An upcycling and community art project fundraiser for the Alexandria Library Foundation
This first-of-its-kind partnership between the Alexandria Library, the Alexandria Library Foundation, the City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts, and Alexandria's artist community aims to make a positive environmental impact through cooperation and collaboration.
The Library identified nearly two dozen chairs that were set to be discarded, and instead is giving them new life as upcycled artwork! We are inviting local and regional artists to decorate the chairs in their own individual styles to create new, original art pieces. The unifying theme for the project is America 250, in honor of the country's 250th birthday celebration.
The completed chairs will be displayed at the Library branches in spring as part of the All Alexandria Reads program. Finally, in late spring, the chairs will be made available to purchase through a public auction, with all proceeds going to support the Alexandria Library Foundation.
The Alexandria Library affirms the ALA’s Library Value of intellectual freedom: “We celebrate and preserve our democratic society by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions and ideas, so that all individuals have the opportunity to become lifelong learners - informed, literate, educated, and culturally enriched.”
The artist will incorporate the theme of 250 Years of History.
The artist will create an artwork suitable for display in an all-ages environment.
The artist will use nontoxic materials. The use of sustainable materials is encouraged whenever possible.
The dimensions of the completed artwork will not exceed 1 foot around the perimeter of the chair and 3 feet higher than the back of the chair.
The completed artwork does not have to result in a functional chair that can be sat upon.
The completed artwork must be durable enough to easily transport between different locations in Alexandria.
The artist will provide an artist statement with their completed artwork.
The Alexandria Library Foundation and the Alexandria Library have the final say on which artists are selected to participate and which completed art pieces will be displayed.
The Library reserves the right to not display artwork it deems inappropriate or does not adhere to the guidelines.
Accepted artpieces will be sold in a public auction and all funds will go to the Alexandria Library Foundation for the benefit of the Alexandria Library.
Artists interested in decorating a chair should submit an application at the link below. Applications will be accepted between December 5, 2025 and January 9, 2026. Completed applications will be reviewed by a panel of Library staff and local artists. Selected applicants will be notified on January 20, 2026.
