Dear Arts Patrons, Aficionados and Supporters,
Embracing Arlington Arts hit the ground running in 2021 and we have lots to report. As always, please let us know if you have any questions.
2021 Arlington Arts Groups Performances and Events
Calendar of Live Events (Subject to Change)
February – April
1/21-3/19 – “Magnolia” exhibit by Nekisha Durrett, Cody Gallery, Info here.
2/1-2/26 – “Dreams and Nightmares,” Juried Exhibition, Gallery Underground
2/13 – “A Russian Valentine,” National Chamber Ensemble, Gunston Arts Center, Tickets here.
3/20 – “Hungarian Delicacies,” National Chamber Ensemble, Gunston Arts Center, Tickets here.
3/20 – “Spring Virtual Performance,” Bowen McCauley Dance Company, Info here.
Calendar of Arlington Arts Organization Online Productions/Events
10/16-4/16 – “The Roost,” UrbanArias, Info here.
“Beethoven in Vienna” (available after 10/23), National Chamber Ensemble, Tickets here.
11/1-2/20 – “Dance for PD,” Bowen McCauley Dance Company, (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays), Sign up at dance@bmdc.org.
11/5-5/6 – “Signature Vinyl,” Signature Theatre, Tickets here.
“NCE Holiday Celebration” (available after 12/19), National Chamber Ensemble, Tickets here.
2/2-3/26 – “Simply Sondheim,” Signature Theatre, Tickets here.
2/8-2/23 – “One-Shot” by Andrew Rosendorf play reading, Signature Theatre, Watch here.
2/12 – Play Reading, “The Whole Shebang,” Prologue Theatre, Info here.
3/12 – Play Reading, “Webster’s Bitch,” Prologue Theatre, Info here.
3/27-3/28 – “Japan Day,” Study Japanese Arlington, Info here.
4/5/2021-4/27 – “Light” by Jarrin Davis play reading, Signature Theatre, Watch here.
To view the entire calendar, as well as the continuously streaming events, click here.
Embracing Arlington Arts Launches 3-Year Strategic Plan
This week we released a 3-year Strategic Plan. As we enter this critical winter, spring and even early summer when few arts organizations will be able to restart their earning revenue activities, the role of Embracing Arlington Arts as a resource, leader, educator, and facilitator is even more pronounced and critical. Therefore, the Board believed it was necessary for us to prioritize initiatives and identify those that can most help artists and arts organizations through the development of our own strategic plan.
Embracing Arlington Arts aims to keep supporting and highlighting these artists and organizations through weekly podcasts, identification of financial assistance, reopening guidance, marketing events, arranging for experts to address the groups, and more. The organization also pledges to keep educating government leaders and the corporate sector about the importance of supporting the arts and culture industry.
The plan is comprised of four primary goals:
Goal #1: Build the case for proving that the arts are central and beneficial in three sectors (seniors, disabled and students) of our community by developing and publicizing a database of studies, anecdotes, and data.
Goal #2: Embracing Arlington Arts is an effective arts advocate with more resources and with a recognized broad base of grassroots support.
Goal #3: Embracing Arlington Arts’ proposed recommendations are adopted by County decisionmakers.
Goal #4: Public-private partnership is obtained in support of a new performing arts/black box venue.
Several strategies will be pursued to attain these goals. One of the primary initiatives is to compile a comprehensive database, along with testimonials and anecdotes, about the benefits of arts and culture on three sectors of our community: seniors, students and the disabled. We are seeking personal stories so please contact us if you want to share your own story.
The 2020 Embracing Arlington Arts Annual Report of Successes
During 2020, Embracing Arlington Arts (EAA) was extremely busy and achieved numerous successes to achieve its mission to advance the vibrancy and health of the arts and culture in Arlington through advocacy and awareness programs, outreach initiatives and projects that enhance equitable access to the arts and cultural environment. The onset of the pandemic and shutdown made our work even more critical for arts organizations. Our efforts would not be possible without the generous support of our corporate sponsors and individual donations. Here is our 2020 Annual Report of Successes.
Corporate Sponsor of the Month:
Our corporate sponsor of the month is the Fred Schnider Investment Group – a real estate investment and development firm specializing in urban and suburban mixed-use and residential properties. Since 1940, the company has been building beautiful and thriving communities in the Washington, DC area and have always been committed to creating places that attract new opportunity and limitless possibility. The Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, located in Ballston’s Liberty Center, showcases the work of local artists to the community. Driven by the important cultural role that the art community contributes to the quality of our lives, the Gallery is a creative space where artists and those who love art can come together. Their new exhibit “Material Reality” is open and available to view by appointment only. Call the gallery at 301.852.8042 to schedule your tour.
“Embracing Arlington Arts Talks” Podcast:
Continuing our aim to keep the arts and culture visible during the pandemic, we hosted several performing arts professionals on our weekly podcast during January. First, we brought in actor Judy Lewis and Stage Manager Shayne Gardner to give us the details about the live stream remount of Dominion Stage’s successful production of “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove.
The next two podcasts focused on the opera scene. First, we met the new Executive Director of UrbanArias Anne-Carolyn Bird who updated us on what the organization has been doing, her goals as Executive Director and a bit about her background. We then had a very interesting chat with the Artistic Director of Opera Nova Jose Sacin who gave us details on their exciting six-month concert series for children, seniors and everyone in between.
We returned to the theater stage with playwright AJ Campbell and actor Cameron Lee Coplan who talked about the new collaborative The Quarantine Players which was helping many playwrights get their works read and performed.
To listen to any of our interviews, follow this link.
Media Hits:
Several arts organizations took advantage of our Community Post subscription with ArlNow to promote their events. Signature Theatre gave all the details about their exciting upcoming season of digital events. Jane Franklin Dance published a column about their “Sense of Place Rhythm and Sound” performance at the Athenaeum.
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 