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Arlington Arts Newsroom

The Newsroom is where you can keep up to date with what’s happening at Arlington Arts. Read our press releases to learn more about our upcoming programs and see in-depth reviews in our In the News Section. For inquiries, please contact Jim Byers, Director of Marketing.

In the News

Reviews, articles, and news featuring Arlington Arts. View more in the In the News archive.

Groundbreaking DC Area Music Census to Strengthen Local Music Economy

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, with lead partners including Arlington Arts, has launched the DC Area Music Census today. The Census is a community-led initiative to gain a better understanding of the current needs of the Greater Washington DC-area music community and will capture key information to help make more informed, data-driven decisions to support the music ecosystem.

Nancy Holt's Dark Star Park

Recent efforts to protect and maintain nationally significant, yet threatened site specific artworks by notable women artists located in the public sphere remind us of the critical role of stewardship in sustaining artworks in the public realm, especially those by women who historically had been excluded from the commissioning of large-scale public art.

18 must-see art installations at Amazon’s headquarters in Arlington

Amazon’s second headquarters’ (HQ2) commitment to the National Capital Region has provided a unique opportunity for artists locally and around the world, and we’ve compiled the 18 intriguing installations from more than 25 artists. The commissioned art pieces span a range of genres, styles, and cultural influence.

Special Reports & Studies

(PDF, 2MB)Cultural Affairs Division (CAD) Strategic Assessment – Key Findings 2024(PDF, 2MB)
In 2023, Arlington Economic Development staff undertook a strategic assessment to address systemic budget issues related to the use of temporary staffing to support CAD operations. This involved outreach to arts groups and other stakeholders along with an analysis of facility usage. As a result, the short-term recommendations include modest operational and program changes. Longer term, there is a need to explore cost recovery models, arts policy and arts grants program refinements, and the Arlington County/Arlington Public Schools Joint Use Agreements. All the above will help to ensure that the Cultural Affairs Division can continue to deliver on its mission given available resources. The linked file includes the slide deck from a June 2024 Webinar to arts user groups. View the recorded webinar on YouTube. Read AED’s Strategic Plan.

A Framework for Arlington’s Cultural Spaces – (Full Report) (Executive Summary)
In 2016, the Arlington Commission for the Arts (Arts Commission) launched a broad and collaborative community effort to create a strategic arts and culture plan resulting in the Enriching Lives: Arlington Arts and Culture Strategy, To address one of the high priority strategies within Enriching Lives, a Cultural Facilities Task Force was established by the Arts Commission and charged with developing a framework to help Arlington plan for, invest in and manage existing and future cultural spaces and facilities to meet the ever-changing demands and interests of the Arlington community.

Arts Strategy: Enriching Lives – Arlington Arts and Culture Study(PDF, 5MB)
In 2016, the Arlington Arts Commission felt strong Arlington is at a critical juncture where the community needs to envision a different approach that addresses the changing dynamics of how arts and culture are distributed. Following a year-long study of the arts and culture ecosystem in Arlington, the Arts Commission developed a framework with clear identified goals goals and strategies meant to stimulate ideas and provide a foundation that will enable the County, Arlington’s arts community and others to develop specific tactics and work elements that focus and prioritize their commitment to —and investment in — facilities, programs and services. This document was adopted by the Arts Commission in 2017 and serves as the strategic plan of Arlington Arts (Arlington County Cultural Affairs Division.)

Arlington Arts Market Survey Recommendations
In Spring 2018 as part of the Arlington Artspace initiative the Arts Market Survey was conducted to determine if there is enough demand to warrant a new affordable live/work space for creatives in Arlington and if so, the nature of that space (type, amenities, features, size and affordability). This report details the findings from the survey.

Artspace Arlington Preliminary Feasibility Report
Artspace is a highly respected national arts-based non-proﬁt based in Minneapolis, MN. They work to harness the economic power of artists and the arts to revitalize transitioning or underused sites and create affordable, accessible art spaces. They have consulted with hundreds of cities across the country and developed dozens of innovative projects around the country and are now working with Arlington Cultural Affairs about creating such a space in this County. Following several community dialogues here in Arlington in February 2017, Artspace released this Preliminary Feasibility Study with findings on potential concepts, site analysis, financial analysis, local leadership and arts community impact.

