Dedicated to showcasing the very best of the visual and performing arts in the City of Fairfax, Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts is an annual three-week festival comprising artists in and at local venues. Spotlight’s 27th season will kick off on Friday, April 20, with the 2nd Annual Mayor’s Ball at the beautiful Sherwood Center, and run until Sunday, May 6. The Spotlight schedule includes more than 40 diverse events—with enough variety to please all audience palettes.
A cooperative effort by the City of Fairfax and George Mason University, Spotlight was formed in 1985 with two aims in mind: to enhance the community’s awareness of the many arts and cultural opportunities offered in Fairfax, and to encourage the expansion of the arts through support of fledgling community arts organizations. To these ends, Spotlight offers six scholarships to high school seniors intending to study arts at Mason and Northern Virginia Community College.
This year, in conjunction with Virginians for the Arts, Spotlight is themed “Minds Wide Open: Virginia Celebrates Children and the Arts.” The statewide program of the same name is a collaboration of artists, arts organizations, museums and libraries presenting thousands of performances, exhibitions, festivals, film screenings and readings by, for or about children and the arts.
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In keeping with this theme, Spotlight will bring together students from our local schools and youth from our local programs—all artists from Fairfax and the surrounding area. Spotlight will also feature several events especially designed for younger audiences, including the exciting premiere of Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh,” brought to The Sherwood Center by Acting for Young People.
Feel free to peruse the Spotlight schedule for a complete listing of this year’s events. If you’re looking for talent on display in Fairfax, you’ll find it during the 27th season of Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts!
