Voice Your Opinion to Preserve the Arts
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What will Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposed 2027 budget mean to the arts infrastructure in our area? According to a press release from the County, the $1.69 billion proposed budget is a 0.1% decrease compared to the adopted FY 2026 budget and recommends $10.6 million in funding cuts and a 1.5-cent increase to the real estate tax rate, raising it to $1.048 per $100 of assessed value.
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The budget is based on 1.1% growth in real estate assessments (compared to 2% growth in 2025). Commercial property assessments decreased by 1.5% compared to the previous year, impacted by the continued weakness in the commercial office sector. Existing office property values, which have been impacted by high vacancy rates and changing demand for office space, decreased by 19% overall.
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“The proposed FY 2027 budget works to balance the many competing priorities and economic realities facing our community” said County Manager Mark Schwartz. “Arlington continues to feel the economic impacts of the uncertainty in our region and federal government actions – particularly in drops in hotel stays and consumer spending – while expenses continue to increase. As a result, the proposed budget puts forth tough decisions about the services we provide, while still supporting those most in need.”
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o balance the budget, the County Manager is proposing $10.6 million in service reductions and efficiencies, which results in the possible elimination of 56 staff positions, 24 of which are filled. Proposed reductions include the elimination of competitive and recreation gymnastics at Barcroft Community Center and the closure of Cherrydale Library. The budget also includes staffing adjustments in the Fire department and Arlington Economic Development, which houses Arlington Cultural Affairs.
Please visit the County website for information on speaking at a County Board Meeting. The County Board will then hold a public hearing for the budget on Tuesday, March 24, and a public hearing for the tax rate on Thursday, March 26. Members of the community can sign up to speak at the public hearings in-person or virtually; registration to sign up opens five business days prior to the hearing dates. Visit the County Board page to register to speak.
We implore that arts lovers in Arlington County make a concerted effort to speak at the upcoming convening to voice your concerns about the budget cuts in the arts. Questions about arts grants should be asked in addition to programming that are specific to the arts for the +55 Program and the library. Preserving what is in place should be a priority given the value of the arts for young and older adults. You may also share your opinion and stories through Embracing Arlington Arts’ website which we will gladly forward to the Arlington County Board.
Interview with Elena Velasco and Marisela Treviño Orta:
Staging of Ghost Limb at Avant Bard
April 30 - May 23, 2026
​Carlos Velázquez: I have the pleasure of introducing two remarkable Latina artists to today's podcast. This interview is part of our podcast series on Latino excellence in the arts which is underwritten by Wanda Baez and HMA Associates, Inc. in Arlington County.
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Elena Velasco is a highly acclaimed actor, director, and theater arts educator. How are you doing Elena?
Elena Velasco: You know, I think we're all in a very unusual place in this time, in this world, and particularly being in the political shell of DC, and… and that said, I'm okay.
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Carlos Velázquez: I'm very excited to meet Maricela Treveno-Porta, who is a highly regarded poet and playwright, and has a new script that's being staged in our area by Avant Bard-- Ghost Limb. Maricela, how are you doing?
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Marisela Treviño Orta: I'm well, thank you. Thank you for having both of us here on your podcast to talk about the show.
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Carlos Velázquez: Excellent. So, why don't we start with you, Maricela? Tell me a little bit about yourself and the new script.
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Marisela Treviño Orta: I am, born and raised a Tejana. I grew up in a small town just south of Austin. My teacher… my parents were teachers, and I think… I always say that because…my father taught science and earth, like, earth science at my junior high, and it was a really big, like, subject for me, like, this… and the sciences are a point of inspiration for me. My mother taught English and history, and those two are also both big inspirations for me, but also, they…really pushed us, my siblings and I, to read. And I was an avid reader as a child.
​I read a lot, and I think that just naturally lent itself to this desire to create, and this active imagination. So, I have been writing since I was very young. Like, I used to write short stories. At one point I was working on a novel as a kid, and then I, in high school, began writing poetry. And I was a poet for a long time.
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And then, while I was getting my first master's, my MFA in Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco, specifically there to study poetry, I found my way to theater quite accidentally. Like, it was all very haphazard. And then I just got an interest in playwriting, and doors just started opening. This year, really, I mark it as my 20th year in the field, so I have been writing now for 20 years as a playwright, and I have about 20 plays, you know, that I've written over the course of that time.
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Carlos Velázquez: Excellent, that is an impressive start to a career. Elena, tell me, how did you get associated with the new script you are directing at Dominion Stage?
