons Corner Performing Arts Complex. To learn more about their architectural projects, check out their website.
“Embracing Arlington Arts Talks“ Podcast:
November saw a diverse set of guests on the “Embracing Arlington Arts Talks” podcast. First, we welcomed back Equity, Diversity and Inclusion expert Dr. Monica Almond who offered much critical advice and insight to non-profit organizations about embarking on a Diversity Strategic Planning process. Visual Artist Beth Hudgins updated us on a new collaborative she founded with 4 other artists – Studio 10 Artists. With new exhibitions every two months at Sterling Picture Framing in Arlington, the group’s work centers around a theme each time and care is made for all the pieces to fit nicely together.
Switching to another visual arts genre, Arlington photographer Lloyd Wolf gave us details about his career, projects, how the pandemic has impacted his work, and his many social justice documentaries including “Quarantine Diary” that covers the most emotional issues and events happening in our nation. Sticking with documentaries, we welcomed musician Ken Avis on the show to describe the extremely interesting documentary he co-produced entitled “Anacostia Delta” about guitarists Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan, as well as their unique style of playing and how DC was a music destination city.
To listen to any of our interviews, follow this link.
Media Hits:
Arts organizations posted Community Post columns in ArlNow through the Embracing Arlington Arts subscription. The Arlington Artists Alliance announced all the details about their 18th Annual Artful Weekend being held at Fort C.F. Smith. Prologue Theatre announced a new opportunity for the community to glimpse into the workshop process for new plays with its virtual program FOREWORD: A New Works Series in their column.
If you would like to support the work Embracing Arlington Arts by making a donation, here’s how:
* Make tax-deductible contributions online.
* Tax-deductible contributions by check: check made out to Embracing Arlington Arts and sent to Embracing Arlington Arts, 754 North Vermont Street, Arlington, VA 22203
Every dollar helps us help the arts organizations in so many ways. Thank you in advance!
Embracing Arlington Arts 