View more about Arlington Artspace here.

Arts & Economic Prosperity 5
The most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever undertaken in the United States, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. Released in June, 2017, the latest findings show that the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $189.2 million in annual economic activity in the Arlington County, Virginia —supporting 5,156 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $13.9 million in local and state revenue.

Press Releases

View more in the Press Releases archive.

Lineup Announced for Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2024

The Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) and Arlington Arts are thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated lineup for the 2024 Rosslyn Jazz Fest (Saturday, Sept. 7 from 1-7 p.m.). As Arlington’s largest free outdoor music festival, it offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience innovative artists who infuse inspiration from many cultures in an expression of the area’s diversity.

Summer Concerts at Lubber Run Amphitheater!

“Magical… gives everybody the joy!” is how Billboard magazine describes JOSLYN & THE SWEET COMPRESSION the fast-rising funk-soul sensations who kick off the Free LUBBER RUN AMPHITHEATER Summer Concert Series, at 8:00 pm on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The Series runs June 8 through August 2, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 11:00 a.m. with special presentation times as listed.

Celebrating Women In Blues at 27th Columbia Pike Blues Festival

N.Y. Blues Hall of Fame Powerhouse Bette Smith Headlines All-Woman-fronted Lineup Celebrating Women In Blues at 27th Columbia Pike Blues Festival! This year the Festival celebrates women in blues with a lineup of all-women-fronted bands offering a full array of blues, R&B, and funk performers of national and regional note.

Arlington Arts News

News and announcements from Arlington Arts. View more in the Arlington Arts News archive.

Arlington County Names Courtney LeBlanc New Poet Laureate

Courtney LeBlanc has been selected as the third Poet Laureate of Arlington County. During her two-year appointment, the award-winning poet will serve as an advocate for poetry and the literary arts.

Kick Off Arlington Public Art's 40th Anniversary at Dark Star Park

An Arlington tradition for four decades, the public is invited to participate in Dark Star Park Day, on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, and watch the shadow alignment that the iconic sculpture was designed to capture.

Arlington Art Truck at 5 Years: Creating Community and Changing Lives

Not long after I began working for Arlington County, Arlington Arts launched the Arlington Art Truck: a bold new project to take curated and interactive visual art experiences out into the community to where people congregate. Five years in, the program has succeeded beyond our wildest expectations.

Arts Focus Articles in ArlNow

View more in the Arts Focus archive

“Let It FLOW!” installation promotes proper waste disposal

We’ve all heard the warnings: Don’t pour grease down the drain… don’t put batteries in the trash… But where do these items really belong? The Arlington Art Truck’s fall installation, “Let It FLOW!” by artist Scott Pennington, turns a classic bean bag toss into an educational experience, showing you the right way to dispose of common household waste.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with two exciting opportunities

Arlington, known for its vibrant cultural scene, offers numerous ways to embrace National Poetry Month every April. From captivating public art installations to engaging poetry competitions, Arlington is alive with literary fervor. The Moving Words Poetry Competition and the Poet is IN are two fantastic ways to immerse yourself in the celebration.

WTOP reporter Sandy Kozel expresses her creativity with TAP

Meet Sandy Kozel, the familiar voice behind WTOP 103.5 FM’s reporting and a cherished member of The Arlington Players community. By day, Kozel navigates the fast-paced world of broadcast journalism, lending her voice to the stories that shape our understanding of the world. Yet, it’s under the spotlight of Arlington’s theaters where she finds solace.

Arlington Arts Magazine

Arlington Arts Magazine Issue #1(Sept-Dec 2018)

Arlington Arts Magazine Issue #2: Art That Connects (Jan-Mar 2019) – view online or as a pdf

Arlington Arts Magazine Issue #3 (July-Dec 2019) – view online or as a pdf

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Contact Us

Arlington Cultural Affairs
3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington, VA 22206
Phone: 703-228-1850
Fax: 703-228-0805
TTY: 703-228-1855
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Arlington Cultural Affairs will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities upon request.