Dear Arts Patrons, Aficionados and Supporters,
We have some very exciting news to report in this Update about our podcast, as well as information about our October fundraiser, report on the Katie Cristol event and our updated three-month comprehensive calendar of Arlington arts and culture events.
Podcast Series Featuring Well-Known Artistic Directors:
We are so excited to announce a phenomenal series of podcast interviews that will be airing this winter with five extremely successful Artistic Directors from the top theaters in the DC region. Who are these guests? We could not ask for a more stellar cast: Molly Smith from Arena Stage, Eric Schaeffer from Signature Theatre, Chil Kong from Adventure Theatre, Ryan Rilette from Round House Theatre, and Maria Manuela Goyanes from Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. We will be chatting with them about their respective theaters, their views on the importance of arts and culture, their impressive backgrounds, their advice for those interested in theater management, and so much more.
Making this series even more valuable is that after all the episodes have aired, we will be offering the entire set to high schools in the region as a key resource for students interested in pursuing a career in performing arts. We have learned there is a dearth of insightful information for these students as they research these careers, so we aim to fill that gap with these critical interviews. Where else can such a wealth of information be found in one set of interviews? Our marketing goal is also to reach beyond the DC region as well.
But we do need your help….
The Embracing Arlington Arts October Fundraiser:
We have declared the month of October for our Embracing Arlington Arts fundraiser. 100% of the funds we raise will go towards our important outreach efforts, including our Artistic Director podcast series. Specifically, because of the far reach of the Artistic Director series, we will be using the services of a professional podcast consultant to assist us. There is also some additional equipment that we would like to purchase to exponentially improve the quality of our podcast recordings.
It is also our intention to apply for several grants to help us market our podcast series far and wide because of its unique educational element and fulfillment of a resource need for high school students interested in the performing arts field. As with most grants though, it is critical that we have matching funds for our initiatives. Raising funds for the consultant and equipment (mentioned above) will more than cover the matching funds requirements. Please follow the link below to make an online donation or send in a check today to help us fulfill our mission of “enhancing the vibrancy and health of arts and culture in Arlington.” No amount is too small….or too large!
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
“Meet and Greet” with County Board Member Katie Cristol:
We had a packed house for the “Meet and Greet” event with County Board member Katie Cristol during which she answered numerous questions about the arts in Arlington. In her opening remarks, Katie asserted that she believed the arts should have a presence in every department in our government. She added that arts supporters’ views should be a component of planning processes for all the sector plans considered by the County.
Several questions were asked about how the County Board can help the arts and culture industry. With respect to establishing zoning incentive for arts facilities, Katie responded that she was interested in this idea, but it would require more research. She added that as a County Board member, she wanted to look into exactly how the resources are being allocated for the arts and to weigh whether improvements could be made to have a bigger and more positive impact on the arts. With respect to the government, Katie admitted that the County is not “good with arts management.” Rather that role should be left to the experts. Where the government can help, she stated, was to help “raise the visibility of the arts” and to help create “partnerships” that could uniquely help arts organizations and artists in Arlington.
In conclusion, Katie stated that our cultural groups set us apart from other jurisdictions in the DC region and that this should be celebrated. She remains ready to work with the arts community to keep the arts at the forefront of discussions in all sectors moving forward.
Embracing Arlington Arts Podcast:
Our September podcast interviews focused primarily on fun and interesting events that were happening soon. The first was a chat with the curator of the Arlington Arts Center Blair Murphy about their upcoming new opening – “Assembly 2019” featuring 16 contemporary artists working in a range of media from drawing to painting to performance. Following that podcast was an interview with the founder of the wonderful non-profit organization Mother 2 Mother Lauren Feliz-Durishin. By producing biennial cabarets, M2M helps at risk women and children by raising funds for partner organizations that offer assistance to these populations.
Finally we rounded out the month with an interview with two visual artists – David Carlson and Melanie Kehoss – who updated us on the details about the Arlington Visual Artists Studio Tour. For the second year in a row, the goal of this event is to introduce scores of visual artists to Arlington residents.
To listen to these interviews, or any others in the past, follow this link.
Corporate Sponsor of the Month:
Our corporate sponsor of the month is the Fred Schnider Investment Firm and the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art. The Fred Schnider Investment Firm is a real estate 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 (4075 Wilson Blvd.), 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.
Media Hits/Community Posts:
Taking advantage of our subscription for bimonthly Community Post columns in ArlNow, the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art wrote about the satisfaction they achieved by opening the Gallery and offering quality exhibitions to residents. The Educational Theatre Company (ETC) followed two weeks later with a column about their unique film camps for local students.
2019/2020 Arlington Arts Groups Performances and Events
October 2019
9/21-10/20 – Transitional Objects, Artwork from Summer Camps, Arlington Arts Center
9/21-12/14 – Marissa Long Solo Exhibition, Arlington Arts Center
9/21-12/14 – Regional Biennial Exhibit, Arlington Arts Center
9/24-11/3 – Escaped Alone, Signature Theatre
9/25-10/20 – The Tempest, Synetic Theater
10/3 – Inside Signature: Catherine Flye, Signature Theatre
10/4 – Opening Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Underground
10/5 – Artist Talk, Melanie Kehoss, Fred Schnider Gallery of Art
10/11-10/20 – Frozen, Jr., Encore Stage & Studio, Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre
10/11 – Opening Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Clarendon
10/12 – Reception Places in Paper, Melanie Kehoss, 3700 Four Mile Run Drive
10/19 – Mozart Collection, National Chamber Ensemble, Gunston Arts Center
10/29-1/5 – A Chorus Line, Signature Theatre
November 2019
11/1 – Opening Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Underground
11/1 – Reception, Jason Horowitz Photography, Fred Schnider Gallery of Art
11/2 – ARTrageous Silent Auction, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Clarendon
11/2 – Dia de los Muertos Celebration, Arlington Arts Center
11/8 – Opening Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Clarendon
11/8-11/23 – Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, Dominion Stage, Gunston Theatre 2
11/9 – Splatter, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/9 – Forty+, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/16 – Local Motion Project, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/16 – Splatter, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/9 – New Compositions, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/19-11/23 – Soul Divas, Cabaret Series, Signature Theatre
11/22-11/24 – Artful Weekend, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Fort Smith
11/23 – Bailey’s Upper Dance Company, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/23 – Splatter, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/23 – Dance with Rachel Luebbert, Jane Franklin Dance, Theatre on the Run
11/24 – Fall Concert, Washington Balalaika Society, Kenmore Middle School
December 2019
12/3-12/21 – A Motown Christmas, Cabaret Series, Signature Theatre
12/3-12/29 – Snow Queen, Synetic Theater
12/6 – Opening Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Underground
12/6-12/15 – CSI: Christmas Scene Investigators, Encore Stage & Studio, Gunston Theater
12/9 – Play Reading, SigWorks, Signature Theatre
12/13 – Opening Reception, Arlington Artists’ Alliance, Gallery Clarendon
12/14 – Holiday Cheer, National Chamber Ensemble, UU Church of Arlington
To view the entire 2019-2020 Calendar of Events, click here.
Embracing Arlington Arts 