Founded in 1974 in an old munitions plant, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is home to the nation’s largest number of publicly accessible working artist studios under one roof. In an effort to sustain the arts in Alexandria, the Torpedo Factory is temporarily part of the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts.
Just south of Washington, D.C., the Torpedo Factory Art Center overlooks the Potomac River in the Old Town section of Alexandria. Each year, more than a half million national and international visitors meet and interact with more than 160 resident artists in 82 studios and seven galleries. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is also home to The Art LeagueGallery and School, the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, and the Alexandria EatsPlace Cafe & Market. For more information, visit torpedofactory.org or follow the Torpedo Factory on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest via @torpedofactory.
The City is committed to the Torpedo Factory as an art center and looks forward to a robust process that includes internal and external stakeholders as well as the broader Alexandria community to ensure a sustainable arts center that will continue to support the arts and artists in Alexandria.
To help answer additional questions, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Torpedo Factory Community Engagement Process
As part of the continued transition of the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC), staff in Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Planning and Zoning; and the City Manager's Office have been working to develop a community engagement process that will help to outline the future governance structure for the Torpedo Factory. The engagement process will develop a set of goals and strategies for the TFAC which will help determine the appropriate governance structure for successful continued operation and long-term sustainability. This robust community process includes internal and external stakeholders as well as the broader Alexandria community.
In addition to meetings of the task force, the engagement process will include multiple opportunities for people to participate including, but not limited to, an online survey, town hall meetings, open house events, and focus group meetings. This approach to the community engagement process will ensure reliable and thoughtful participation by a broad cross section of Alexandria community members and stakeholders.
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts has appointed a five-member task force to advise on the community engagement process. This task force will work with staff throughout the process and eventually make a recommendation to the Commission for the Arts based on the outcomes of the process.
Task Force Members:
- Catherine Barrett, Alexandria Commission for the Arts
- Beth Coast, Alexandria Commission for the Arts
- Antonio Melus, Community Stakeholder
- Danielle Romanetti, Community Stakeholder, Small Business Owner
- Lisa Schumaier, Project Stakeholder, Torpedo Factory Art Center Leaseholder
The City of Alexandria has engaged Diane Mataraza and Surale Phillips to design the community engagement process and to outline a set of goals and strategies based on the findings. Staff from the City's Office of the Arts and Planning and Zoning will implement the community engagement process.
For questions or additional information please contact Diane Ruggiero, deputy director, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Department at
diane.ruggiero@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5590.
The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, contact Diane Ruggiero at 703.746.5590 (Virginia Relay 711) or e-mail diane.ruggiero@alexandriava.gov.
TFAC Community Engagement Task Force Meeting Materials
April 26, 2017 - Task Force Meeting #1