Location
Artisphere
1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington VA 22209
(703) 875-1100
www.artisphere.com
Artisphere is a new breed of urban arts center that features four distinct performance venues, three visual art galleries, a 4,000 square foot ballroom, and a free Wi-Fi town square. With intimate co-located spaces and multiple programs occurring simultaneously, Artisphere was designed for people and art to collide. Its unique footprint encourages visitors coming for a familiar activity to try something new. With programming ranging from contemporary visual art, Shakespeare, late-night dance parties, and multi-cultural film fests to spoken word, chamber music, family programs and swing and salsa dancing—the wide array of offerings are as diverse as its audience. With unusually lengthy operating hours, free admission and event ticket prices averaging $15 (many events are free or pay-what-you-can), Artisphere presents the arts in a fresh and less formal environment. People of all ages can hang out and experience the arts early or late, at a reasonable price point and at their own convenience and pace.
Mission
Connect people to the fun and wonder found in creativity, celebrate diverse human expression, and advance art that explores the ideas and issues of our time.
History
Artisphere represents a true public/private partnership. The opening on October 10, 2010 was realized through the collaboration of Arlington County's arts support agency, Arlington Cultural Affairs, a Division of Arlington County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID), a non-profit corporation and Monday Properties. With a long history of strong support for the arts and recognition for imaginative advancement, sound management and strong community participation in all aspects of governance, Arlington County first put forward the case for Artisphere when the former Newseum Space at 1101 Wilson Blvd. became available. The Rosslyn BID came alongside the County to provide build-out and operating support and Monday Properties leased the space to the County for 20 years. The opening ultimately represented forty years of desire on the part of the community for a major arts center that would showcase Arlington's finest arts organizations, present excellent arts programming for the community and provide an attractive metro-accessible venue that would serve the region.
Arlington County will manage Artisphere in the initial years of operation, with the goal of transitioning to a non-profit organization. While Arlington County and the Rosslyn BID subsidize operating costs, Artisphere's breadth of programming is supported through contributed and earned income.
Artisphere
1101 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22209
Parking
We are pleased to offer our patrons free parking for events on evenings and weekends.
For events at Artisphere, please use the N. Kent Street garage entrance after 5pm. Validation is required and can be secured at our front desk at any time during your visit. Please take the elevator to the Main Lobby or "ML" and turn towards the U.S. Post Office. Artisphere's entrance will be directly in front of you.
Metro
Two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro (blue/orange). Exit on Moore Street, turn right to Wilson Boulevard, left one block to Artisphere at 1101 Wilson.
Driving Directions from Virginia
From I-66 E
- Take exit 72 for US-29/Lee Highway
- Take right at US-29 N/Lee Highway
- Take right at North Fort Myer Drive
- Turn left at 19th Street North
- Sharp right at Wilson Boulevard
From 1-395N
- Take exit 10C on the left toward George Washington Memorial Parkway
- Take the 1-395 S exit toward Richmond
- Take exit 8B to merge onto VA-110 N towards 1-66 W/Rosslyn
- Continue onto Wilson Boulevard
Driving Directions from DC/Maryland
From I-395 S
- Take exit 8B to merge onto VA-110 N toward 1-66 W/Rosslyn
- Continue onto Wilson Boulevard
Through DC
- We're just across the Key Bridge from Georgetown
- Proceed down M Street, NW, through Georgetown
- Turn left onto US-29 S/Francis Scott Key Bridge
- Cross the Key Bridge into Virginia
- Stay straight to go onto Fort Myer Drive
- Turn slight left to say on Fort Myer Drive
- Take the 1st left onto Wilson Boulevard
- Make a U-turn at North Kent Street onto Wilson Boulevard
Accessibility
Artisphere strives to make its performances and facilities accessible to all our patrons. For additional information or if you have questions, need assistance, or an accommodation not mentioned below, please call our main number at 703-875-1100 (voice), 703-228-1855 (TTY), or acarpenter@arlingtonva.us.
