The work of the Waterford Foundation is strengthened by staff members who are also active leaders in the wider community. Tracy Kirkman, our Public Programming Director, exemplifies this through her ongoing involvement in arts advocacy and civic service across Loudoun County.
In December, Tracy completed a five year term as a voting member of Loudoun County’s Rural Economic Development Council, where she represented Arts and Culture. Appointed by the Board of Supervisors in 2020, she also served on the Council’s Executive Committee during the final two years of her term. During her service, she helped ensure that arts, culture, and craft remained central to county level conversations about sustainable economic growth, rural businesses, and the preservation of Loudoun’s agricultural and artistic heritage.
As a member of the Council, Tracy participated in the review of policies, programs, and initiatives affecting rural enterprises and cultural organizations. She contributed to discussions focused on balancing economic opportunity with preservation, and helped bring the perspectives of artists and cultural nonprofits into conversations that often center on agriculture and commerce. Her role reinforced the importance of creative work as both a cultural and economic asset within Loudoun County’s rural economy.
Now that her five year term on the REDC has wrapped up, Tracy is putting some of that newly freed up time toward another arts focused role. She has agreed to serve as a juror for the Tephra ICA Arts Festival in Reston Town Center. The show is produced by the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, a nonprofit contemporary arts organization based in Reston, Virginia.
Tracy will jury artists applying to Tephra ICA’s new Evolving Craft at 250 program, a major initiative created in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The program is designed to elevate contemporary artists and makers whose work connects to and preserves American craft traditions across a wide range of media, from basketry and quilting to furniture making, painting, and arts rooted in historic techniques.
This focus on honoring traditional skills while supporting contemporary makers closely aligns with the mission of the Waterford Fair, which celebrates the history, craftsmanship, and cultural traditions that continue to shape our community today.
Together, Tracy’s recent public service and her role as a juror reflect a consistent commitment to supporting artists, honoring craft traditions, and strengthening the cultural fabric of our region. We are grateful for the time, expertise, and care she brings to this work, and we thank her for representing the Waterford Foundation and the Waterford Fair so thoughtfully within our broader community.