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Register 15 Seats Remaining

Avenue Ambition

Crafting Your Creative Career

2025-07-21 17:30:00 2025-07-21 19:00:00 America/New_York Avenue Ambition Ages 12-18. Develop tools and skills to create, market, and sell your original artwork in this 10-week series. Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room

Monday, July 21
5:30pm - 7:00pm

Add to Calendar 2025-07-21 17:30:00 2025-07-21 19:00:00 America/New_York Avenue Ambition Ages 12-18. Develop tools and skills to create, market, and sell your original artwork in this 10-week series. Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room

Ages 12-18. Develop tools and skills to create, market, and sell your original artwork in this 10-week series.

Are you an artist or crafter wanting to develop your hobby into a business? Have you wondered what it takes to share your passion for creating with others? Would you like to learn about developing a brand and marketing yourself? Are you interested in a chance at operating a booth at Art on the Avenue 2025*?

Avenue Ambition: Crafting Your Creative Career is a 10-workshop series designed to give you the tools and skills needed to create, market, and sell your work. Teens that attend at least 50% of the workshops and provide a sales/ marketing plan and works to sell will be eligible for a chance to vend at a booth at Art on the Avenue 2025, on Saturday, October 4th*. For more information and workshop descriptions, visit alexlibraryva.org/avenue-ambition!

Workshop Schedule:

May 5: Charting your Journey - Introduction to Art on the Avenue & Program Overview

May 19: Where's Your Roadmap? - The Art of Goal Setting

June 2: More Than a Booth - Building Your Business From the Ground Up

June 16: Pricing, Inventory Management, & Market Research, Oh My!

July 7: Recap and Rest Day

July 21: It's Dangerous to Go Alone - Collaborative Brainstorming

August 4: Plans into Actions 1 - Marketing for the Showcase and Beyond

August 18: What Happens Next? - Understanding and Defining Success

September 8: Plans into Actions 2 - Avenue Ambition Showcase Preparation

September 22: Avenue Ambition Showcase/ Artist Meet and Greet

Want to participate but not sure of what kind of art to make? Check out our Artistic Outlets Creative Workshop series.

Avenue Ambition: Crafting Your Creative Career is a partnership between Alexandria Library, Dope Focus Art, and Art on the Avenue.

*The final number of teens selected to vend at Art on the Avenue will be determined by available booth space, number of eligible teens, and assessment from Art on the Avenue, Dope Focus, and the Alexandria Library, not to exceed 12 teens. For questions, email esimmons@alexlibraryva.org.

Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library

dprice@alexlibraryva.org
Phone: 703.746.1702
Fax: 703.746.1763
Branch manager
Diana Price

Hours
Mon, Jul 14 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jul 15 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jul 16 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 17 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jul 18 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Jul 19 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jul 20 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Parking: The library has a large parking lot with 175 spaces.

Public Transit:

  • Metrorail: King Street Station (Yellow & Blue Lines 3.2 miles); Van Dorn Station (Blue Line 2.1 miles)
  • Metrobus: 29K/N, 21C
  • DASH Bus: 30, 32

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact jgregorio@alexlibraryva.org or call 703.746.1701 or TTY 703.746.1790.

Upcoming Events

Tue, Jul 15, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Beginning English practice for English language learners. No registration needed or prior level of English. These workshops are led by volunteers and do not include certificates of completion.

Tue, Jul 15, 10:30am - 11:15am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Meet your old friends and make new friends at an unstructured, outdoor playtime in the library's Reading Garden! Toys will be supplied. Ages 0-5 with an adult.

Tue, Jul 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
2701 Commonwealth Ave, Alexandria
Uh oh – a color has disappeared! Join Science Heroes in using scientific principles and hands-on experiments to find it, and celebrate the scientists who color our world with art! (Ages 6-12)

Tue, Jul 15, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
The Inova Blood Donor Services Bloodmobile will be in the Beatley Library parking Lot. Book your appointment to give blood using the link below.

Tue, Jul 15, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Story Room
Build with Lego, make art, play games, and more! Ages 5-12. Kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Wed, Jul 16, 10:30am - 11:05am
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, Jul 16, 11:30am - 12:05pm
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, Jul 16, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Uh oh – a color has disappeared! Join Science Heroes in using scientific principles and hands-on experiments to find it, and celebrate the scientists who color our world with art! (Ages 6-12)

Wed, Jul 16, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Small Conference Room
This volunteer-led workshop provides a space for intermediate speakers to practice English and build confidence. No registration required. No certificates of completion are issued.

Thu, Jul 17, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Beginning English practice for English language learners. No registration needed or prior level of English. These workshops are led by volunteers and do not include certificates of completion.

