Arlington County Manager Presents New Artisphere Business Plan

November 29, 2011

Reaffirms County’s commitment to arts center
Renewed focus on Arlington Arts groups

ARLINGTON, Va. – Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan today reaffirmed the County’s commitment to the Artisphere, and presented the County Board with a new business plan for the critically acclaimed arts center.

“This is a much more realistic plan,” Donnellan said. “It calls for additional, ongoing funding to position the Artisphere to become what we have always intended it to be – a major attraction in Rosslyn that draws people from across the County and the region; a showcase and venue for Arlington-based arts groups, and a vibrant cultural center that supports our diverse arts community.”

The new business plan will take effect in January, 2012. Key elements include:

Bolstering the Artisphere’s programming to build upon its current presentation of Arlington-based artists and to better promote the arts in Arlington.
Programming acclaimed regional, national and international artists at a reduced, focused level.
Reducing operating hours and frequency of programs to stimulate demand.
Converting restaurant to resident caterer.
Repurposing retail space.
Building a robust rental program, with more corporate daytime rentals and social rentals.
Creating 501c(3) Friends of the Artisphere fundraising arm.
Moving the Artisphere and Arlington County’s Cultural Affairs Division from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources to Arlington Economic Development.
Appointing Karen Vasquez, head of the Artisphere Task Force, Director of new Cultural Affairs group.
Reorganizing County Departments to better manage County arts facilities, better market the County as an arts destination.

Additional financial support required

Donnellan noted that the original business plan for the Artisphere “consistently underestimated the expenses and overestimated the revenues associated with operations.” A thorough review of expenses and revenues by the Artisphere Task Force Donnellan appointed in late April, 2011 to review the center’s operations and programming concluded that the Artisphere will require additional, ongoing financial support from the County.

The County’s financial support for the Artisphere was $2.1 million in Fiscal Year 2011, which ended June 30, or $1.14 million more than originally budgeted. The new business plan will gradually be put into place over the remainder of FY 2012, which ends June 30, 2012, leading to projected maximum financial support for Fiscal Year 2012 of $2.67 million. In 2013, the first full fiscal year of the new business plan, the projected financial support is projected to be $1.58 million.

The task force, working with the Artisphere staff, found that the Center faces numerous challenges. The Artisphere, which formerly housed the Newseum, was designed for the visual arts, but is now largely focused on the performing arts, Donnellan noted. No one space in the center is big enough to ensure the profitability of expensive programming, and even though the building is “rent free” for the County for its first 14 years of operation, fixed operating costs and other costs are high – approximately $1.01 million a year.

“In addition to giving the Artisphere its best chance to succeed, this new plan allows the County to test the community’s demand for the arts, and will help us make decisions about future arts investments” Donnellan said. “We will carefully monitor this plan, and Artisphere’s progress, and keep the Board regularly informed.”

For more information, visit the County website. Scroll down on the Agenda for the November 29, 2011 Recessed Meeting to the County Manager’s Report.

Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.