February 7 is the Deadline for Nominations for the Druid Arts Awards

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.)  The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will recognize artists, educators, volunteers and patrons of the arts at the 24th Druid Arts Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at the Bama Theatre. The winners and their families will be honored at a reception at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center at 6 p.m. with the awards presented at 7 p.m. in the theatre. 

The deadline for nominations is February 7, 2022 with a deadline for tickets for the event on March 28, 2022. Tickets will be available for purchase soon.

Visit https://tuscarts.org/druidartsawards.php to access the nomination form and view lists of the 2019 winners plus all prior award winners. Anyone who lives in Tuscaloosa County can make a nomination in any category.

In founding and perpetuating the Druid Arts Awards, The Arts Council determined that local citizens who were working as volunteers, artists, educators and corporate sponsors was very large and growing.  The Council also realized that the work of these individuals as well as supportive businesses was not often publicly recognized.  It was for this reason that the Druid Arts Awards were established, and it has become a biennial presentation to honor these special individuals who have achieved distinction in the arts over a number of years in Tuscaloosa County.

Three nominations- volunteer, artist, and educator- will be requested from the community in each of the categories of music, visual arts, dance, literature and theatre. Nominations are also requested for Patron of the Arts, Corporate Sponsor, Tuscaloosa’s Home Grown and Special Awards. Individuals or groups who have contributed to or supported the arts through actions outside of the aforementioned categories are honored with a Special Award. 

A committee comprised of members from The Arts Council Board of Directors will make the final selections based on their review of all submissions.

The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre or CAC, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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Nominations Requested for Druids Arts Awards Presented at the Bama Theatre April 7, 2022

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.)  The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will recognize artists, educators, volunteers and patrons of the arts at the 24th Druid Arts Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at the Bama Theatre. The winners and their families will be honored at a reception at the theatre’s Greensboro Room at 6p.m. with the awards presented at 7 p.m. in the theatre. 

The deadline for nominations is February 7, 2022 with a deadline for tickets for the event on March 28, 2022. Tickets will go on sale in January, 2022.

Visit https://tuscarts.org/druidartsawards.php to access the nomination form and view lists of the 2019 winners plus all prior award winners.

In founding and perpetuating the Druid Arts Awards, The Arts Council determined that local citizens who were working as volunteers, artists, educators and corporate sponsors was very large and growing.  The Council also realized that the work of these individuals as well as supportive businesses was not often publicly recognized.  It was for this reason that the Druid Arts Awards were established, and it has become a bi-annual presentation to honor these special individuals who have achieved distinction in the arts over a number of years in Tuscaloosa County.

Three nominations- volunteer, artist, and educator- will be requested from the community in each of the categories of music, visual arts, dance, literature and theatre. Nominations are also requested for Patron of the Arts, Corporate Sponsor, Tuscaloosa’s Home Grown and Special Awards. Individuals or groups who have contributed to or supported the arts through actions outside of the aforementioned categories are honored with a Special Award. 

A committee comprised of members from The Arts Council Board of Directors will make the final selections based on their review of all submissions.

2019 Winners:

Theatre

Artist – George Thagard
Educator – Sara Margaret Cates
Volunteer – Betty Meadows

Music

Educator – Dr. Kevin Chance

Visual Arts

Artist – Mortimer Jordan
Volunteer – Ed Enoch

Dance

Artist – Mims McKee
Educator –Morgan Williams

Literary Arts

Artist – Aileen Kilgore Henderson
Educator –Easty Lambert-Brown

Home Grown

Birch “Crimson Slide” Johnson

Patron of the Arts

Dr. Robert Olin

Corporate Sponsor of the Year

Hudson Poole Fine Jewelers

Special Awards

Dr. Jeffrey Schultz
Janelle Heinrich and Vanessa Jones
Al Head
Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama

The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre or CAC, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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Alabama Blues Project Exhibit and Evening of Art and Blues at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host an exhibit of works presented by the Alabama Blues Project February 4-25, 2022, in The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Opening on February 4 during the First Friday Art Walk from 5 p.m.-7 p.m., the display corresponds with the Blues Project’s annual fundraiser, “12th Annual Evening of Art and Blues: The Blues Unmasked,” on February 25th. It will consist of donated paintings, jewelry and crafts from local artists, and proceeds will benefit the Alabama Blues Project.

