Calls for Artists
Artists, performers, makers, and creators can find opportunities to share their talents with the people of Alexandria.
Current Calls
"Call for Artists" - New Project Residency Program
The City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts is seeking up to three New Project Residents who could be an artist, artists group or arts organization who will each develop and execute one New Project on Saturday, December 16 to engage audiences in an arts project. The New Project Residency Program is funded by National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Alexandria, VA. New Projects will be site-specific and will aim to inspire and engage the public. The New Projects will be held at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, VA.
NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wednesday, November 1, 2023, by 5 p.m., EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Click here to submit an application.
Click here to See application tool.
New Project Residency Goals:
Each New Project Could:
- Explore the creative process in a community-focused way.
- Capture the public's imagination.
- Reflect the rich history and culture of the City of Alexandria.
- Represent diverse voice.
- Inspire and engage audiences.
Criteria:
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Artistic Excellence: Creative work or artistic product or practice that is characterized by such qualities as vitality, originality, relevance, creativity, innovation, experimentation, technical, and professional.
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Impact and Engagement: Clear description of New Project and how audiences will be engaged with the arts in a meaningful way. New Project will promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Management and Implementation: Ability to meet the stated goas of the project within the timeline available. Evidence of qualified artists and other staff to implement the New Project.
Eligibility:
New Project Residencies are open to all contemporary artists, artists groups, or arts organizations, age 18 and older, based in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia who work in the arts fields, including, but not limited to visual artists, performing artists, musicians, and interdisciplinary artists.
Selection Process:
A review panel organized by the Office of the Arts will review submissions and select up to three New Project Residents. The review panel or staff may choose to interview candidates before making a final selection.
Budget:
The three New Project Residents selected will each receive a stipend of $2,000 to produce the New Project on December 16. Payments will be made in two installments, 50% once selected an appropriate paperwork received, and 50% upon completions of the New Project. Checks may take up to 4-6 weeks for processing through City Accounting.
Artist, Artist Group or Arts Organization Responsibilities:
Each selected New Project Resident will:
- Collaborate with the Office of the Arts to create an original New Project that aims to inspire and engage the public.
- Complete the online application which will include a written description of the New Project.
- Work with the Office of the Arts to schedule the specific time and location at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
- New Project should be a minimum of 1 ½ hours in length.
- Work with the Office of the Arts to document and archive the New Project and the process.
- Provide any additional art supplies and equipment needed.
- Help promote the New Project.
Office of the Arts Responsibilities:
The Office of the Arts and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial partners will provide access to the locations, necessary permits, marketing and communications, and project management support. The Office of the Arts will also:
- Approve the direction for the New Project before the artist, artist group or arts organization embarks on further development of the idea.
- Work with the selected New Project Resident to develop and schedule the New Project at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
- Provide photography of the New Project for documentation and media purposes.
- Promote the New Project.
Anticipated Schedule:
- NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wednesday, November 1, 2023, by 5 p.m.
- New Project Residency submissions reviewed: Friday, November 3 - Friday, November 10.
- New Project Residencies Selected: Tuesday, November 14.
- New Project Residencies Contracts: Sent out and finalized - Wednesday, November 15.
- Schedule of New Project Residencies will occur Saturday, December 16.
To Submit:
NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE for the New Project Proposal online at SurveyMonkey by Wednesday, November 1, 5 p.m., EST.
Questions:
For questions about this opportunity, please contact arts@alexandriava.gov.
Literary Programs
Alexandria’s DASHing Words in Motion: Poetry Contest Applications Are Open
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Transit Company have joined forces to host the 10th anniversary of Alexandria’s annual poetry contest “DASHing Words in Motion.” The annual contest celebrates poetry by writers 16 years or older who live, work or study in the City of Alexandria. The online submission deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, January 26, 2024.
The competition’s primary goal is to encourage poetry writing with a broad range of ideas and subject matter. Inspirational ideas stem from the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus motto “Keep Alexandria Moving,” as well as bus stops, neighborhoods, buses, cars, roads, and transportation. Submitted poems will be reviewed by an award-winning panel of writers, poets, independent bookstore owner, English professor, and community members including Alexandria’s Poet Laureate Zeina Azzam.
Winning poems will be published and placed on DASH buses and trolleys for the 2024 National Poetry Month (April) and May.
"DASHing Words In Motion" launched in 2014 and has highlighted our regions poets and creative writers and has placed poetry on dozens of Alexandria’s busses each April to celebrate National Poetry Month. To read the past winning poems scroll down this page.
For additional "DASHing Words in Motion" information including eligibility requirements, themes, and to submit online click here.
To preview the "DASHing Words in Motion" application tool, click here.
For additional about the Poet Laureate and other literary programs, visit the Office of the Arts website: alexandriava.gov/Arts or email the Poet Laureate: poet@alexandriava.gov.
Public Art
There are no current open calls for Public Art.
For questions, please contact arts@alexandriava.gov
Events & Public Space Activation
Regional Call
Deadline: Ongoing
Events and Public Space Activations creates equitable access to the arts by bringing visual and performing arts to neighborhoods throughout Alexandria.
Proposals are being accepted from emerging and established visual and performing artists who are interested in engaging directly with the community through their work. All opportunities are paid and will be scheduled between April and October of each year. Artists will have access to the Mobile Art Lab, which is a mobile studio with supplies and equipment to facilitate outdoor activations. Proposals should indicate if work will be done in one day or over a series of two or three weeks.
Proposals are reviewed by staff with the following criteria:
- High artistic quality
- Unique work
- Weather-sustainable art (can be outside for extended periods, or be projected, performed, or facilitated out of doors)
- Equitably accessible for the community to engage with and/or participate in making the art
Interested artists should submit a proposal. For more information, contact the Office of the Arts at arts@alexandriava.gov.
Mobile Art Lab Projects & Programs
There are no current open calls for the Mobile Art Lab.
For questions about the Mobile Art Lab, please contact arts@alexandriava.gov
Visual Art
There are no current open calls for Visual Art.
For questions, please contact arts@alexandriava.gov
Grants
PROGRAM GRANTS
Deadline: Annually
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities' Arts Division stewards the City of Alexandria's Arts Grants program with the intent of reaching these goals:
- To strengthen Alexandria's creative capacity by providing its residents with diverse opportunities to meaningfully engage with the arts
- To improve the capacity and stability of Alexandria-based arts organizations to create, perform, and present works of artistic excellence and innovation through organizational support and program funding
- To create a vibrant urban environment by supporting diverse individual artists, organizations, and other entities in the creation, performance, and presentation of high-quality works of art across the City of Alexandria
Learn more about Alexandria's Arts Program Grants.
Torpedo Factory Art Center
STUDIO ARTISTS AT TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER
Torpedo Factory Art Center encourages artists and artist groups to apply for available studios.
Visit torpedofactory.org/artopps for more opportunities to show work at Torpedo Factory Art Center. Many calls are national and international.