Update from Embracing Arlington Arts
Dear Arts Patrons, Aficionados and Supporters,
Spring will soon be here. But the ARTS will get us through these wintry days. To catch up on all the developments in the Arlington Arts scene, read on.
Embracing Arlington Arts Organization:
Our non-profit application has been submitted and now it is time to start moving forward on our major initiative – finally getting a performing arts/live music venue built here in Arlington. The Washington Post had an incisive article about the dearth of black box theaters in Arlington and the region overall – which certainly helps our case. In case you missed this article, here is the link.
To start the discussions, the Embracing Arlington Arts Board of Directors is convening its first in-person meeting on Saturday, March 2nd at 3:00 pm. If you want more information about this inaugural meeting, please email Janet Kopenhaver at janetk@eyeonwashington.com.
Also, Janet, Chair of Embracing Arlington Arts, was honored to participate in the Leadership Center for Excellence Arts day panel discussion. We spent quite a bit of time discussing the dearth of venues here in Arlington contrasted with the five that are being built in neighboring Virginia counties (two in Tysons, one each in Herndon, Alexandria and Falls Church).
Media Hits/Community Posts:
Arlington Arts organizations continue to take advantage of our subscription to ArlNow to allow them to publish a Community Post column for free. Columns published in the last several weeks were written by the Arlington Philharmonic (link to column), Educational Theatre Company (link), the Arlington Artists Alliance (link) and the Arlington Arts Center (link).
Strategic Planning Clinic:
In our effort to continually assist Arlington Arts organizations manage and run their business as successfully as possible, we hosted another quarterly Clinic – this one focusing on Strategic Planning. Nancy Murphy, Founder of CSR Communications, imparted her wisdom on the importance of Strategic Planning, some hints on getting started and best practices. Attendees also participated in a check list exercise that all organizations and their Boards should utilize when starting, discussing or continuing any planning initiative. At the end of the clinic, one lucky winner got a free hour of consultation with Nancy. Congrats to the Arlington Philharmonic for winning that coveted prize.
Many, many thanks to Nancy Murphy for giving her time to make this presentation and help the many non-profit arts groups that attended. Also thanks to the Gallery Clarendon for graciously hosting us!
Radio Show on WERA 96.7FM:
Over these past couple of weeks, we welcomed back to the studio several Arlington Arts organization representatives to catch us up on what has been happening with their groups. First, Susan Keady, the Artistic Director for Encore Stage and Studio talked about their upcoming shows, camps and more. The following week, Director Sam Nystrom and Lead Actress Becca Cooley talked about “Heathers: The Musical” being presented by Dominion Stage. Finally, Nucky Walder and Marcela Ferlito from Teatro de la Luna talked to us about their upcoming “Noche de los Boleros (Night of the Ballads) happening in Ballston on Feb. 16th.
We also talked to Jennifer Galloway, President of the Wolcott Hill Group that included her tips on fundraising for non-profit organizations, as well as some of the steps of the process associated with a capital campaign. We concluded the month with a very interesting conversation with Violist Uri Wassertzug who was performing with the National Chamber Ensemble at “The Romantics” concert being held just in time for Valentine’s Day.
To listen to these interviews, or any others in the past, follow this link.
2019 Arlington Arts Groups Performances and Events
February 2019
1/23-3/10 – Ain’t Misbehavin’, Signature Theatre
1/24-2/17 – Grand Concourse, Prologue Theater, Marriott Key Bridge Hotel
2/2-2/17 – Arsenic and Old Lace, Arlington Players, Thomas Jefferson MS
2/4-2/24 – Scripts in Play Festival, WSC Avant Bard, Gunston II
2/6-3/10 – Cyrano de Bergerac, Synetic Theater
2/16 – Adoration of Dora (Play Reading), WSC Avant Bard, Schnider Gallery of Art
2/16 – Night of the Boleros, Teatro de la Luna, NRECA
2/22-3/3 – Robin Hood, Encore Stage & Studio, Gunston I
2/26-4/7 – Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible…, Signature Theatre
March 2019
3/1 – Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Underground
3/8 – Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Clarendon
3/9 – Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and Bowen McCauley Dance Co., George Mason University’s Center for the Arts Concert Hall
3/12-3/13 – Devising Hope, Educational Theatre Company
3/16 – MOVE ME Festival, Bowen McCauley Dance Co., Kenmore MS
3/14-4/14 – Top Dog/Underdog, WSC Avant Bard, Gunston II
3/23 – The Viennese Classics, National Chamber Ensemble, Gunston I
April 2019
4/2-4/6 – Unforgettable, Cabaret Series, Signature Theatre
4/4-4/5 – Chronicles of Snoozeland, Educational Theatre Company, Tuckahoe ES
4/5 – Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Underground
4/5-4/12 – ArtFest, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Ft. CF Smith
4/8 – Play Reading, SigWorks, Signature Theatre
4/12 – Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Clarendon
4/25-5/19 – Dog Sees God, Prologue Theater
4/26-5/12 – Grand Hotel, Signature Theatre
4/27-5/12 – Curtains, Arlington Players, Thomas Jefferson Middle School
4/30-6/23 – Spunk, Signature Theatre
Embracing Arlington Arts 