Gallery hours are weekdays 9 a.m.- noon and 1-4 p.m.  For more information about the gallery visit https://cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery.php. Information about galleries and exhibits open during the February First Friday Art Walk is available at www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com.

The 12th Annual “Evening of Art & Blues” will take place on Friday, February 25, 2022, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Entertainment is sponsored by Michele Coley: Allstate Insurance and includes hill country and Delta blues artist Brett Benton, DieDra the “Alabama Blues Queen,” and ABP’s advanced band, “Alabama Blues Productions.” This family-friendly event is hosted by Jade Nicole and Kip Tyner and features hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar by Casual Class Catering, a photo booth by Digital Burn Multimedia, a silent auction and live auction with art and gifts from local artists and businesses.

Adult tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Kids ages 8 to 17 are $10, and ages 7 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased from Guitar Gallery or online at www.alabamablues.org. This event is sponsored by Quality Liaison Group and the Alabama Power Foundation.

The Alabama Blues Project is a nonprofit organization that has been preserving the history of the Blues and creating young musicians since 1995. To become a sponsor, email info@alabamablues.org or call (205) 752-6263.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should follow and like “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and also Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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2020-2021 POETRY OUT LOUD DISTRICTS 3/4 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                           
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Shannon McCue
education@tuscarts.org
205-345-9801

2020-2021 POETRY OUT LOUD DISTRICTS 3/4 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The regional finals for Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation competition, took place on Nov. 19, 2019 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Prior to this final round in Tuscaloosa, the West-Central Alabama students from Districts 3/4 participated in a primary competition at their respective high schools.

Poetry Out Loud is a competition that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. After successful pilot programs in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, POL was launched in high schools nationwide in the spring of 2006 with tens of thousands of students participating. POL has grown every year with over 365,000 students competing.

Students competing in the District 3/4 POL program were eligible to compete in the national/anthology portion of the program, the original poetry portion, a new original category focusing on the social challenges of 2020, or all three. The competition was held virtually this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with students submitting videos of their recitations. The winners listed below in all three categories will compete in the state-wide competition, which will also be held virtually. Winners in the state level national/anthology portion will then have the opportunity to compete at the national level for a final round.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts sponsored the original poetry and social challenge competitions, and administrates Poetry Out Loud at the state level. Sponsors include the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation and The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa. Shannon McCue, Arts Council Education Director, served as Facilitator in Districts 3/4.

National/Anthology Winners:
1st Place: Myra Grizzard, Alabama School of Fine Arts
2nd Place: Catherine Edwards, Indian Springs School
3rd Place: Taylor Jackson, Alabama School of Fine Arts

Original Winners:

1st Place: Madison Forman, Indian Springs School
2nd Place:Isabelle Terrell, Red Mountain Theatre Company/Pinson Valley High School
3rd Place: Victoria Kindall, Indian Springs School
4th Place: Ka’Lise Benson, Alabama School of Fine Arts
5th Place: Melany Morgan, Alabama School of Fine Arts

2020 Social Challenge Winners:

1st Place: Lily Geisen, Indian Springs School  
2nd Place: Julius Shanks, Alabama School of Fine Arts
3rd Place: Victoria Kindall, Indian Springs School
4th Place: Ka’Lise Benson, Alabama School of Fine Arts 

Judges for the day were Jada Dumas – Social Media Coordinator, The Flourish Alabama; Dr. Richard J. Wallace – New College Instructor and Athletic Tutor, University of Alabama; and Janavian Young – Documentarian, The Flourish Alabama. Shannon McCue served as Accuracy Judge.

