TFAC CEO Board of Directors Report January 15, 2016 Update on Business Plan The report from consultants Martin Cohen and Mark Anderson (Cultural Planning Group) has been completed and distributed to the Board for review. The report will go to the City Manager and City staff in late January. The Executive Committees of the TFACB and TFAA (along with two rep s from the Art League) meet on Jan. 7 to begin a dialogue about the recommendations. We will continue to work with internal stakeholders (specifically our board and TFAA members) towards finding an organizational structure most of the parties involved can support. GENERAL Met with muralist to begin prep for April installation Lease Committee has voted to recommend Eats Place as new café vendor, starting July 1 (presentation to full board in Feb.) Staff CPR and First Aid classes scheduled for late January, all organizations in building have been invited to participate Secured graduate intern to work on PIF for historic designation of building. Attended reception for new Mayor Allison Silberberg and swearing in event PROGRAMS Increase in attendance for Second Thursday Art Nights. December reported over 300 walk-ins at the Second Thursday Welcome Desk alone. This has been in part to more promotions online as well as a unified presence at the event with program flyers, more interactive events, and a welcome desk with materials, signage, and volunteers instructed on the history of the event and the Torpedo Factory. Followed up with Joani Peacock for a community partnership project with Story District (one of DC s best-known and long-running storytelling series) and Washington Jewish Film Festival. A meeting will be scheduled to discuss the 2016 CRAVE events, with more of a focus on attracting new audiences to the Torpedo Factory while also connecting us to the vibrant DMV art community. After receiving submissions from several graduate schools (including GWU, George Mason, VCU, and American), we confirmed the four Post-Graduate artists for the 2016 year. The first, Paulette Palacios, started Jan 4. FUNDRAISING Successful year-end donations effort. Raised $11,070 with a total for the year of $21,070. 84 total donors, about half are first time donors. (see donor list) Submitted application to City of Alexandria Marketing Fund to buy billboard and digital kiosk signage for one month to advertise day trips via ferry to Alexandria Factory Society s Wine Tasting event on December 18 sold out (60 attendees). Total net sales exceeded $1,800. New efforts to raise funds with young patrons group has begun, with a specific email appeal to their mailing list during our year-end outreach. 1
Through outreach efforts for Holiday Wine Tasting, have fostered new relationships with several local businesses in the northern Virginia such as Altura Wines, L Artisan Lily, Kilwins Alexandria. More partnerships are in development. Completed final reports for Marketing Fund and Arts Commission New VCA grant application due March 1, Alexandria Arts Commission due Feb. 26 Planning has commenced for March 150 with support from the Factory Society (Target Gallery fundraiser) VOLUNTEERS Updates: we have 3 new interns starting Erin Carty, Special Projects intern (a new position) that will be assisting with Marketing/Programs and working directly with the Mural artist, Erin Curtis. She will be starting Jan. 19 th and will be coming in Tuesdays/Thursdays. Catherine Moore, Target Gallery intern, will be working Tuesdays/Sundays Taylor Chauncey, Target Gallery intern, will be working Thursdays/Saturdays Volunteers Info Desk- 7 volunteers regularly (2 just started this week), 2 incoming Regular Special Events Volunteers- 30 Volunteers (we have added 8 since last January 2 nd Thursday- 8/8 slots filled February 2 nd Thursday- 6/6 slots filled (partnering with Junior League) RENTAL EVENTS 2015-2016 July 2 Vanessa Esch/Perry, Cory and Leteace Nomadic Jazz August 5 IllMuslims, Kara, Eric/Hallie, Laura/Dave, Leah Woman Investment Seminar (target gallery) September National Arts, Sally, Rebecca and David, Katie, Julie/Nick, Stacy, 8 Megan, Kirk DC Opera October Daniel and Ari, Ryan and Sam, Liz and Harry, Courtney, SSSAS, 6 Ruth November 5 Alex/Doug, Maureen, Gretchen, Glory Days, NFSA December Julia, Promotory holiday party, First Night, Nancy holiday party, 5 Charles Koch Jan Feb 3 Jeff/Meredith, Lily Batmitzvah, Longwood U March 2 Jackie and Ryan, Mclaughlin Ryder Drumming (Tom Teasley) April 4 Alicia & Devin, Seth and Megan, Nicole, Black Opal Gala May 4 Jada, Juliet and Matthew, CRC event, Jesse June Julia/David, West Springfield Prom, Jim and Myra Chris and 5 Emilia, Jenn 49 4 2
2016-2017 July 3 Tara/Jeff, Ben/Susan, Aaron/ Danielle August 3 Sona, Kate, Tina September 5 Alli, Leah, Sam and Eric, Lamiya, Kelly October 5 Martha, Laura, SSSAS, Heidi, Lisa December 1 First Night January 1 Hana/Rob Feb March April May June Total 18 Total Inquiries: 48 Tours: 11 MARKETING December ATTENDANCE (from Richard) Door Counts 0 WEBSITE (Google Analytics) Total Sessions (new & 15,805 returning) Sitewide Pageviews (new & 48,393 repeat) Pageviews 1 (new & repeat) Home - 19.99% Pageviews 2 (new & repeat) Artist list - 8.88% Pageviews 3 (new & repeat) TAL Classes - 5.93% Pageviews 4 (new & repeat) Artist Search - 4.96% Pageviews 5 (new & repeat) Calendar - 4.61% Referral Site 1 & session count visitalexandria.com - 17.80% Referral Site 2 & session count washingtonian.com - 6.49% Referral Site 3 & session count montgomeryschoolsmd.org - 4.93% Referral Site 4 & session count facebook.com - 4.08% Referral Site 5 & session count pinterest.com - 3.26% FACEBOOK (Facebook Insights) Facebook Likes (end of 13,006 Total Daily Check-ins 920 Post Likes 197 Post Comments 39 3
