This year, Torpedo Factory Art Center celebrates its 50th anniversary! Join us for weekend-long celebrations starting on September’s 2nd Friday (9/13).
Details of the event
Friday, 9/13 | 7-10 p.m.
Dress in your best 70s attire and enjoy live music and art activities! We will have a fun tie dye project available for visitors through the Alexandria City Office of the Arts Mobile Art Lab. Food from Scuttlebutt Bakery and beverages will be for sale, plus a variety of merchandise available for purchase. Open to the public.
Saturday, 9/14
An exclusive and private ticketed event reserved for important guests and dignitaries, current and former Torpedo Factory Art Center artists, and notable members of the public. The Art Center will close at 5pm on this day.
Sunday, 9/15 | 12-2 p.m.
A family-friendly celebration that will feature live acoustic guitar tunes, fun face painting, and a tie dye event hosted by the Mobile Art Lab. Open to the public.
In 1973, many roads met to form a new cultural hub in Alexandria. Marian Van Landingham, as president of The Art League, sought a new building to house the nonprofit. Alexandria was also preparing for its bicentennial celebrations and wanted to improve the derelict waterfront by 1974. James W. Coldsmith, editor of the Alexandria Journal, suggested Van Landingham consider the abandoned torpedo plant, solving two problems at once.
After renovations were completed, the new art center began offering studio space for rent to artists at a rate below market value, a commitment that continues today. When the Art Center opened to the public in September 1974, 142 artists had studios in the building.
The space began attracting more artists and visitors, quickly gaining popularity. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the number of resident artists grew, occupying more of the building’s space. The Art Center became known for its unique open studio concept, where visitors could interact with artists.
Today, the Art Center remains the creative engine for the region, welcoming more than 500,000 guests annually. A beloved Alexandria landmark, the Art Center continues to foster connections among artists and the public that ignite the creative spirit!
