ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Tuesday, Alexandria City Council voted to set a Feb. 20 public hearing for the Torpedo Factory Art Center plan for vibrancy and sustainability.
The art center, once an old factory used to produce torpedoes in World War I, was founded in 1974 and now has the nation’s largest amount of publicly accessible artist studios. As a free admission attraction, also a staple of Alexandria’s waterfront and draws 500,000 visitors per year. But for over a decade, stakeholders have commissioned numerous studies, reports and plans regarding issues such as governance, management and financial issues, as well as a shared mission, purpose and vision.
In 2018, City Council designated the City of Alexandria Office of the Arts as the continuing long-term manager of the art center and directed the city manager to develop a Torpedo Factory Art Center Vibrancy and Sustainability Plan. The city contracted with SmithGroup and Chora, two consulting groups that work with leading art institutions, to review stakeholder reports and recommendations and develop the action plan.
The draft action plan includes a short-term plan with three core directions: reestablishing the art center’s identity for a 21st century audience, curating the building for an improved visitor experience and artist/studio program, and establish policies and procedures that identify the art center as a high-performing organization and rebuild its role as a leader.
“Parallel to the executions of this action plan, a long-term plan will be developed to include a full strategic plan for the Art Center with a new architectural design for the whole building, a sustainable financial plan and business model, and a strategic plan to guide the development of the Art Center over the next five years to ten years and beyond,” reads a memo to City Council from the city manager.
According to the memo, steps outlined in the plan are recommended to begin in 2021. The city manager’s proposed fiscal year 2022 capital budget will include $845,000 for implementation of the action plan, including first and third floor renovations, study on creating a more welcoming waterfront entrance, consideration of rooftop alternative uses, and funds for short term capital maintenance and repairs. A feasibility study for long-term improvements is expected in fiscal year 2022 as well.
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, council members deferred a presentation from staff on the Torpedo Factory Art Center plan until the Feb. 20 public hearing.
