Arlington Artists Alliance

LOCATION ESTABLISHED OWNER(S)
Various 2000 Jane McElvany Coonce and Cindy Donohoe

Founded in 2000, The Arlington Artists Alliance is a community group dedicated to the art and artists of Arlington. Before founding the Alliance, the group noticed they were traveling to spaces all over the region to show their art while little existed in Arlington; they decided they could do something about that. They first showed their art in a local Starbucks, causing interest and membership in the group to grow. A long relationship with Cassatt’s restaurant on Langston Boulevard (where Café Colline is today) allowed for a rotation of many local artists to be seen. From just a handful of artists initially, the group has now grown to include over 225 members. 

As they grew, the Arlington Artists Alliance sought their own gallery space. Through the years, they have occupied gallery and studio space throughout Arlington, including several locations along Langston Boulevard. Starting with an empty storefront in the Lee Heights Shopping Center, they began weekend shows that led to a full-time space. This space allowed them to grow even further and to begin selling local artists’ works. They moved to a couple of other locations before setting for twelve years in Crystal City, where a great local partnership allowed for gallery and studio space for the alliance artists. After that, they moved to Clarendon, where walk-by traffic allowed them to get more artists’ work shown and sold. The latest Alliance Gallery resides in The Crossing in Clarendon. 

The Arlington Artists Alliance has grown significantly over the years from a group of volunteers into a professional organization. These days, they have become much more sophisticated, with a full-time gallery director along with a staff and board who help plan events and community partnerships. However, they pride themselves on not losing their cooperative feel and community focus. The group still does so much together, from organizing events throughout Arlington to building out the galleries themselves. They also now run professional jury shows where artists from all over the area show their art in public, professionally judged competitions.

Then there are the partnerships. There is their annual art show with the Arlington Career Center where they work with over 75 local students to help them create the concept for the show, teach them how to curate the artwork, and help them plan and hold an opening reception. Many of the students end up selling their artwork at the event. They have helped curate art panels that help soften the Rosslyn Metro construction zone. Additionally, the Alliance has a large wall display at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. They also currently have art exhibitions in nine locations around Arlington, including county offices, hospitals and care centers, churches, doctor’s offices, and local businesses. Finally, there is the ongoing relationship between the Arlington Artists Alliance and LBA. Since first contacting them over five years ago, the Alliance has participated in nearly all our main events. For example, their artists brought 

Jane McElvany Coonce co-founded the Arlington Artists Alliance with a group of her art students at Arlington Community Learning. A lifelong Arlingtonian, Jane wanted to create an art space dedicated to Arlington. From the beginning, the group's goal was to expose the public to art. While theater and music programs garnered space throughout Arlington, little was available for art and artists, so they decided to fight for more. Jane served as the President of the Alliance for nine years and is currently a Board Member.

Current President, Cindy Donohoe, moved to Arlington with her husband, a native Arlingtonian. She began taking art classes with Jane and was asked to join the Alliance and then to take over the reins. She fondly remembers selling her first piece of artwork through the Alliance in the early days of the group. Cindy and Jane work closely together to guide the group forward. 

Jane and Cindy hope that in the future, they will return to Langston Boulevard with a dedicated gallery and studio space allotted in the new development and construction along the corridor. They would like to find a community partner that could guarantee permanent space for galleries, studios, and possibly classrooms. There are very few spaces available in the county for art and artists, and they think the vision of a more walkable corridor along Langston Boulevard lends itself to becoming home to a community hub for creating art.

Photo Gallery

All images © Cindy Kane Photography

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