ARLINGTON COUNTY'S ARTS LANDSCAPE
The Arlington County Cultural Affairs Office boasts that the local arts landscape features over 60 award-winning, permanent public art installations integrated with urban spaces. Anchored by icons like Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park in Rosslyn, the County continues expanding through the Four Mile Run Arts & Industry District, which features the new 2700 Art Space.
Arlington Cultural Affairs actively manages the community's creative ecosystem, which is supported by key components including the public art collection which consists of permanent commissions, developer-driven projects, and temporary exhibits. The County also has identified an arts and industry district which spans as a hub for artists, makers, and creative spaces. This area includes the 2700 South Nelson Street location, which is complemented by large-scale community murals.
There is a need for additional space, especially for performance-oriented art which is limited in the number of accessible spaces that can house theater, dance, and music concerts. The same gap exists for visual artists for exhibition and studio spaces.
Embracing Arlington Arts has been instrumental in advocating for more spaces that can house theater, recitals, dance and storytelling showcases, and poetry slams. Our mission is focused on havng the arts thrive in our area. We are committed to our mission and to paving a pathway to making more art possible in our county. Please consider making a donation to support our advocacy work that spotlights the artistry that surrounds us.
Visit Our Booth at the Arlington County Fair
If you are an artist or arts group please reach out to us if you would like to market your upcoming performances, exhibitions, or special events. Our presence last year at the Arlington County Fair was a great opportunity for our partners to volunteer to staff the booth, market their artistry, and network with local art enthusiasts.
Don’t be shy! Reach out to us if you wish to volunteer at the booth August 14-16, 2026. carlos@embracing-arlington-arts.org.
THE CASE FOR A PERFORMANCE ARTS CENTER IN ARLINGTON COUNTY
Performing arts are vital to large and smaller cities because they drive local economic growth, foster civic pride, and create a shared sense of community. They transform communities into vibrant entertainment districts while offering essential youth development and preserving regional cultural heritage.
Community Cohesion
Art serves as a unifying force, fostering a sense of community cohesion and local pride. By actively supporting local artists and organizing cultural events such as art festivals and gallery exhibitions, small towns cultivate spaces for communal engagement and celebration of indigenous talent, thereby imbuing the local fabric with vitality and collective identity.
Economic Benefits
Nurturing artistic endeavors can yield substantial economic benefits for small towns. Art-centric attractions draw visitors from afar, stimulating tourism and bolstering revenue streams for local businesses, including hospitality, dining, and retail establishments. Additionally, the creative economy generated by artists selling their work locally or offering instructional services can inject vitality into the community's economic ecosystem, potentially engendering job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Preserving and Showcasing Regional Heritage
Promoting the arts in small towns is vital for preserving and showcasing regional heritage and cultural legacy. Artists often draw inspiration from the distinctive characteristics of their surroundings, infusing their creations with narratives that reflect local history, customs, and landscapes. Small towns honor their unique heritage while simultaneously fostering cultural continuity and identity by providing platforms for the exhibition and appreciation of such works.
Developmental Benefits
Investing in arts education and programming within small towns can yield profound developmental benefits, particularly among youth. Accessible art programs enable young individuals to explore and cultivate their creative potential, fostering critical thinking, self-expression, and interpersonal skills. In environments where extracurricular opportunities may be limited, such initiatives provide invaluable avenues for personal growth and enrichment.
Combat Social Isolation
By fostering a vibrant arts scene, small towns can combat social isolation and ennui, particularly prevalent in rural locales with limited recreational options. Art-based activities offer avenues for community engagement, fostering social connections, and facilitating the discovery of shared interests. This dynamic cultural landscape not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also cultivates a sense of civic pride and investment in the community's collective well-being.
WHAT ARLINGTON COUNTY BOARD CANDIDATES ARE SAYING ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTS CENTER
A recent article that was published by ArlNow’s Scott McCaffrey has people taking notice as Arlington County Board candidate James DeVita been sharing support for a major arts center that rivals The Kennedy Center.
His political signs call for an arts center that houses opera, concerts, and theater. His challengers don’t share the same vision and have called it fiscally irresponsible.
Arlington County Board candidate Julie Farnam shared with ARLnow that “While I like the idea, I’m not sure given our current fiscal situation if the county has the money to do that — unless, of course, the money came from the private sector.”
Incumbent Matt de Ferranti said, “Promising a regional arts center is not fiscally responsible or well-thought-through in this moment.”
The ARLnow article points out that while DeVita’s opponents in the primary may appreciate Devita’s creativity, they didn’t exactly rush to embrace the proposal.
De Ferranti, who in 2026 is serving as Board chair, noted the estimated cost of $19.5 million to renovate the Lee Arts Center. And that project has been pushed back about five years, as have several other spending proposals.
“We are, wisely, pausing on a number of projects in terms of libraries, schools and parks, until we know better the fiscal risks this Administration presents over the coming two and a half years,” de Ferranti told ARLnow.
He suggested rather than rushing headlong toward a new facility, DeVita could work with the arts community on “how to align vision for the Lee Arts Center and various performance needs.”
“Further, and more importantly, we need to have a public process for consideration of what the community as a whole wants at the Lee Center, for example, that is balanced with other competing needs,” de Ferranti said.
Embracing Arlington Arts is committed to supporting plans for the development of a performance arts center but it will take much work to make such a vision a reality. We recognize that it will take the political will of the County Board, the County Manager and others throughout Arlington County leadership. At this point, according to ARLnow no funding for constructing, or even planning, such a facility is contemplated in the County Manager’s proposed $4.3 billion 10-year capital improvement plan, set for County Board action later this month.
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CORPORATE SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT
Embracing Arlington Arts is spotlighting the support from the Fred Schnider Investment Group and Fred Schnider Gallery of Art. The real estate firm has been developing beautiful and thriving communities in the DC region since 1940. The company has always been committed to creating spaces that attract new opportunities and limitless possibilities. The Fred Schnider of Gallery of Art showcases the work of local artists to the community. The gallery is a creative space where artists and those who love art can come together. For more information visit fredschnidergalleryofart.com
2026 CORPORATE SPONSORS
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.
SUPPORT US
If you would like to support the work of Embracing Arlington Arts by making a donation, here’s how:
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Make tax-deductible contributions online
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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!