Operating Support Grants are foundational to the stability of Fairfax nonprofit arts and culture organizations by providing County funds, distributed by ArtsFairfax, for the basic operation of invaluable programs, services and facilities these organizations provide to Fairfax County area residents.    

“As ArtsFairfax’s largest grant program, Operating Support Grants are a significant investment in the local arts economy, empowering a broad spectrum of Fairfax cultural organizations to become more resilient, stable, and poised for growth,” says Linda Sullivan, ArtsFairfax President & CEO.   

Applications were reviewed by a distinguished group of panelists with arts and administrative expertise. $436,767 was awarded to 44 organizations representing all nine Fairfax County magisterial districts and all arts disciplines. 

 FY23 ArtsFairfax Grants by the Numbers  

* $436,767 awarded to 44 organizations 

* 65% of the applicant organizations are led by women   

* 13% are led by Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC)  

* 9 all magisterial districts represented  

* 6 first-time applicants  

FY2023 ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grant Recipients 

Organization    District    Discipline 

1st Stage    Providence    Theater 

Acting For Young People    Braddock    Arts Education 

Amadeus Concerts    Dranesville    Instrumental Music 

American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras    Mason    Arts Education 

ArtLords/Wartists    Providence    Visual Arts 

Arts Herndon Inc.    Dranesville    Multidisciplinary/Arts Services 

BalletNova Center for Dance    Mason    Dance 

Cappies of the National Capitol Area (NCA)    Dranesville    Theater 

City of Fairfax Band Association    City of Fairfax    Instrumental Music 

City of Fairfax Theatre Company    City of Fairfax    Theater 

Creative Cauldron    City of Falls Church    Theater 

Fairfax Choral Society    Mason    Vocal Music/Opera 

Fairfax Jubil-Aires    City of Fairfax    Vocal Music/Opera 

Fall for the Book, Inc    Braddock    Literature 

Falls Church Arts, Inc.    City of Falls Church    Visual Arts 

Gin Dance Company    Hunter Mill    Dance 

Iranian American Community Center    Providence    Multidisciplinary/Arts Services 

Jazz4Justice    City of Fairfax    Instrumental Music 

Mosaic Harmony    Providence    Vocal Music/Opera 

Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre    Mount Vernon    Arts Education 

Music for Life    Braddock    Arts Education 

New Dominion Chorale    Dranesville    Vocal Music/Opera 

NextStop Theatre Company    Dranesville    Theater 

Northern Virginia Players    Braddock    Theater 

Providence Players of Fairfax    Mason    Theater 

Public Art Reston    Hunter Mill    Visual Arts 

Reston Community Players    Dranesville    Theater 

Smart House Movie, LLC    Lee    Film 

Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art    Hunter Mill    Visual Arts 

The Choralis Foundation    Providence    Vocal Music/Opera 

The Fairfax Ballet Company    Sully    Dance 

The McLean Project for the Arts (MPA)    ranesville    Visual Arts 

The Reston Chorale    Hunter Mill    Vocal Music/Opera 

The Vienna Jammers Percussion Ensemble, Inc.    Hunter Mill    Instrumental Music 

Traveling Players Ensemble, Inc.    Providence    Arts Education 

Vienna Arts Society    Hunter Mill    Visual Arts 

Vienna Choral Society (VCS)    Hunter Mill    Vocal Music/Opera 

Vietnamese Literary and Artistic Club (VLAC)    Dranesville    Literature 

Virginia Chamber Orchestra    Dranesville    Instrumental Music 

Virginia Winds Academy, Inc.    Springfield    Arts Education 

VOCE, INC.    Hunter Mill    Vocal Music/Opera 

Washington West Film Festival    Hunter Mill    Film 

We Rock Cancer    Dranesville    Vocal Music/Opera 

Workhouse Arts Center    Mount Vernon    Multidisciplinary/Arts Services 

ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grants are awarded annually to arts organizations of all disciplines for up to 15% of their general operating expenses with a cap at $50K. Applications are reviewed and scored by an independent grant panel comprised of local professionals with expertise in various arts disciplines, knowledge of grant practice, or knowledge of the Fairfax community. To ensure transparency of ArtsFairfax grantmaking practices, all panel reviews are made accessible to the applicants and general public.  

About ArtsFairfax 

ArtsFairfax is the nonprofit designated as Fairfax County’s local arts agency. Dedicated to the belief that arts are essential to a thriving community, the ArtsFairfax mission is to expand support for and access to arts and culture opportunities for Fairfax County’s more than 1.2 million residents. By offering informational, financial, and programmatic services, ArtsFairfax promotes the role of arts and culture to deepen social engagement, create a sense of place, and fuel economic growth. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) since 1964, ArtsFairfax provides these services to all who contribute to and experience arts in Fairfax County, and is funded in part by the County, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as corporations, foundations, and individuals.