For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre or CAC, patrons should like the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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ENTRIES ACCEPTED IN DECEMBER FOR 2022 STATEWIDE DOUBLE EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT FOR JUNIORS

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                            
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Kevin Ledgewood
pr@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195, x6

ENTRIES ACCEPTED IN DECEMBER FOR 2022 STATEWIDE DOUBLE EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT FOR JUNIORS


(Tuscaloosa, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will present the 18th Annual Double Exposure Juried Photography Exhibit at the Bama Theatre in 2022.  The competition will be open to Alabama photographers in grades 6-12.

Entries will be accepted for the first round of judging November 30-December 3, 2021 by email. A fee of $25 will be charged to enter up to three images. No entry fees will be refunded.

The competition will be exhibited at the Bama Theatre’s Junior League Gallery Jan. 18-Feb. 3, 2022 with the awards presentation and closing reception on Feb. 6 from 2 -3 p.m.

The top award will be a $250 Cash Award for Best in Show. Four $125 cash awards will also be given.

A complete list of entry guidelines and important dates are currently available on The Arts Council’s website at tuscarts.org/competition-doubleexposure.

Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m.-noon & 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa and the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center at 620 Greensboro Ave. on the same block. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should follow and like “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and also Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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TUSCALOOSA ARTS COUNCIL GRANT APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH OCTOBER 1

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                            
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Shannon McCue
education@tuscarts.org
205-345-9801

TUSCALOOSA ARTS COUNCIL GRANT APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH OCTOBER 1, 2021

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is announcing its annual Small Grants Program, awarding projects by Tuscaloosa County artists and non-profit organizations. Grants to all local teachers for arts related projects are also available through the Community Foundation’s Arts in Education Grant. 

The Arts Council is now accepting grant applications from local artists and organizations for upcoming projects taking place between Oct. 1, 2021 and May 15, 2022. The deadline for applications is Oct. 1, 2021 with recipients announced by Oct. 31, 2021. A one-to-one match of funds is required for those applying for grants.

Organizations may apply for Small Grants Program awards for such projects as exhibits, festivals, residencies, consultants, attendance at seminars, institutes, workshops by artistic and/or administrative staff and productions. Professional artists may apply for grants covering pilot or short-term projects or opportunities such as seminars, workshops, conferences or apprenticeships with master artists. Since the advent of the Small Grants Program in 1986, local artists and organizations have received more than $140,000.  

The maximum Small Grant available to organizations is $1000 and $750 to individuals. 

The Arts in Education Grant provides funds that are specifically earmarked for arts related projects through the Community Foundation of West Alabama. Local educators pursuing any arts related project can apply for funding from the Foundation through The Arts Council with a deadline of Oct. 1, 2021 for grant activities which will be taking place between Oct. 1, 2021 and May 15, 2022. 

Guidelines and applications for both grant programs are available online at www.tuscarts.org/smallgrants.php.  Additional information is available to individuals or groups interested in applying by contacting Shannon McCue, Education Director, at education@tuscarts.org or 205-345-9801.

For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre, or Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, patrons should follow and like “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and also Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

 

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BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY’S “PINK FLOYD: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” CANCELLED AT THE BAMA THEATRE FOR SEPTEMBER 16

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                                                    
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Kevin Ledgewood
pr@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195

 BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY’S “PINK FLOYD: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” CANCELLED AT THE BAMA THEATRE FOR SEPTEMBER 16

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Black Jacket Symphony’s September 16, 2021 performance of “Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon” has been cancelled at the Bama Theatre. All ticket holders will be refunded at their original point of purchase.

The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Ave. in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre, or Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, patrons should follow and like “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and also Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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SCREENINGS IN THE BAMA ART HOUSE FILM SERIES FALL 2021 BEGIN SEPTEMBER 7

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                            
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Kevin Ledgewood
pr@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195, x6

SCREENINGS IN THE BAMA ART HOUSE FILM SERIES FALL 2021 BEGIN SEPTEMBER 7

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa’s Bama Art House Film Series Fall 2021 will begin Tuesday, September 7 and will feature three screenings. Patrons are strongly encouraged to wear a mask and practice social distancing while inside the theatre.

Screenings will take place at the Bama Theatre on September 7 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. with the third film, the Manhattan Short Film Festival, taking place on Thursday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m.

