City of Fairfax, VA
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The City of Fairfax promotes the value of arts and culture by nurturing, investing in and celebrating the creative contributions of artists, musicians and arts organizations. By engaging the community, encouraging participation and facilitating access to the arts, the City is working with local artists and arts organizations to build a vibrant community for all of the City's residents, businesses and visitors.
For more information about the Cultural Arts in Fairfax, contact Cultural Arts Manager Megan DuBois at Megan.DuBois@fairfaxva.gov or 703-273-6097
Below are Upcoming Cultural Arts Programs.
Town Hall with Bill T. Jones: A Conversation on Community, Identity, and Art at Old Town Hall (3999 University Dr, Fairfax, VA), Wednesday, January 29 at 7:30pm. The event is FREE but reservations are requested here.
Town Hall with Bill T. Jones: A Conversation on Community, Identity, and Art features Jones in Conversation with professors Franklin Dukes and Wendi Manuel-Scott. Jones’s work has long explored the idea of social justice and representation, asking the question “who gets left behind in our collective history, and how do we build a better future for all members of our community?” Dukes and Manuel-Scott have been exploring this question as it pertains to college campuses in the south, grappling with the history of slavery and monuments to the confederacy that still exist. Dukes’ work with UCARE (University & Community Action for Racial Equity) for the University of Virginia, and Manuel-Scott’s work with the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial project, create opportunities for communities to explore how public art can serve as powerful mediums for repair, healing, and recognition. Considering Bill’s artistic work as a basis for that response, the three will explore how we move forward as a more inclusive and united community.
Panelists
Wendi Manuel-Scott, Ph.D., is a School of Integrative Studies history professor and former Director of African and African American Studies at Mason. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses that explore Black resistance and agency from a diasporic and gendered perspective. In addition to her teaching and research, Wendi has led several public history projects in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Buckingham Counties that encourage the public to reimagine a past and present in which minoritized voices are centered and affirmed. She has also played a pivotal role in changing the landscape of George Mason University, mentoring and guiding a team of students who researched Mason’s history, leading to the creation of the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial coming in 2021.
E. Franklin Dukes, Ph.D. is a mediator and facilitator with the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation at the University of Virginia. He founded University & Community Action for Racial Equity (UCARE) to address UVA’s legacy of slavery and white supremacy, leads IEN’s “Transforming Community Spaces” project helping communities transform problematic spaces, led community engagement as a member of the design team for UVA’s Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, and was a member of Charlottesville’s Commission on Race, Memorials and Public Spaces determining the fate of the City’s Confederate statues. He received his Ph.D. from GMU’s School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution in 1992.
About the Perfromance
The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company is the second of the Center for the Arts’ inaugural cohort of Mason Artists-in-Residence, a new initiative serving the mission of the Center and the College of Visual and Performing Arts to make the arts an intrinsic part of the lives of every Mason student and Northern Virginia resident.
The Company’s weeklong residency will include critical technical rehearsal time for the premiere of What Problem?; hours with the participating community members and with the Mason University Singers; three masterclasses with the Mason School of Dance; a masterclass with Fairfax County Public Schools’ Fairfax Academy dance students; multiple Mason classroom visits by members of the Company across academic disciplines; as well as collaborations with on-campus student groups.
The Center for the Arts at George Mason University welcomes the return of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company with a thrilling world premiere co-commissioned by the Center, entitled What Problem? Saturday, February 1 at 8 p.m.
Conceived and directed by Bill T. Jones—and featuring choreography by Jones with Janet Wong and the Company—What Problem? provokes the tension between belonging to a community and feelings of isolation during these divisive political times. It is set to spoken word and original live music by Nick Hallett and sung by the Mason University Singers.
What Problem? is co-commissioned by the Center for the Arts at George Mason University. Support for the creation of What Problem? is provided by the Mason Artist-in-Residence program, which is funded, in part, by the George Mason University Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Impact and ARTSFAIRFAX.
Chinese New Year with the City of Faifax and the Xuejuan Dance Ensemble
Saturday, February 8th 2020
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Come celebrate the Chinese New Year with the City of Fairfax and the Xuejuan Dance Ensemble! There will be different kinds of Chinese dances, a short demo class, and a "petting zoo" of Chinese dance props.
The Women's Storytelling Festival
March 13 & 14
The Women’s Storytelling Festival, hosted by Better Said Than Done, will take place March 13-14, 2020, in Fairfax, Virginia. Though storytelling festivals have been a popular event in the US for over 40 years, this will be the first ever storytelling festival with a lineup composed exclusively of women. For time, location, other details, and tickets, visit bit.ly/2020storytellingfestival.
