As the city reviews an operator proposal for the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria City Council will consider extending leases to current artists and galleries.
City Council will have a July 1 public hearing on extending leases in good standing for artists through March 31, 2027 and for founding members and galleries through Sept. 30, 2027. The proposal is for leases that would expire Sept. 30, 2026.
“This will provide time to review the proposals submitted in response to the [request for proposals] and determine next steps for future governance of the Art Center,” a city staff memo said.
The city is in the process of seeking a new operator for the city-managed Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union Street). Only one operator bid resulted from a procurement process that was open until April 27. City staff are expected to bring a recommendation on the operator bid to City Council in the fall.
The city has leases with about 110 artists and galleries at the art center, and the proposed lease extensions affect eight founding members, 26 artists and nine organizations with gallery space. According to the city staff memo, the annual lease rate of $18.45 per square foot for studios and galleries will increase by 3% to $19 per square foot. The city previously extended leases by one year in 2025.
The city started a re-jurying process in 2022 to select artists for three-year studio leases. The art center’s founding members were exempt from re-jurying and were offered year-to-year leases.
The request for Torpedo Factory Art Center operator proposals had included a provision about exploring displays of historical archaeology artifacts. That came after a request from the Alexandria Archaeological Commission that the Torpedo Factory operator selection process incorporate the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, which is located in the art center. The Torpedo Factory was floated as a potential landing place for the 18th century ship hull found at the Hotel Indigo site on the waterfront in 2015.
