Taiwanese Folk Dancers

Services to Artists and Arts Organizations 

Arlington is proud of the vitality and quality of its arts community. Local artists and arts organizations provide over 3,000 arts events in theatres, galleries, schools, recreation centers, senior centers, parks and urban plazas each year. The Arlington Cultural Affairs Division provides services that are focused on building a strong arts community responsive to the diverse interests of Arlington's citizens.

Artists and arts organizations may apply for services, funding and facilities for creating and presenting arts events through the Arlington's competitive grants program. Open studios can be used by artists for a nominal enrollment fee. 

Facilities
The Arlington Cultural Affairs Division's facilities include theatres, exhibition sites, rehearsal rooms, office space, meeting rooms, set and costume construction shops, open studios for ceramics and printmaking, and a tile works.

Technical Production Assistance
Professional staff is available to assist supported arts organizations in theatre production, set and costume design and construction, and lighting and sound design.   Support is available through an annual application process administered by the Arlington Commission for the Arts. For more information call
703-228-1845 or email Hal Crawford, Technical Director

Technical jobs available in the area can be found at the following websites:  

 http://dc-theatertech.markandruss.com

 http://www.udel.edu/usittchesapeake/jobs.html      

Photos by Michael Lutzky

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Costume Collection
 

The Arlington County Costume Shop offers an astounding 10,000+ costumes and accessories for use by Arlington arts groups and for rental to other arts organizations.   We no longer rent costumes or costume pieces to individuals.  Costume Rental Policy.

The vast collection includes virtually all historical periods from ancient times to modern day. In addition to the collection, Cultural Affairs operates a fully equipped costume shop with an industrial dye vat. The shop staff provides costume design, construction and coordination services to supported groups through the grants process.  This is a highly valuable resource without which many groups would not be able to costume their tightly budgeted shows.

 For more information call 703-228-6974, or email the Costume Shop.

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Funding
Arlington County offers grants on a competitive basis to Arlington artists and arts organizations. Both general operating and project support is available through an annual application process administered by the Arlington Commission for the Arts. Deadlines for grants submissions are in January each year.

Marketing/Audience Development
The Arlington Cultural Affairs Division markets and publicizes all of the arts activities offered in Arlington County, and provides staff assistance to artists and arts organizations upon request.  This website provides a calendar of events, the "Arlington Artsletter", a monthly email newsletter that can also be viewed on this website, visual arts exhibitions, and an overview of the arts scene in Arlington.  Most of the Arlington arts organizations have websites. The 24 hour Arlington Artsline at 703-228-6966 provides a weekly calendar of the arts in Arlington.

Master Classes and Artist Workshops
To enhance artists' skills, the Cultural Affairs Division offers various advanced level classes taught by resident and visiting artists in a variety of disciplines and media. These classes are held at the Lee Arts Center. The facility, recently renovated, and can be contacted at 703-228-0560.

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Organizational and Professional Development
County-supported artists and arts organizations can receive assistance from the Cultural Affairs Division's professional staff in areas such as general management, board development, marketing, audience development and fundraising.  Call 703-228-1850 or email us.

Other resources:

National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Management Resources
www.arts.endow.gov/artforms/Manage/Manage1.html

Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
Arts Management Workshops
www.cultural-alliance.org/programs/amw.html

Business Volunteers for the Arts
www.cultural-alliance.org/programs/bva.html

National Arts Marketing Project
 www.cultural-alliance.org/programs/nampnew.htm

ArtsMarketing.org
www.artsmarketing.org

University of Massachusetts Arts Extension Service
Arts Management Online
 www.umass.edu/aes/workshops/index.html

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Artist Service Organizations in the Area

The Actor's Center
601 S. Clark Street
Arlington, VA. 22202
703-413-3270
staff@actorscenter.org

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