The city of Alexandria could take a step closer to choosing a new operator for the Torpedo Factory Art Center, following last night’s City Council meeting (Tuesday).
City Council voted to advance to public hearing and final vote an agreement for an operator to lease, manage and operate the historic arts facility at 105 N. Union Street. The public hearing and final vote are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24.
An Alexandria artist is preparing to host her first-ever portrait exhibition at the Torpedo Factory Art Center this fall.
Lifelong artist Mahua Mazumdar’s new exhibition, “Expressions of Light,” features 15 portraits “exploring the nuances of human presences, vulnerability, complexity and joyous moments,” she told ALXnow. The collection will be available to view at The Art League Gallery from Nov. 12-Dec. 7 at 105 N. Union Street.
Political signs displayed in an artist’s studio window at the Torpedo Factory Art Center have drawn national attention on social media this week, sparking debate over free speech in city-owned facilities. Alexandria officials have not publicly stated whether they can take action on the controversial display.
UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Artist M. Alexander Gray provided a statement to ALXnow defending his work and questioning the focus on his signs. Story updated below.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center will host its 30th annual Art Safari on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 4 p.m., offering free hands-on activities for children and families.
The event features art projects led by Art Center artists on all three floors of the waterfront facility. Activities are designed for children aged 5 to 12, although younger children can participate with adult assistance.
This coming Monday, September 1, is Labor Day and a number of city government offices and facilities will be closed.
Trash collection will move to Tuesday for the holiday, parking enforcement at metered spaces will be lifted, and it will be your last chance to enjoy public pools. See a full listing of what’s open and closed below.
Alexandria’s government offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a good time.
Here’s what you need to know about city services on Independence Day.
Alexandria city staff is moving forward with plans to transition the Torpedo Factory Art Center to a new governance structure, with three organizations responding to a recently issued Request for Information (RFI).
Deputy City Manager Emily Baker provided this update to City Council during Tuesday’s legislative meeting, outlining progress on implementing recommendations from a stakeholder task force that worked on the issue in 2022 and 2023.
Summer in Alexandria is set to sizzle with an eclectic mix of festivals, cultural celebrations, and vibrant community gatherings, as Visit Alexandria unveiled today (May 8) a packed schedule designed to draw residents and visitors alike.
From early June through August, Alexandria will host everything from the 8th Annual Alexandria Pride Fair and Juneteenth commemorations to the ALX Jazz Fest on the waterfront, alongside the return of popular events like Alexandria Restaurant Week and the Old Town Arts & Crafts Fair, promising a season full of diverse experiences.
The City of Alexandria is seeking information from qualified organizations interested in potentially managing the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.), a move officials emphasize does not signal changes to the waterfront landmark’s artistic mission.
The city recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify entities with the experience and interest in possibly operating the art center in the future. The RFI, which closes May 16, 2025, is not a formal proposal solicitation but rather a preliminary step to gauge market interest.
A new gallery on display this month at the Del Ray Artisans Gallery (2704 Mount Vernon Avenue) explores the risks and opportunities new technology like machine learning pose for artists.
The exhibit “Artificial or Intelligence?” explores the impact AI trends are having on artists. That impact has, by and large, been almost entirely negative, with image generating software stealing from the work of human artists, but the gallery offers that exhibit viewers should draw their own conclusions.
Break out your platform shoes and bell-bottoms, because the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union Street) is throwing a 1970’s-themed party for its 50th birthday.
Every year, an estimated half-million people visit the former munitions plant-turned art center along the Alexandria waterfront for art shows, parties and to bookend a genuine Old Town experience.
