Alexandria, VA – While major anniversaries often inspire reflection, Art on the Avenue is celebrating its 30th year by focusing on the future, highlighting Alexandria’s next generation of creatives with a new young artist block spotlighting teen artists who completed the inaugural Avenue Ambition program.
A ten-workshop series, Avenue Ambition gives teen creatives the tools and skills to create, market, and sell their work. In this partnership between Art on the Avenue, Dope Focus, and Alexandria Library, teens who attend at least half of the workshops and provide a sales/marketing plan and works to sell will be eligible to be a vendor at Art on the Avenue. These are coveted spots, as over 600 artists applied for 350 slots in the juried festival.
“Avenue Ambition was developed as a way to help young people who are interested in a career in the arts understand the business side of being a professional, which can often be a barrier to young artists,” said Alexandria Library Teen Services Coordinator El Simmons. “Hands-on business experience often comes with risk and a significant time investment, which can mean less time for artists to spend doing what they love: making art.”
The series, which featured workshops with artists, marketing consultants, financial consultants, and event planners—including Art on the Avenue founder Pat Miller—was created by Simmons and Amber Bryson, the founder and director of Dope Focus, a creative platform that elevates underrepresented talent and supports artists by providing a way to exhibit their abilities and help them grow in their careers.
“This program was designed to teach teens different ways to express themselves as both an artist and as an entrepreneur,” said Bryson, an Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 honoree. “Avenue Ambition brings in special guests and artists, giving teens access to creatives who have become entrepreneurs—often without formal training—by following their hearts.”
The teen artists work in a wide variety of mediums, including batik, crocheting, jewelry, painting, writing, and illustration. Workshops covered topics such as goal-setting, booth layout and design, pricing, inventory management, market research, and event planning.
Bryson’s best advice for aspiring artists? “Trust your gut. If you believe you’re worth something, someone will pay you.”
The young artists will have two opportunities to share their work with the public, at the Avenue Ambition Vendor Showcase on Monday, Sept. 22, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Beatley Central Library, and at Art on the Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Mount Vernon Avenue in the heart of Del Ray. Both events are free and open to all. Learn more at alexlibraryva.org/avenue-ambition.