The Women’s Storytelling Festival kicks off Friday, March 13, 2020, with a showcase of local, woman storytellers at The Auld Shebeen, 3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. On Saturday, March 14, 2020, featured storytellers Sheila Arnold, Megan Hicks, Vijai Nathan, Jessica Robinson, Donna Washington, and Kim Weitkamp will perform a range of true, folk, and historical stories throughout the day at Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. In addition, there will be a story swap at Old Town Hall, as well as two show-producer showcase performances at The Auld Shebeen, featuring producers from The Moth, The Stoop, and Story Collider, and more.
The American Shakespeare Center’s 2019/20 National Tour comes to Fairfax with a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on March 21 and March 22 at Old Town Hall. Come see a Midsummer romp full of “humor and wonder” with “spellbinding storytelling...perfect for children and adults alike.” (C-Ville Weekly)
ASC’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream wades into a bayou of masked hobgoblins, enchanting nymphs, and imps who sing the blues. Featuring the oblivious Bottom, plucky Helena, and mischievous Puck, A Midsummer Night’s Dream boasts some of Shakespeare’s most beloved and iconic characters.
This performance is supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts, Fairfax City Economic Development Authority and the City of Fairfax.
Get your Tickets Here!
Saturday, March 21 at 7:30pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/american-shakespere-center-presents-midsummer-nights-dream-tickets-74311968097
Talkback after the performance!
Sunday, March 22 at 1:00pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/american-shakespere-center-presents-midsummer-nights-dream-tickets-77327335141
Performances begin at 8:00pm October through April. Please find the full schedule of performers below. All performance take place at Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax VA 22030, unless otherwise noted. Please arrive early as there are no booked tickets and it is on a first-come, first-served basis.
| Date | Show Title | Performer | Genre |
| October 11 | "Masterworks by Women" | Duo Sorolla | Cello/Piano Duo |
| October 25** | "Time Well Spent" | Funky Fly Project | Funk and Jazz Collective |
| November 8 at 7pm** | Live Music to Film "Nosferatu" | Tom Teasley | Live Score and Percussion |
| December 13 | "Holiday Cheer" | US Navy Band Brass Quintet | Seasonal |
| January 10 | "Exploring the Great American Songbook" | The Hot Lanes Big Band with Bobby Jasinski | Big Band |
| January 24 | "Music of Louisiana" | Zachary Smith and The Dixie Power Trio | New Orleans Jazz |
| January 31** |
"Chocolate Box Concert" | Polaris Piano Trio | Classical |
| February 14 | "A Valentine's Date" | Craig Gildner Trio | Jazz Trio |
| February 28 | "An Evening of Chamber Music" | Alexandria Guitar Quartet | Classical |
| March 13 | "Meet the Parkway Brass" | Parkway Brass | Brass Quintet |
| March 27 | "Dong Xi" | Tom Teasley and Chao Tian | East/West Fusion Music for Dulcimer and World Percussion |
| April 24** |
"Spring Concert at Sherwood" | Cathedral Brass | Classical |
** Performance will take place at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
3740 Old Lee Hwy Fairfax, VA 22030
| All Events are Sponsored by City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts |
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Duo Sorolla: "Masterworks by Women" October 11th at 8pm at Old Town Hall After meeting during graduate school at the Peabody Conservatory, Ismar Gomes and Wan-Chi Su began a collaborative relationship which evolved into their Duo, which has been concertizing for six seasons. In recent seasons, they have performed dozens of recitals on important series throughout the USA, often collaborating with other renowned musicians.
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Funky Fly Project: "Time Well Spent" October 25th at 8pm at Sherwood Center The Funky Fly Project is a funk and jazz collective operating out of Pittsburgh, PA consisting of Winston Bell, Henry Schultz, Brandon Terry, and Eric Dowdell Jr. A powerful combination of skill and virtuosic playing, you would never know by listening that each member of the project is less than nineteen years old. Developing a sound well beyond their age, the quartet fuse classic jazz styles with contemporary funk to create a unique sound that leaves listeners in awe.
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Nosferatu: Live score performed by Tom Teasley November 8th at 7pm at Sherwood Center Presented with ArtScreen
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US Navy Band Harp-Flute Duo: "Holiday Cheer" December 13th at 8pm at Old Town Hall The Navy Band Harp-Flute Duo was formed in 1978, featuring Chief Musicians Emily Dickson, harp, and Christina Bayes, flute. The group performs for official functions such as White House receptions and dinners, State and Defense Department events, and social activities sponsored by the chief of naval operations. The duo also performs clinics and recitals for local elementary school students and childhood development centers.
