Mason District Committee proposes an action agenda for the arts

The Mason Arts Advisory Committee presented its report to Mason Supervisor Jimenez, which included recommendations for promoting the arts in the community, such as hosting an arts festival and providing gallery and work space for artists.

Jimenez launched the committee in February with the goal of exploring new directions for the community’s cultural landscape, says committee chair James Albright, a local artist and community activist.

“The supervisor discussed the presentation intensively with the group. He promised to review the results and provide feedback in early July,” Albright said.

The committee held four meetings. “A fixed group of around 20 participants, including representatives from the fields of visual arts, music, performance, literature and crafts, presented hopes and wishes and then ranked them in priorities for implementation,” he says.

The Arts Action Agenda identified five cultural focus areas and selected two key priorities in each area for further research:

Events – The Committee proposes regular or one-off events or activities involving some form of artistic expression or cultural dissemination.

These may include festivals, existing community events, and spontaneous music or arts events.

Related story: Ideas to expand art opportunities in the Mason District

An annual Mason Arts Festival could include a variety of art forms and vendors in a public venue such as Green Spring Gardens or Eileen Garnett Civic Space.

The arts community could also seek partnerships with existing community events such as Taste of Annandale and the KORUS Festival to share art and culture.

Facilities – Spaces or buildings could host temporary arts activities, such as performances, work spaces or art galleries. These activities could take place in donated vacant spaces or new spaces in private or public ownership.

Vacant shops or offices could be used as studios or galleries for a year or two.

This would require the compilation of a comprehensive database of local artists (such as that being developed by ArtsFairfax) and an analysis of potential vacant sites identified by the county’s Community Revitalization Section or the Mason Land Use Committee.

Artistic Resources/Artistic Community – General needs of the artistic community should be identified, such as access to materials and information.

There is also a great need for networking among artists, for example through social and cultural events. These efforts can be supported by greater communication about cultural opportunities, for which several avenues already exist.

Related story: Annandale celebrates “art in everyday spaces”

Public Art – Mason District could be further enhanced by installing permanent artwork for public enjoyment, possibly in public parks. Fairfax County is currently in the process of better coordinating public art through a master plan process. Using state facilities as exhibition and performance spaces is also important.

Jimenez encouraged the Mason Arts Advisory Committee to continue its work by meeting regularly and pursuing some of the suggestions listed here.

In particular, the Supervisor is a strong advocate of a Mason Arts Festival, which could possibly take place as early as 2025.

To that end, Albright says the committee will create a new meeting schedule starting in late summer.