New Home For Art League Up For Review As Relocation Deadline Looms

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As future redevelopment prompted the Art League to seek a new location for the majority of its classrooms, a new location is up for City of Alexandria review.

The Art League, a nonprofit providing art education and other art programs, hosts its classes at 305 Madison Street in Old Town North and others in its Torpedo Factory Art Center space. But the Montgomery Center, a block of business tenants, is slated to be redeveloped into a mixed-use development by Carr Companies.

The nonprofit got a lease extension on its Montgomery Center space through June 30, 2024 to continue its summer, fall, winter and spring classes without interruptions. In the meantime, it is planning for a new location.

That new location at 800 Slaters Lane is up for Planning Commission review on Sept. 5. If advanced, the proposal will go to City Council on Sept. 23.

The building, a former print shop, is currently vacant and sits in an area with townhomes, multifamily buildings, retail shops and offices. At the space, the Art League will offer up to 17 studios for classroom art education and workshops serving all ages and skill levels. Courses could include drawing, painting, watercolor painting, fiber art, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography, jewelry making, clay animation, silk screening, and stained glass.

Around 40 people would be in the building at a time, according to a city staff report. There are 16 parking spaces and five bicycle parking spaces proposed.

City staff expressed support for the proposal in a report being presented to the Planning Commission.

"This property is an opportunity to keep a revered cultural establishment within the City limits and one proven to harmonize within its surrounding community," the staff report says. "As proposed, this use would activate a long vacant building and its approval would maintain unique educational experiences for the immediate and broader community. With an average occupancy of 40 people, the use is not expected to overwhelm the local street system or to adversely impact nearby residential properties."

The Art League’s offices, a few classrooms, and art supply shop are planned to stay at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

Residents can learn more about the proposal during an "Office Hours" event with executive director Suzanne Bethel at the Art League's gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center (Studio 21) at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.