After years of ad-hoc collaborations to boost the region’s arts scene, several Northern Virginia arts agencies are forming a designated multijurisdictional alliance for the first time.

The Northern Virginia Local Arts Agencies (NVLAA) — the official title of the collaboration — includes the Alexandria Office of the Arts, Arlington Cultural Affairs Office, and ArtsFairfax. Starting this fall, they will begin working together in a more formal capacity to support the professional development of artists, performers, and arts nonprofits across the region.

While the three agencies have co-hosted virtual events throughout the pandemic, they realized it would be helpful going forward to act as one body for certain programming.

Lisa Mariam, ArtsFairfax’s senior director of grants, says the Northern Virginia groups began planning the project last fall as they discussed how to support artists during the pandemic. Artists may be from different cities, she says, but they often work and perform throughout the region — thus relying on multiple agencies for professional resources.

“We see the importance of providing support of all kinds, not just [grants], but also providing this professional development to help artists and arts organizations build their capacity,” Mariam says. “This sector was the hardest hit by the pandemic. So, using every possible tool in our kit to help with the recovery of this sector is a big priority.”

The NVLAA group will collaborate on free virtual workshops throughout the fall, with the Falls Church consulting company Brighter Strategies kicking off the series with a program that teaches nonprofits to collect data that will help them with branding and storytelling. Later this fall, the D.C. gallery and consultancy Latela Curatorial will lead a seminar on building websites and mastering e-commerce skills. A final workshop, by the Minnesota-based Springboard for the Arts, will teach artists and organizations how to create a simple business plan. Interested artists can register for the sessions online.

The group is planning additional programming currently in development for the spring. The workshops are aimed at helping creative professionals learn the business side of the industry, and the agencies will split the cost for each session.

Mariam says she expects about 100 artists to participate in each workshop, though the second data and storytelling workshop (Sept. 28) will be capped at 20 people for a more personalized question-and-answer session.

The NVLAA plans to create future programming based on previous data they’ve collected and surveys of artists who attend the sessions this fall.

“As local arts agencies, we work to meet artists and organizations where they are professionally,” the agencies said in a statement. “Northern Virginia artists travel, create, and perform throughout the region and [NVLAA] expands on that community-building to help artists make new connections and learn new skills.”

More on local arts organizations: 

D.C. Invests Nearly $4 Million To Help Create Anacostia Arts District