Post Shares 34 TWITTER (SumAll) Twitter Followers (end of 2,446 Retweets 19,700 Retweet Reach 863 Mentions 95 INSTAGRAM (SumAll) Instagram followers (end of 931 Likes 0 Mentions via hashtag #torpedofactory Location tags for Torpedo Factory 0 0 PINTEREST (Pinterest Analytics) Pinterest Followers (end of Original Pins Created from torpedofactory.org Repins of Content Created from torpedofactory.org Average Daily Impressions of Pins from torpedofactory.org 290 18 1,179 5,886 KLOUT SCORE (end of the 63.13 E-NEWSLETTER Subscribers 9,472 Open Rate 19.6% (Industry Average 24.5%) Clicks 1.1% (Industry Average 3.7%) ONLINE REVIEWS Yelp Review Count 1.0 Average Yelp Stars 3 Trip Advisor Review Count 18.0 Average Trip Advisor Stars 4 4
December 2015 Yelp Review Quotes Positive The whole building is a historical relic where torpedoes were made during wartime so that aspect was pretty cool. It being free is also pretty cool. Not-So Positive However, the focus has shifted more onto the art-side than the historical side because there were only a few signs depicting its relevance so I would give it 3 stars. Trip Advisor Review Quotes Positive We saw beautiful art in the form of sculpture, jewelry, canvas painting of all types, and other art and design forms. Very nice way of getting a sense for local artists. What is amazing about the visit to the former factory, for torpedos in WWI, is to see so many artists in their golden years. The Torpedo Factory is the kind of repurposed space that I would have expected to be turned into a bunch of junky souvenir and tchotchke stores. Instead, this three-level space is used mainly as a series of galleries and workshops for local artists. I do enjoy playing 20 questions with the artists though. It's a good opportunity to learn how they create the art works because the artist is right there making it. this (sic) former eye sore was renovated and converted into this art studio, gallery, learn center in the late 80s and it has thrived and produced some of the most incredible artists of our generation. If you enjoy art, you need to visit this unique art center. Though art here is quite $$$$ (sic), this is the place to see some amazing artists, a variety unmatched in smaller circles, but this is the real deal! I really enjoyed the time I spent at the torpedo factory. I viewed the art, spoke with many artists and found some very special pieces for my home. Watch artists work, ask questions, buy pieces you like... (sic) could've spent more hours there! Can be pricey, but beautiful works and makes great date. Great way to fill the morning or afternoon while shopping in Old Town Alexandria. My wife and I spent about 2 hours here last week looking for unique and one of a kind gifts for the holidays. We were not disappointed and filled some of our needs! Not-So Positive It's almost all very expensive, and there's not a lot that really stood out. I was disappointed that there weren't more pieces depicting Alexandria and other local sites - it was not location-specific art. It's fun to go here once in a while to look at all the interesting art that I would never buy - its all very expensive (thousands for some pieces). The mass of electrified art work occupies most of the building and not being an art person I couldn't fathom paying $$$$ for some of this stuff I could make in the garage. A little more of the detailed Torpedo Factory history is located in a single small room after you wade thru the art displays. No return visit for us. TARGET GALLERY Visitation December 9, 2015 January 12, 2016: 3,340 Visitation for FY16 to date: 17,561 5
Sales (12/9 11/1) - $421.00 Printed Matter - $246.00 March150 (panel sales) - $175.00 Press Printed Matter Bay Area Art Grind (blog) call for entry Alexandria News.org press listing w/ images Old Town Post press release w/ image Patch.com press release w/ image Exhibitions Current Exhibition Target Gallery & WCA present Trending: Contemporary Art Now Exhibition Dates: January 23 February 28, 2016 Reception: Friday, February 5 6-8pm Gallery talk at 7pm Target Gallery is pleased to partner with the Women s Caucus for Art to present Trending: Contemporary Art Now! This all-media exhibition shows works by self-identified women artists that are visually compelling, conceptually exciting and driving the direction of contemporary art. The juror for this exhibition was Elizabeth K. Garvey, founder and Director of Garvey Simon Art Access in New York. Upcoming Exhibition March150: 6 th Annual Exhibition Fundraiser Exhibition Dates: March 5-20, 2016 Art Party: Friday, March 18 7 10 pm Tickets: $15 advance / $20 door Target Gallery and the Factory Society are raising money for special exhibitions and outreach programming with the 6th Annual Exhibition Fundraiser, March150! The exhibition includes 200+ pieces of original artwork on 10 square panels created by local and regional artists. All of the artwork is $150 each, until the night of the Art Party on March 18 when the work is discounted to only $100! Upcoming Projects We are working on planning calendars and prospectus for 2016 exhibitions and aim to get all calls for entry out by January 22. Calls will run all year long with targeted marketing pushes 6 weeks out from the deadline. It s our hope that this will generate an increase in entries. Installation artist Lisa Kellner has agreed to do a site-responsive painting in space in April of 2016 and we are very excited to work with her! She has sent sketches of an immersive installation that visitors will be able to walk through. The show will be titled, Lisa Kellner: Always into Now. March150 panels are now on sale. We will be having planning meetings every 2 weeks leading up to the exhibition and party. We will likely be partnering with the Factory Society to promote the exhibition and party as an opportunity for young collectors as well. Daniel and Shai are currently working on securing Society Fair as a potential food sponsor. FACILITY Dec. 2015 Dec. 2014 Visitation 55,130 45,820 Gift Shop Sales $ 11,511.87 $ 10,931.73 6
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