Fairfax, VA (August 15, 2023) – ArtsFairfax, the nonprofit designated as Fairfax County’s local arts agency, today announces over $590,000 awarded in Operating Support Grants to 50 nonprofit arts and culture organizations based in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church.
Operating Support Grants are foundational to the stability of Fairfax nonprofit arts and culture organizations by providing County funds, distributed by ArtsFairfax, for the basic operation of invaluable programs, services, and facilities these organizations provide to Fairfax County area residents.
“ArtsFairfax received a record high number of Operating Support Grant applicants, in part because of our constant communication with grantees to understand their needs and make arts funding more accessible throughout the creative community” says Linda Sullivan, ArtsFairfax President & CEO.
New for Fiscal Year 2024, the minimum eligible budget was lowered to $5,000 to allow more organizations to apply. Additionally, in recognition of the rising costs of labor and materials, small organizations were able to apply for 25% of their eligible operating expenses (as opposed to a limit of 15% as in previous years), and for all organizations, the maximum allowed request was raised from $50,000 to $60,000.
Though the County allocation for arts grants remained flat from last year, the distribution of existing funds increased by 35.5% in support of nonprofit operating expenses.
FY24 ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grants by the Numbers
- $591,786 awarded to 50 organizations
- 74% female leadership
- 44% small budgets under $100K
- 28% BIPOC leadership
- 12% veteran leadership
Applications are reviewed and scored by an independent grant panel comprised of local professionals with expertise in various arts disciplines, knowledge of arts management, and/or knowledge of the Fairfax community. To ensure transparency of ArtsFairfax grantmaking practices, all panel reviews are made accessible to the applicants and general public.
Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Support Grantees
| Organization | District | Discipline |
| 1st Stage | Providence | Theater |
| Amadeus Concerts | Dranesville | Instrumental Music |
| American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras | Mason | Arts Education |
| Artisans United, Inc. | Mason | Visual Arts |
| Artists in Motion / Alchemy Ballet | Dranesville | Dance |
| BalletNova Center for Dance | Mason | Dance |
| Cappies NCA | Dranesville | Theater |
| City of Fairfax Band Association, Inc. | City of Fairfax | Instrumental Music |
| City of Fairfax Theatre Company | City of Fairfax | Theater |
| Creative Cauldron | City of Falls Church | Theater |
| Daily Poetry Association | Braddock | Literature |
| DanceArtTheater | Braddock | Dance |
| Fairfax Jubil-Aires | Springfield | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Fall for the Book, Inc | Braddock | Literature |
| Falls Church Arts, Inc. | City of Falls Church | Visual Arts |
| Gin Dance Company | Hunter Mill | Dance |
| Greater Washington Chinese Dance | Dranesville | Dance |
| IACC | Providence | Multidisciplinary/Arts Services |
| Jazz4Justice | City of Fairfax | Instrumental Music |
| McLean Community Players | Dranesville | Theater |
| McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) | Dranesville | Visual Arts |
| Mosaic Harmony | Providence | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre | Mount Vernon | Theater |
| Music for Life | Braddock | Instrumental Music |
| National Concert Band of America | Mount Vernon | Instrumental Music |
| New Dominion Chorale | Dranesville | Vocal Music/Opera |
| NextStop Theatre Company | Dranesville | Theater |
| Northern Virginia Chorale | Braddock | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Novasian Chorus Inc. | Sully | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Providence Players of Fairfax | Providence | Theater |
| Public Art Reston | Hunter Mill | Visual Arts |
| Reston Community Orchestra | Hunter Mill | Instrumental Music |
| Reston Community Players | Dranesville | Theater |
| The Choralis Foundation | Hunter Mill | Vocal Music/Opera |
| The Fairfax Ballet Company | Sully | Dance |
| Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art | Hunter Mill | Visual Arts |
| The Reston Chorale | Hunter Mill | Vocal Music/Opera |
| The Vienna Jammers Percussion Ensemble, Inc. | Hunter Mill | Instrumental Music |
| Traveling Players Ensemble, Inc. | Dranesville | Arts Education |
| Vienna Arts Society | Hunter Mill | Visual Arts |
| Vienna Choral Society | Hunter Mill | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Vienna Community Band, Inc. | Providence | Instrumental Music |
| Vienna Falls Chorus Sweet Adelines International | Providence | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Virginia Bronze Handbell Ringers of Northern Virginia | Franconia | Instrumental Music |
| Virginia Chamber Orchestra | Dranesville | Instrumental Music |
| Virginia Winds Academy, Inc. | Springfield | Arts Education |
| Washington West International Film Festival | Hunter Mill | Film |
| We Rock Cancer | Dranesville | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Woodbridge Flute Choir | Springfield | Instrumental Music |
| Workhouse Arts Center | Mount Vernon | Multidisciplinary/Arts Services |
About ArtsFairfax
ArtsFairfax is the nonprofit designated as Fairfax County’s local arts agency. Dedicated to the belief that arts are essential to a thriving community, the ArtsFairfax mission is to expand support for and access to arts and culture opportunities for the more than 1.2 million residents across Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church. By offering informational, financial, and programmatic services, ArtsFairfax promotes the role of arts and culture to deepen social engagement, create a sense of place, and fuel economic growth. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) since 1964, ArtsFairfax provides these services to all who contribute to and experience arts in Fairfax County, and is funded in part by the County, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as corporations, foundations, and individuals.
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