This Opportunity Closed On April 18, 2023.

Check Back For The 2024 Application.

This annual process demonstrates the City’s commitment to the arts and maintaining the building as an Art Center with the highest quality artists at its heart.

Torpedo Factory Art Center aims to be a 21st-century, leading arts institution with a broad and deep connection to Alexandria residents, visitors, and regional artists built on equity and high performance with a curated building of artists at its heart.

84 artists applied in 80 applications. 29 artists in 27 applications were offered a studio. 20 artists were offered to become an Artist Pro Tem, eligible to sublease, be on the Art Center’s website, take part in programing, and may obtain a studio should one become available (based on ranking).

Read the full 2023 Jury Report 

2023 JURY REPORT

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • 36% of applicants identified as a BIPOC. Of those 38% received studios.
  • 47% of applicants identified as a woman. Of those 55% received studios.
  • 11% of applicants identified as LGBTQ. Of those 7% received studios.

Applicants scored the application as 80% on Fairness and Transparency.

Applicants scored the application as 88% on Ease of the Application.

Torpedo Factory Art Center is accepting applications for Resident Artists — individuals or groups of up to four

Anthony Nsofor in studio 324

— who will earn three-year studio leases and Artists Pro Tem — individuals who will earn the ability to sublease and participate in the Art Center programming.

Applicants accepted as Resident Artists shall receive a three (3)-year studio lease with publicly subsidized rent of $ 17.39 per square foot per year.

The partially blind three-phase process allows a team of four expert, independent jurors to review work for quality and merit. The juror panel will also consider artists’ ability to successfully interact with the general public and positively contribute to the overall Art Center community.

Applications are accepted for individual artists who want a studio, or to become an Artist Pro Tem, or groups of up to four (4) artists that wish to share a studio. Each application is scored as a single applicant, be it an individual application or a group application. The application is in three (3) phases.

Earning a studio at the Art Center is a competitive process. Industry standards for artist communities around the world call for re-jurying an average of every 3–5 years to maintain competition, quality, and evolving art-world standards.

Please review the Open Call information packet for all information.

Download 2023 Open Call Information Packet

Learn about becoming a Resident Artist. 

Learn about becoming an Artist Pro Tem.

Learn about the Operating Rules and Procedures, including Resident Artists maintaining time requirements for open studio hours. 

Application Fee

$45 per new applicant (or applicant group). Free to current Resident Artists and Artists Pro Tem. If the application fee is a barrier, email [email protected] for a free link to an application.

Application Opens March 1, 2023.  Applications due April 18, 2023, by 11:59 PM.

Click Here To Apply Via Submittable

Eligibility

Artist Jacelyn Orellana demonstration

Open to all visual artists, at all levels of their career, over the age of 21.

Mediums includes, but are not limited to:

  • Painting
  • Ceramics
  • Photography
  • Jewelry
  • Glass
  • Fiber
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture
  • Digital
  • Mixed media
  • New or extended media
  • Video / Time-base art

Due to the open-air nature of the studios, media that produces toxic fumes are not permitted, as well as artwork that requires nonstop continuous loud noise. Artists using media of a toxic or hazardous nature shall follow all applicable laws and regulations.

Jurors

  • Kerry Brougher is the former Chief Curator of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., where he also served as Deputy Director and Interim Director.
  • Jaynelle Hazard is the Executive Director and Curator of Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA).
  • Ara Koh is an artist with adjunct professorships at American University, The George Washington University, and Maryland Institute College of Art.
  • Christine Neptune founded Neptune Fine Art in 2001 in NYC after nearly twenty years of professional experience working in auction houses, museums and fine art galleries in Manhattan.
Read Juror Full Bios Here

Timeline

  • MARCH 1, 2023: Application opens on Submittable.
  • MARCH 15, 2023, AT 5:30 PM: Non-mandatory Free Application Instructional Webinar.
  • MARCH 16, 2023, AT 12 PM: Non-mandatory Free Application Instructional Webinar.
  • APRIL 18, 2023, BY 11:59 PM: Online Applications are due via Submittable.
  • MAY 17, 2023, BY 11:59 PM: Outcome of Phase I is announced.
  • JUNE 5, 2023, BY 11:59 PM: Outcome of Phase II is announced.
  • JUNE 6 – 9, 2023: Scheduling In-Person Application Presentations by staff.
  • JUNE 14, 7 – 10 PM: In-Person Application Presentations held at the Art Center.
  • JUNE 17, 10:30 AM –5 PM: In-Person Application Presentations held at the Art Center.
  • JULY 10 2023, BY 11:59 PM: Outcome of Phase III is announced and studios awarded.
  • SEPTEMBER 30, 2023: Current studio leases end.
  • OCTOBER 1, 2023: Leases begin for incumbent artists who have been re-accepted and retained their current studio.
  • NOVEMBER 1, 2023: Leases begin for all other artists.

Free Instructional Application Webinars

The Art Center shall hold two (2) free webinars for all prospective applicants to review the application process and answer application-related questions. These are optional and have no bearing on juror’s scores. Both webinars shall provide the same information.

Webinars were held on March 15 and 16, 2023.

Click to Watch a Recording of a Webinar
Review Last Year’s Open Call & Outcome Here

Artist Application Resources

Apply for an exhibition, residency, public art, membership, or other kind of artist opportunity may feel challenging. Here are some helpful resources and best practices.

Artist Application Resources

Questions & Accommodations

Direct questions, including requests for reasonable translation or disability accommodations, to [email protected] or contact: 703.746.4570, Virginia Relay 711.

Revitalization Efforts

Click here to learn about continued revitalization efforts of Torpedo Factory Art Center and here for a February 17, 2023 press release.