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The Hot Lanes Big Band With Bobby Jasinski: "Exploring the Great American Songbook" January 10th at 8pm at Old Town Hall The Hot Lanes is a 16-piece culmination of a dream Bobby Jasinski had in 2014. Influenced by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Bobby’s focus of The Hot Lanes is to promote jazz in the D.C. metropolitan area through festivals, concerts, educational masterclasses in the public school system, and other appearances. The group features a diverse and talented group of musicians.
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Zachary Smith & The Dixie Power Trio: "Music of Louisiana" January 24th at 8pm at Old Town Hall
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Polaris Piano Trio: "Chocolate Box Concert" January 31st at 8pm at Sherwood Center A 21st-century piano trio, Polaris is committed to performing music by women and composers of African descent. Concerts by Polaris Piano Trio have included performances on the Piccolo Festival of Spoleto in Charleston, South Carolina and at the Arts Club of Washington (Washington, D.C.) as well as in New York, Maryland and Virginia. Combining their forces, the Polaris Piano Trio performs innovative programs that explore works by women and composers of African descent as well performing works from the standard repertoire.
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Craig Gildner Trio: "A Valentine's Date" February 14th at 8pm at Old Town Hall The Craig Gildner Trio performs frequently in the jazz clubs and music venues of Washington, D.C. and has been performing to enthusiastic audiences for many years. The trio features instrumental and choral arrangements from the Swing Era, Be Bop, Bossa Nova, and Mainstream Jazz including tunes from Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and many other.
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Alexandria Guitar Quartet: "An Evening of Chamber Music" February 28th at 8pm at Old Town Hall
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Parkway Brass: "Meet the Parkway Brass" March 13th at 8pm at Old Town Hall Parkway Brass is a brass quintet based along the Washington D.C. - Baltimore corridor. Parkway Brass is currently the brass quintet in residence at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore. As teachers themselves, the group also values education and performs educational outreach programs at schools. The quintet specializes in new music, having premiered a dozen new compositions and arrangements in the last year.
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Tom Teasley & Chao Tian: Dong Xi March 27th at 8pm at Old Town Hall Award winning world percussion fusing American jazz, world music, and funk converses with spellbinding virtuosity and Chinese folk melodies.
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Cathedral Brass: "Spring Concert at Sherwood" April 24th at 8pm at Sherwood Center Founded in 1983 by the late Ray Abell, the Cathedral Brass performs sacred and secular works from all eras in support of the music ministry at Vienna Presbyterian Church. The group draws its membership from around the DC Metro area, and includes current and former professionals and members of the Service Bands. The Cathedral Brass is under the direction of L. Thomas Vining, Director of Worship and Music at Vienna Presbyterian Church.
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ArtScreen is a free film series celebrating the arts on Friday
evenings at the in the City of Fairfax
All screenings will be at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
3740 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax VA 22030
Join us for a monthly showcase of the spectacular students from George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Every month we will highlight a different artistic discipline and feature some of the talented students from the school. The events are free and will be at Old Town Hall.
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Every Monday, beginning the second Monday in September, there will be family programming. It is open to children of all ages, however especially for those who haven’t yet started school! There will be music, movement, story telling, performances, crafts, and more! All performances and programs begin at10:30am. All performances and programs - unless otherwise noted - will be held at Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax. There is ample parking in the downtown, and stroller access at the rear of Old Town Hall on Main St. Email Megan
Upcoming Funday Mondays
January 6 – Peter McCory - One Man Band
January 13 – Story time and Crafts with Rob the City Manager
January 20 – MLK Day - No Program
January 27 – My Gym
February 3 – Oh Susannah
February 10 – Story time and Crafts with Mi Chu Chu Train
| All Events are Sponsored by City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts & Paint Your Own Pottery |
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‘Tis the Season –A Virginia Opera “Music Connects” Holiday Concert
Friday, Dec 6, 7:30pm at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
This magical, musical journey through everyone’s favorite seasonal carols and classics, introduced by popular author and humorist Dr. Glenn Winters, will delight audiences of all ages! An evening of pure holiday cheer with arias and duets followed by a celebratory gingerbread cookie and cider reception with the cast. A great way to liven up a dark December evening!
“A rollicking band of pirates we!”
Sunday, April 26, 2:00pm at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
Ahoy, matey! Join us this spring for an abbreviated family performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta The Pirates of Penzance. This delightful band of bumblers brings mischief, mayhem and memorable music in collaboration with the City’s “Spotlight on the Arts.” All are encouraged to don their favorite pirate garb and join in a post-performance reception featuring pirate-themed activities and whimsical family photo opportunities with the cast. Aye!
Both performances are free and open to the public!
Join us again in 2020 for more fun programming!
Kidz Korner features family programming every Saturday at 10:30am in Old Town Square during the summer, June-August.