A few months ago a friend of mine told me about Christina Calloway. “She is so beautiful,” my friend said. Scroll down and look at these photos to confirm this obvious statement. Beauty aside, after getting to know this gem I learned that she is a part of something pretty special, right here in the center of town.

 

Christina hails from Atlanta, Georgia and is a newbie to Alexandria. She and her fiance, Havin, just got engaged in June! On top of her full-time job, Christina is on the board of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association and volunteers her time at the beautiful Athenaeum (the historic building with the big columns on Prince St. by the cobblestones). I thought this would be a great chance to get to know Christina, learn about the NVFAA and hear from an insider about the awesome events taking place at the Athenaeum this fall and throughout the year. Enjoy!

Where are you from and what brings you to Alexandria?I am a proud Army brat but I call Atlanta, Georgia home. A great opportunity with the federal government brought me to Alexandria.

 

What prompted you to join the board of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association?I love the arts and was a volunteer at the Athenaeum which serves as the home of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association. Former president of the board, Amy Heiden, (thank you Amy!) noticed my dedication and asked me if I would be interested in being a member of the board. It was a welcome surprise and I'm so proud to be a part of bringing the arts to this beautiful city! Lesson is always do your best because you never know who's watching!

 

How can locals get involved in the organization?The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association is a 501(c)(3) organization and the gallery and many of the programs are free to the public so locals can get involved by becoming a member to help preserve this beautiful historic building in Alexandria and sustaining the arts programming that is available to them as well as visitors. Plus, members get awesome perks like attending our annual membership party (it's a blast!). It's so rewarding to be a part of something that helps make this community more rich and beautiful.

 

What has been your favorite event and/or experience at the Athenaeum?It's hard to choose but I think the evening programming at the Athenaeum is great for date night or a night out with friends in Old Town to try something you've haven't done before. I've taken a ballroom dance class at the Athenaeum and it was so fun to listen to different kinds of music, work up a (minor) sweat, and share laughs over a glass of wine with other attendees. And of course, the membership party is always a great time!

 

 

What's the next big event that people should know about? How do they get tickets?In September, I'm looking forward to the popular "Write Like A Woman Workshop" with Alexandria's Poet Laureate KaNikki Jakarta on 9/21 and the book launch and pie party of "When Pies Fly" with author Cathy Barrow on September 17. And if you want a great introduction to the Athenaeum, visit during the latest invitational on September 15 to mix and mingle with others who love art and see some deserving artists win prizes for their submissions. All events are free, please make sure RSVP!

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