In a unique public-private partnership, a new world-class performing arts destination is nearing completion in the Tysons-Mclean area of Fairfax County. It is Capital One Hall scheduled to open in October 2021. It is located on the newly constructed Capital One Bank campus in McLean, Virginia.
The Fairfax County and Capital One Bank public-use partnership is valued at more than $11 million. The partnership aims to bring a new arts and cultural experience to the area.
The Capital One Hall will include a state-of-the-art 1,500-seat mainstage auditorium; The Vault, a 250-seat blackbox theater; and classrooms. There is also an on-the-roof outdoor ampitheater named The Perch.
The new performance spaces will be available for community use at specially negotiated rates for Fairfax County–based nonprofit arts groups and for arts-related programming by Fairfax County government agencies and Fairfax County Public schools.
The new Capital One Bank campus includes the tallest building in Northern Virignia, the 470-foot Capital One Tower. The Capital One Hall is located about a quarter mile from Metro’s McLean stop on the Silver line, with parking close by.
As part of the public-private partnership, ArtsFairfax, Fairfax County’s designated local arts agency, is now accepting online applications for community arts use of the spaces for the period September 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The deadline is midnight, May 1, 2021. Applications will be screened for eligibility and provided to the county. Approved arts organizations and programs will be submitted to Capital One Hall’s operator for integration into the season’s schedule.
The application process is explained here. Technical specifications, a sample contract including costs, the seasonal calendar, and related information can be found here. The ArtsFairfax contact is Lisa Mariam, Director of Grants and Services, [email protected].
As of information currently available, the 250-seat blackbox theater will be available for public use 57 days per year; the main hall, for 25 days. While venue construction is not complete, a behind-the-scenes video shows what to expect.
DCMTA will continue to follow the development of Capital One Center venues, including how the continuing pandemic with its health and safety precautions and guidelines may impact the center’s opening.
Not much of an arts amenity for local groups if the black box will only be available 57 days a year and the main hall 25 days! Wonder what will be in those spaces the rest of the time? Big money corporate events? And touring shows in the main hall for those 25 days.
Obviously not remotely viable for any local theatre as a home. But they’ll get a nice tax break because they offered.