Fairfax, VA (August 15, 2024)—ArtsFairfax is proud to fund 58 local arts and culture organizations to support outstanding arts experiences in Fairfax, an increase of eight additional organizations when compared to last year. FY25 Operating Support Grantees represent all arts disciplines and all nine magisterial districts in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church.
As the nonprofit’s largest grant program, Operating Support Grants provide critical funding for the basic operation of vital programs, performances, arts education, and services to residents of Northern Virginia. While ArtsFairfax saw a 20% increase in total requested funds, the available funding for this grant category remained flat from FY24 to FY25.
“Arts and culture vibrancy in Fairfax is growing year over year. For FY25, we saw a 16% increase in new applicants and a 20% increase in total requested funds. One of our goals at ArtsFairfax is to diversify our resources and increase our grants funding so that all the creative work in this community can be fully realized,” says Stuart Holt, ArtsFairfax President & CEO.
FY25 ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grants by the Numbers
- $591,900 awarded to 58 organizations
- 81% female leadership
- 28% BIPOC leadership
- 24% veteran leadership
Half of the recipients are considered small businesses with budgets under $100,000. As instituted last fiscal year, the minimum eligible budget remains at $5,000 to allow more organizations to apply.
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 2025 Operating Support Grantees
| Organization | District | Discipline |
| 1st Stage | Providence | Theater |
| Acting For Young People, Inc. | Braddock | Arts Education |
| Alchemy Ballet | Dranesville | Dance |
| Amadeus Concerts | Dranesville | Instrumental Music |
| American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras | Mason | Arts Education |
| Artisans United, Inc. | Mason | Visual Arts |
| BalletNova Center for Dance | Mason | Dance |
| Better Said Than Done | Braddock | Multidisciplinary/Arts Services |
| Brass Band of Northern Virginia | Springfield | Instrumental Music |
| Capital Wind Symphony, Inc. | Hunter Mill | Instrumental Music |
| Cappies of the National Capital Area | Dranesville | Arts Education |
| The Choralis Foundation | Hunter Mill | Vocal Music/Opera |
| 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 |
| The Fairfax Ballet Company | Sully | 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 |
| Iranian-American Community Center | Mason | Multidisciplinary/Arts Services |
| Jazz4Justice | City of Fairfax | Instrumental Music |
| Little City Concerts | City of Falls Church | Instrumental Music |
| McLean Project for the Arts | Dranesville | Visual Arts |
| Mosaic Harmony | Providence | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre | Mount Vernon | Theater |
| Music for Life | Braddock | Instrumental Music |
| The 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 | Mason | Theater |
| Public Art Reston | Hunter Mill | Visual Arts |
| The Reston Chorale | Hunter Mill | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Reston Community Orchestra | Hunter Mill | Instrumental Music |
| Reston Community Players | Dranesville | Theater |
| Shakespeare Opera Theatre | Dranesville | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Springfield Art Guild | Springfield | Visual Arts |
| Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art | Hunter Mill | Visual Arts |
| Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation | City of Falls Church | Multidisciplinary/Arts Services |
| 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 | Providence | Vocal Music/Opera |
| The Vienna Jammers Percussion Ensemble, Inc. | Hunter Mill | Instrumental Music |
| Vietnamese Literary and Artistic Club | Dranesville | Literature |
| Virginia Bronze Handbell Ringers of Northern Virginia | Franconia | Instrumental Music |
| Virginia Chamber Orchestra | Dranesville | Instrumental Music |
| Virginia Winds Academy, Inc. | Braddock | Instrumental Music |
| Voce Chamber Singers | Hunter Mill | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Washington West International Film Festival | Hunter Mill | Film |
| We Rock Cancer | Dranesville | Vocal Music/Opera |
| Woodbridge Flute Choir | Mount Vernon | Instrumental Music |
| Workhouse Arts Center | Mount Vernon | Multidisciplinary/Arts Services |
For more details, visit ArtsFairfax.org/operating-support-grants/
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, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts as well as corporations, foundations, and individuals.
# # #