Staff Report - City of Alexandria

Center for Teaching Excellence Program
Team Lead: Cheryl Anne Colton
Status: On June 6, Dr. Rosalyn King, Chair of the Virginia Community College System’s
Northern Virginia Chapter of the Center for Teaching Excellence program met with both history
and arts organization representatives. The purpose for the meeting was to explore the
feasibility of hosting the fall Center for Teaching Excellence Program in Alexandria, VA.
Outcomes from the June 6 meeting:
Sushmita Mazumdar, artist, writer and member of Empowered Women International,
volunteered to coordinate the Alexandria seminar.
Date/Time: October 21, 2011, 9 am – 5 pm
Proposed theme: “Exploring Inspiration: The Art and History of Old Town Alexandria.”
Possible presenter topics: How does and why does the artist create a painting, or a
composer write music, or where does the choreographer get their inspiration to create a
dance? How can History be an inspiration? What inspires cities and houses, gardens?
What is an architect’s inspiration? What can we learn from these interactions?
The history and arts organization representatives will meet separately between now and June
29 and will develop a program and initial cost projections.
Important Date(s): Fall VCCS Seminar Planning Meeting, June 29, 2011, 1 pm-3 pm,
Durant Arts Center
Torpedo Factory Art Center Banner/Signage Project
Team Lead: Alisa Carrel
Status: Phase I of the project has been completed. This includes installation of the front
entrance banners and new signs that have improved the art center’s appearance and brought
consistency to its visual brand. It also reduces the visual clutter by removing the dilapidated
banners and makeshift signs. The banners reflect the activity occurring within the building with
a combination of images of artists and archaeologists at work, artworks, and youth art
workshops. The new signs now have the proper logo and provide critical information to the
public. Some of the signs have the ability to provide up-to-date information such as exhibits,
special events and extended hours. Phase II will include the banners on the waterside,
installation of new awnings (with the word “Welcome” prominently featured), and a new window
decal on the waterside. The City and the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association have committed
to covering the costs for Phase II. Staff has submitted the final report to the Virginia
Commission for the Arts.
ARTS MARKETING INITIATIVES/SPECIAL EVENTS:
Branding Project
Team Lead: Alisa Carrel
Status: No new information.
Kaleidoscope Festival
Arts Forum Project/Team Leads (Staff): Alisa Carrel, Cheryl Anne Colton
Status: Helenmarie Corcoran will provide the Arts Commission with an overview of the Festival
at the June 21 st meeting.
Film Festival
Team Lead: Alisa Carrel
Status: The Call for Film Entries went out on May 16 and we have already received 108 film
submissions from 20 different countries. The regular deadline is June 30, the late deadline is
July 15 and the Withoutabox extended deadline is July 31. For last year’s film festival, we
received a total of 126 submissions so we have seen a considerable increase in the rate of
submissions. We currently have 52 judges signed up, including all Arts Commissioners.
Judges are already viewing the films online and submitting evaluation forms. Film screenings
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