Behind the Scenes

Published on February 25, 2021

“Why, I had no idea you did all of that!”

It’s a familiar phrase to all arts administrators. There may be a painting from the local gallery on the wall, tickets on the table to the community theater performance with your child as the lead, or a flyer on the refrigerator for the annual jazz festival. But often, we may not connect the dots between those varied activities and the County support that makes all those activities happen.

In this new column, the Director’s Cut, I’ll be offering a behind the scenes peek at the people, programs, and initiatives that have supported and nurtured Arlington’s thriving arts community for the last three decades.

Arlington Cultural Affairs is the official local arts agency (LAA) of Arlington County, one of 4,500 found throughout the U.S.A., providing artists and arts organizations with services and resources, and residents, businesses, and visitors with programs and public art.  This designation gives us access to federal and state funds and private philanthropy to support the arts. For example, our Arlington Art Truck mobile artist-in-residence program was launched in 2018 with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). At the center of everything we do is the artist. We connect artists to the community, reflecting the diversity of Arlington.

But we don’t do this work alone. We partner with the business community, other County agencies, regional partners, artist associations, and philanthropic organizations.  And we are fortunate to have a partnership with the Arlington Commission for the Arts, who serve as a conduit to the community.

Want to get connected? Looking for ways to be more involved in your arts community? Attend a meeting of the Arlington Commission for the Arts (ACA)! The ACA advises the County on policy and program development, oversees the grants and public art programs, advocates for the arts in Arlington and acts as a liaison between the community and the County. Arts Commission members are appointed by the County Board. The Arlington Commission on the Arts holds a public monthly meeting that is now virtual, so it’s easier than ever to become involved in the Arts in Arlington. Visit the Arts Commission’s webpage for all the information you need to participate.