Equity/Transparency

Equity:

Torpedo Factory Art Center holds the notion of working toward a world where we are all embraced for who we are and are able to thrive to reach our highest potential. Removing barriers to full participation and belonging in life and culture. Equity means promoting just and fair inclusion throughout our city, and creating the conditions in which everyone can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.

Torpedo Factory Art Center values a diverse community of artists that reflects representation from different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as different artistic media, styles, and forms of expression. Torpedo Factory Art Center values artists of all stages of their career, regardless of their formal arts training.

Therefore, when reviewing applicants’ backgrounds in Phase II, jurors considered the career level of the applicant(s). Applicants’ background should have matched their career level or exceeded their career level. The Art Center strived to eliminate potential barriers in this application, giving everyone an equitable chance to compete.

Jaqueline Tucker, the City’s Race and Social Equity Officer was consulted while developing the process. ALL Alexandria was used as a starting point. Free applications were offered. Reasonable accommodations for disability, language translation, and free access to the application was offered. Additionally, in-person presentations were scheduled for a weeknight and weekend day to allow for easier participation. Video and zoom accommodations were offered to artists who could not attend in-person presentations. In the past, artists were selected and had to wait years for the possibility of getting a studio. This new process provides an equitable way of gaining a studio without the wait and provides opportunity for more artists.

The application asked for applicants’ gender identity, disability status, language, ethnicity and/or race, and age. This information was not shared with the Jurors and held no bearing on scores. You may read demographic information in the 2022 Jury Report found at torpedofactory.org/studiojury.

Jurors were selected to reflect diversity. When marketing the application, special attention was given to universities, including HBCUs, organizations such as the Arts Administrators of Color, regional arts publications, and more. Webinars were provided to offer step-by-step guidance on the application process. The application also offered helpful links including “practices for photographing your artwork,” “resources for writing an artist statement,” and “resources for writing an artist’s resume or CV.” Incumbent artists were also provided with a comprehensive list of local photographers who take photographs of artwork for digital slides. At the start of the lease, the studio will have publicly subsidized rent of $16.88 per square foot per year – providing opportunity for more artists.

Transparency:

Torpedo Factory Art Center is committed to a transparent application process. Art Cente artists and community members were invited to participate in developing this process. Incumbent artists were given a copy of the juror’s agreement with the City. All artists received the scoring criteria and were offered webinars on how to apply. Applicants and visitors were encouraged to attend the in person application presentations in Phase III, where artists presented to jurors. When requested, applicants received their scores, placement, and written feedback from the jurors. A survey of 80% of the applicants scored the application as 88% easy, and 83% fair and transparent.

RETURN 2022 SELECTED ARTISTS CATALOG