[Archived] Alexandria Commission for the Arts Seeks Volunteers for the Public Art Committee

For Immediate Release: January 24, 2014

The Alexandria Commission for the Arts is seeking volunteers who reside or work within the City of Alexandria to serve on the Public Art Committee. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2014.

The Committee will review applications and meet with candidates for the positions on Thursday, February 20, 2014, and will make recommendations to the Commission, who will vote on new members at the March 18, 2014 Arts Commission meeting.

As described below, the composition of the Committee, set forth by the City Council, strives to ensure a balance of experience representative of the citizens of the City and the professional caliber art expertise needed to assist in the development of Alexandria’s Public Art Program. There are currently four openings being filled: two for an individual with expertise in urban planning, landscape architecture and/or architecture; and two for an individual who has strong interest in the arts. Only applicants who meet these qualifications will be considered at this time, since the openings for those with expertise in art as an artist or art professional are not available at this time.

The Public Art Committee of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts provides advice to the Commission and works with City staff regarding the purchase, commission, donation, and funding of public art in the City. As mandated in the City’s Policy on Acquired Art, the Public Art Committee consists of one Commissioner from the Commission for the Arts with expertise in art, up to four persons with expertise in urban planning, landscape architecture or architecture, up to four persons with expertise in art as an artist or art professional, and up to four persons with an interest in art. Members may live or work in the City, though a minimum of 75% of the members of the Committee must be City of Alexandria residents. The current Chair of the Public Art Committee is Susan Amber Gordon, who also serves on the Arts Commission.

Volunteers should plan to devote 10-12 hours per month to Committee work, in areas including:

• Serving as public representatives for public art projects, issues and policies;
• Participating in the development of planning guidelines, such as the Public Art Master Plan currently underway; and
• Interacting with the community about the potential for and benefits of public art.

The Public Art Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Durant Center (1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314), and all Committee meetings are open to the public.

For more information about the City’s public art program and current public art initiatives, visit www.alexandriava.gov/publicart.

Interested volunteers should send a letter of interest and a current resume to Sydney-Chanele Dawkins, Chair, Alexandria Commission for the Arts, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria VA 22314 or via email at aca@alexandriava.gov.

The Office of the Arts, a division of the Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities, promotes and cultivates the arts in the City of Alexandria. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Arts. For additional information, contact Diane Ruggiero, Deputy Director, at 703.746.5565 or diane.ruggiero@alexandriava.gov.

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, Office of the Arts, at 703.746.5590 (VA Relay 711) or diane.ruggiero@alexandriava.gov.