Dear Friend of the Arts,
 
It is time to pack away the heavy coats, winter hats, and snow shovels and prepare for a Spring season filled with music, live performances, and the visual arts. There is so much to look forward to this Spring, and we wanted to give you a preview of everything in store for coming season.

The 2025 Spotlight on the Arts Festival

The Annual Spotlight on the Arts Festival is just around the corner. 

Imagine it’s 1942 and you are a young GI on a weekend pass in New York City. You are looking for a place to dance, grab a bite to eat, and have a great time. You end up at the Stage Door Canteen on Broadway, run by the American Theatre Wing, which featured “No liquor but damned good anyways.” By November 1945, Stage Door Canteens were operating in eight U.S. cities, London, and Paris. Together, they entertained and fed 11 million Allied servicemen. 
 
To celebrate 40 years of supporting the arts, the 2025 Spotlight on the Arts Festival will capture the vibe and energy of the Stage Door Canteen right here in Fairfax. We will turn the performance space of the Sherwood Center into our very own Stage Door Canteen.  Over the weekends of April 25-27 and May 2-4, you will be able to see some wonderful concerts and shows. In addition to the great lineup at Sherwood, you can go to Old Town Square to hear DC Starlight Orchestra play the big band hits of the era, spend an evening under the stars with the City of Fairfax Theater Company at Veterans Amphitheater, and enjoy over 30 other live events showcasing the thriving arts community in Fairfax.
 
This year’s Opening Reception will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 7:00 pm at the Sherwood Community Center. Spotlight on the Arts is proud to announce this year’s honoree, Jennifer Passey. Save the date on your calendar and join us as we thank Jennifer for her years of service to our community and for her lifelong support of the arts.

Buy Tickets to the Opening Reception

The Spotlight on the Arts 2025 Art Contest Sponsored by Capital One Hall

As the premier organization for supporting the arts in our region, we are delighted to host the Second Annual Art Contest sponsored by Capital One Hall.  The contest is open to artists of any age and to all forms of visual art.  There is no entry fee, and all entries are due by March 15, 2025.  We are also delighted to announce the creation of a prize to recognize works of art submitted by high school students.  The winning student submission will receive $500 and automatically be entered as a contest finalist.  The following prizes will be selected from twenty finalists:

-- The New York Life Grand Prize: $1,500

-- Second Prize: $1,000

-- Third Prize: $500

Attendees of the Opening Reception will also determine the winner of the 2025 Art Contest sponsored by Capital One Hall and have the opportunity to purchase amazing artworks by local and emerging artists.

Spotlight on the Arts Art Contest

Scholarship News!

Spotlight on the Arts’ mission is to enhance the awareness of arts, cultural, and entertainment opportunities in the central Fairfax area; to promote visual and performing arts events; to support new and emerging artists and arts groups; and to provide arts-related scholarship opportunities for George Mason University students.
 
We are pleased to highlight Ella Grant, a 2024-2025 Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Scholarship recipient. Ella is a Theater Student at George Mason University.  She will be starring as Miranda in Shakespeare’s Tempest playing at the Harris Theater April 3-6.  Come out and support Ella and enjoy a night at the theater.

Donate to the Scholarship Program

We thank you for your support for the arts in our community and hope to see you at many events throughout Spotlight 2025!