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Elena Velasco: Well, I was very fortunate back in 2018, when the two of us first met through Georgetown University that was doing the stage reading series, Borders and Frontiers. American Triage, was the script that was Maricela's that was selected for that festival, and I got tapped to direct the stage reading. And I had already been reading some of her scripts that were from the MPX.
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Somebody else had flagged it, it was a friend of mine at Convergence Theater, who said, have you heard about Maricela Treviño Horta? I think you'd really love her writing. And so, it was just a few months later, somebody tapped me for that stage reading. And… and so after that, honestly, like, I was just sort of following, like, where is there going to be an opportunity?
Because I really felt so strongly that her writing needed to be heard, and I know when we talked at that time, you said, yeah, this is sort of, like, my Border series. I had several plays that were very much influenced by what I'm seeing, you know, back in home in Texas, and some of the experiences that are happening, and elevating that.
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And so much of the work that I do as an artist is centered on our… not only representation, and not only our trauma, but also, like, our resilient joy. Just where do we find the resilience out of the stories, the experiences that we encounter in Latinidad.
To listen to the full podcast interview of these two Latina artists, please click here. Their brilliance will captivate you. Buy tickets for the show opening on April 30.
What Does Branding Look Like For an Artist?
​Branding for arts groups involves creating a cohesive, authentic identity that blends visual, verbal, and mission-driven elements to build trust, community, and recognition. Key steps include defining a mission/vision, establishing a consistent visual style (logo, color, typography) across all platforms, and crafting a unique voice to engage audiences and attract support.​
As an artist or arts group, think about what core elements of art branding help you visualize your mission, your identity, brand voice, and to what extent you have written protocols or a style guide that allows you or your organization to have consistent branding.
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According to Singulart Magazine, the competitive art market requires that artists maintain a distinctive brand identity to stand out, capture the attention, and further their development. No matter what kind of an artist you are: a painter, sculptor, photographer, or something else, branding can be instrumental in building and maintaining a relationship with your target audience and in promoting your success. Best practices include:
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Conduct a brand audit.
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Identify your unique selling proposition
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Engage with the community
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Use a style guide
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Measure success and iterate
The path to brand building as an artist relies on creativity, strategy, and focus. Through defining an artist’s style, a consistent visual identity format, developing an online presence, creating compelling brand messages, active communication with your audience, partnering with relevant people, looking for ways for promotion and recognition, and providing awesome customer experience, you can come up with a brand name that will be liked by an audience and will lead to great success for your art career.
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The Ultimate Branding Case Study
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When Bad Bunny took the stage to perform at the Superbowl this moment carried a weight that extended far beyond entertainment. The Super Bowl is categorized as the most viewed American entertainment brand platform which has represented a curated image of mainstream American culture which is usually commercially polished, culturally influential, and globally broadcasted. When Latinos hear Spanish lyrics resonate across the stage of the Superbowl it was simply not a musical shift but a cultural affirmation. Furthermore, it signaled that Latinos identity is not peripheral to the American story but central to it.The global rise of Latin music over the past decade has not been driven by assimilation, but by authenticity. Latino artists have resisted the pressure to dilute their work or art to fit traditional industry expectations like those of the American Superbowl football halftime show. Bad Bunny highlights that love is stronger than hate. Utilizing his culture with rhythm, storytelling, and emotion his Puerto Rican Spanish lyrics transcend language. Reggaeton, Urbano, and Latin trap have grown from regional music into global movements precisely due to the fact they remain rooted in moving the idea of love is stronger than hate.Bad Bunny has become the ultimate brand ambassador for love and cultural pride! For the full article click here.
Corporate Sponsor Spotlight
We appreciate our sponsor realtor Natalie Roy (EAA Board Trustee) and Bicycling Realty who specialize in Arlington, particularly in the neighborhoods of Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, and the Ballston/Clarendon/ and Rosslyn Corridor. For more information.Opportunities for corporate sponsorship are open, and we encourage local businesses and allied groups to consider becoming a supporter of Embracing Arlington Arts. We certainly could not be as successful or effective as we have been or continue to be without the support of our partners. And we offer many opportunities to acknowledge these generous supporters. Support the second most downloaded theater podcast in the country. For more information, follow this link.
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Support Us
If you would like to support the work of Embracing Arlington Arts by making a donation, here’s how:
Make tax deductible contributions online. Tax-deductible contributions by check made payable to Embracing Arlington Arts and send it to Embracing Arlington Arts, 2104 North Kenmore Street, Arlington, VA 22201
Every dollar helps us help artists and arts organizations in so many ways. Thank you in advance!