The Commission exists to assist the growth of exciting and diverse arts and humanities programs in the City of Virginia Beach.

FY2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT

Ballet Virginia International

Little Theatre of Virginia Beach

Richmond Ballet

Symphonicity

The Hurrah Players

The Tidewater Winds

Tidewater Arts Outreach

ViBe Creative District

Virginia Arts Festival

Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum

Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

Virginia Musical Theatre

Virginia Opera Association

Virginia Stage Company

Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Young Audiences of Virginia

Zeiders American Dream Theater

2018 GRANT RECIPIENTS

MARKETING

The Arts and Humanities Commission is also a marketing resource for local arts groups. The Commission sponsors co-op ads in local newspapers to make advertising more affordable for arts organizations. This year, the Arts Commission partnered with VEER Magazine and The Virginian-Pilot to provide this valuable resource. Paid online advertising, plus organic social media posting continues to drive traffic to VBArts.org - a listing of the arts groups’ upcoming events. The Arts Commission has over 2,600 Facebook followers, 1,100 Instagram followers and 1,007 Twitter followers.

500+ 157K $272KPERFORMANCES INVIRGINIA BEACH

FY2017 PROJECT GRANTS PUBLIC ART

LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

FUNDED COMBINEDAUDIENCE ATTENDANCE

RETURNED

DIRECT REVENUE TO THE CITY

n�In Fiscal Year 2017 (most recent data available) the Arts and Humanities Commission funded over 500 performances and programs within the City of Virginia Beach.

n�Commission-sponsored programs reached a combined audience attendance of

approximately 157,000. n�Arts organizations receiving Commission grants in 2017 returned over $272,000 in

direct revenue through admission taxes and venue rental to the City and returned 57¢ on each dollar of the Commission’s annual appropriation back to the City.

n�Funding from the Arts and Humanities Commission, for example, sponsored the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)’s Wayne White: Monitorium and New Waves 2018 exhibits, and Virginia Musical Theatre’s productions of Mamma Mia and Freaky Friday! at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.

The City’s Public Art Program is overseen by the Commission’s Public Art Committee. The Sandler Center Art Gallery, located on the 2nd and 3rd floor lobbies of the Sandler Center, continues to offer exhibition opportunities for serious visual and fine craft artists exhibiting two dimensional works. Exhibits are rotated on a bi-monthly basis. The gallery is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday from 10am-6pm, Saturdays from 10am-2pm and during any performance at the Sandler Center.

Virginia Beach’s Temporary Art Program strives to engage, inspire and surprise the community with unique works of art for a designated period of time, while creating vibrant meeting places and raising the profile of public art in the City on both a national and international platform.

These murals have been added to the City’s public art portfolio in 2017 and 2018. n Town Center Garage Murals by local artist, Rick Nickeln Maser Projects: 19th Street Pop-Up Art Park, MOCA Mural, Stage in ViBe Parkn Mount Trashmore Stairway Mural, “Helping Hands” by local artist, Aimee Brucen Rudee Walkway Mural, “Seashore Cathedral” by international artist, Pepe Gaka

In 2017, four eligible arts and humanities organizations received LOD grant funding which allowed representatives from each organization to attend an array of classes, workshops and conferences related to non-profit management.