Thu, Jul 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Children love to be outdoors! Join us in Beatley Central Library's beautiful outdoor Reading Garden for stories, songs and movement. Ages 0-8 with an adult.

Thu, Jul 17, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
5650 Sanger Ave, Alexandria
This exciting program introduces 5 or more animals from around the world. Learn about their habitats, diets and some of the amazing adaptations that help them to survive in the wild. (Ages 6-12)

Thu, Jul 17, 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Baby storytime, plus opportunities to build relationships with other caretakers of young children! For ages 0-12 months, accompanied by an adult. After your first birthday, please attend 1s and 2s.

Thu, Jul 17, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Small Conference Room
NEW EXTENDED TIME! 3-5 PM! Attention all handcrafters! Join us to share what you are working on, see what others are creating, and just chat while we craft together!

Thu, Jul 17, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Large Meeting Room
Oddball Cinema brings you all of the weird, eclectic, and lesser-known films you probably never saw in theaters. Click on the event title for more info!

Thu, Jul 17, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.

Fri, Jul 18, 10:30am - 11:30am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Dance along with us as Rhythmaya shares Indian culture through music, art and movement. (All ages)

Sat, Jul 19, 10:30am - 11:30am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Enjoy music, dance, drums and stories highlighting West African culture! (All ages)

Sat, Jul 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Attention all handcrafters! Join us to share what you are working on, see what others are creating, and just chat while we craft together!

Sat, Jul 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Picture Book Area
Check out the Library’s selection of tabletop games. (Ages 5-18) Echa un vistazo a la selección de juegos de mesa de la Biblioteca. (De 5 a 18 años) Área infantil de Beatley Library

Sun, Jul 20, 1:00pm - 4:30pm
Small Conference Room
This is a twice-monthly forum for writers to work on drafts, network, and share moral support. Meets first and third Sundays. All are welcome!

Sun, Jul 20, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Oddball Cinema brings you all of the weird, eclectic, and lesser-known films you probably never saw in theaters. Click on the event title for more info!

Mon, Jul 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Children love to be outdoors! Join us in Beatley Central Library's beautiful outdoor Reading Garden for stories, songs and movement. Ages 0-8 with an adult.

Mon, Jul 21, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Small Conference Room
This volunteer-led workshop provides a space for intermediate speakers to practice English and build confidence. No registration required. No certificates of completion are issued.

Mon, Jul 21, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Ages 12-18. Develop tools and skills to create, market, and sell your original artwork in this 10-week series.

Tue, Jul 22, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Beginning English practice for English language learners. No registration needed or prior level of English. These workshops are led by volunteers and do not include certificates of completion.

Tue, Jul 22, 10:30am - 11:15am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Meet your old friends and make new friends at an unstructured, outdoor playtime in the library's Reading Garden! Toys will be supplied. Ages 0-5 with an adult.

Tue, Jul 22, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Story Room
Build with Lego, make art, play games, and more! Ages 5-12. Kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Wed, Jul 23, 10:30am - 11:05am
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, Jul 23, 11:30am - 12:05pm
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2

Wed, Jul 23, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
1108 Jefferson St, Alexandria
You’ll be laughing out loud as nationally-known family entertainer Chris Fascione brings children’s stories to life with his high-spirited and innovative performances. (Ages 6-12)

Wed, Jul 23, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Large Meeting Room
You’ll be laughing out loud as nationally-known family entertainer Chris Fascione brings children’s stories to life with his high-spirited and innovative performances. (Ages 6-12)

Wed, Jul 23, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Small Conference Room
This volunteer-led workshop provides a space for intermediate speakers to practice English and build confidence. No registration required. No certificates of completion are issued.

Thu, Jul 24, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Beginning English practice for English language learners. No registration needed or prior level of English. These workshops are led by volunteers and do not include certificates of completion.

Thu, Jul 24, 10:30am - 11:00am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Children love to be outdoors! Join us in Beatley Central Library's beautiful outdoor Reading Garden for stories, songs and movement. Ages 0-8 with an adult.

Thu, Jul 24, 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Large Meeting Room
Baby storytime, plus opportunities to build relationships with other caretakers of young children! For ages 0-12 months, accompanied by an adult. After your first birthday, please attend 1s and 2s.

Thu, Jul 24, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden,Large Meeting Room
Join Jorge Banales as he gives instruction on the Yang Style 24 Movement Tai Chi form on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Free and open to the public.

Thu, Jul 24, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots -- and check out some of our coding books for kids! Ages 6-12.

Fri, Jul 25, 10:30am - 11:30am
Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Sing in English and Spanish, jump, and dance with Mr. Lilo and his guitar. (Ages 0-8)