It's possible that Alexandria could have lost The Art League.
As soon as news broke that the organization would have to move out of its longtime Montomery Center space in Old Town North due to redevelopment, other jurisdictions started lobbying for The Arts League to move. But the organization, born and raised in Alexandria, had little interest in moving.
The Art League will be the recipient of some innovative financing and support from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) ,the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and Freedom Bank. With the financing, The Art League, which is in final negotiations on a lease for a warehouse building at 800 Slaters Lane, will be able to stay in Alexandria and simultaneously activate new gallery space at The Muse, a residential development in Old Town North.
"The art league is such a great organization," said Jennifer Atkins, chair of the Industrial Development Authority. Further, the organization had done such a good job in its own governance, "It just made sense to be able to do this because it works for everybody, benefits the city and keeps this great organization here.”
There are two loans for The Art League — one directly from IDA, and a second loan from Freedom Bank. The Art League will need to fundraise the remainder of its build-out costs, and people interested in supporting the organization can visit The Art League's website at www.theartleague.org.
By being able to finance the large space on Slaters Lane, the organization will be able to stay in Alexandria and simultaneously move into its space in The Muse and use it as intended (primarily as gallery space).
The Art League started in 1954 and focuses on fine art classes and arts-outreach programs. It also has an art supply store and gallery space. The organization has space for its headquarters at The Torpedo Factory, but most of its classes and gallery spaces are in 20,000 square feet at the Montgomery Center, which is slated for redevelopment in 2024.
The space on Slaters Lane is “essentially a unicorn,” said The Art League Executive Director Suzanne Bethel. The Art League couldn't easily move into an empty office building because of needs for upgraded electricity, ventilation for kilns and more. Finding a warehouse space will be a much easier build-out for the organization, Bethel said. The new Slaters Lane space will house the sculpture department, multipurpose classroom spaces, the ceramics department and more.
While the IDA has a long history of helping local nonprofit organizations, this is the first time IDA has reached into its toolbox to help a large nonprofit organization in this manner. "This is a little bit of a first foray into our role helping bring to life the visions of the city and its residents," Atkins said. She hopes the organization can help other groups in need of innovative solutions.
Ideally, The Art League's Fall 2024 classes will be in the new spaces, with a move slated for July. The Muse space should be activated around the same time.
