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Arts groups warn proposed cultural affairs cost‑recovery model would undermine small performing arts organizations
Summary
Avant Bard, Dominion Stage and other arts groups told the County Board that a proposed cultural affairs cost‑recovery model would raise venue fees and threaten the recovery of small theater and performing arts companies.
Representatives of Arlington performing arts organizations said the County Board's proposed cultural affairs cost‑recovery model would impose fees that small nonprofit companies cannot absorb, threatening seasons and the county's arts ecosystem.
Sarah Barker, artistic director of Avant Bard Theater, said the model was not developed with meaningful input from arts groups and would impose new venue and staffing costs that could prevent smaller companies from staging multiple shows per season. She asked the board to pause implementation and form a working group with arts groups to develop alternatives, such as a separate grant program to cover venue and staffing costs.
Jason Damaso, president of Dominion Stage, said his small community theater relies on a longstanding 10% surcharge model for use of Gunston's black box and that the proposed change would end Dominion Stage's ability to perform at that venue. He asked the board to reallocate an estimated $70,000 of projected fee revenue to continue county support for operating theater venues so small groups can survive.
Speakers characterized the proposed change as reversing an earlier "incubator" approach that helped smaller companies grow and urged the board to consult the arts community and consider alternate grant mechanisms or shared services (for example, shared grant writing) to maintain arts access and local cultural tourism.