The box office will open at 6:30 p.m. and doors/Bama Bar at 6:45 p.m. Single Tickets will be priced at $8 general, $7 seniors & students and $6 Arts Council Members and will be available at the box office. Discount Punch Card Tickets ($60) will also be available and will be good for any 10 Bama Art House films.

Patrons can visit bamatheatre.org/bamaarthouse to view the list of films, details and accompanying trailers.

September 7:
Nine Days (2020) Rated R | 2h 4 min | Drama, Fantasy

September 14:
Settlers (2021) Not Rated | 1h 43 min | Sci Fi, Drama, Thriller

September 23 (Thursday):
2021 Manhattan Short Film Festival | 2h 30 min | Compilation of short films with audience vote at the end

The mission of the Bama Art House series is to bring current and contemporary independent film to West Alabama, transforming the historic Bama Theatre into a cinematic art house. 

The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should follow and like “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit bamatheatre.org for further information.

 

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY WATERS CONTINUES AT THE DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER IN SEPTEMBER

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                            
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Kevin Ledgewood
pr@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195, x6

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY WATERS CONTINUES AT THE DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER IN SEPTEMBER

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will continue to host an exhibit of photography by Jay Waters now through September 24, 2021 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in Tuscaloosa. Titled “The Fringe Quarter and Points West,” the exhibit is composed of Waters’ black and white images featuring the people and places of the American South and landscapes of the American West.

The exhibit is open to the public weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.  The display will be open during the First Friday Art Walk on September 3 from 5-7 p.m., reflecting new Art Walk hours at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Other galleries will continue to be open during their preferred times as listed on www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com.  

For complete gallery and artist information, visit cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery.php. Visit www.jaywatersphotos.com to view more of his work.

Jay Waters is a native Alabamian currently teaching full-time in the Advertising and PR Department at The University of Alabama. Before joining the University, he pursued a career in advertising for over 20 years and was also in the retail grocery business.

With early influences including his mother, Mary, an accomplished commercial artist, and his father, Jerry, a construction worker with a serious photography habit, he has been interested in writing and photography since childhood. The early exposure to his father’s Bessemer darkroom was one of his most significant artistic inspirations.

Minimally processed landscape-oriented black and white photos are his preferred format, especially those taken with a mobile phone. Mobile phone photography of the images, scenes and stories that naturally appear during one’s day, whether at home or traveling, is the focus of his work. This style reflects his artistic influences, drawn from various fields including Edward Hopper, Randy Newman, Flannery O’Connor, Walker Evans, Ansel Adams and Alfred Bierstadt. The black and white photographs from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and photographers such as Gordon Parks, Spider Martin, and Charles Moore have also played a major role in his style development.

Credits include many online and print journals including The Lincoln Review, The Arkansas Review, The Wondrous Real, Straight Forward Poetry, The Broken City, and Reunion, The Dallas Review. 

“The Fringe Quarter” is a collection of photographs from New Orleans that focuses on the people around the fringes of one of the most visited tourist attractions in America – the French Quarter in New Orleans. The waiters, street buskers, vendors, homeless and musicians often fall into the background of New Orleans’ image as one of America’s most romantic cities. This collection of photographs seeks to focus attention on those usually overlooked when walking through the Quarter.

“Points West” is a collection of landscape photographs from the American West, including Alaska and Hawaii. In many of the black and white photos, the emphasis is on showing the interaction of people and their scale with the landscape.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre or CAC, patrons should like the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY WATERS FEATURED AT THE DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                            
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Kevin Ledgewood
pr@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195, x6

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY WATERS FEATURED AT THE DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host an exhibit of photography by Jay Waters August 6-September 24, 2021 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in Tuscaloosa. Titled “The Fringe Quarter and Points West,” the exhibit will be composed of Waters’ black and white images featuring the people and places of the American South and landscapes of the American West.

The exhibit will be open to the public beginning August 6 during the First Friday Art Walk from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Gallery hours are weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 

For complete gallery and artist information, visit cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery.php  and www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com to view the participating galleries of downtown Tuscaloosa’s First Friday Art Walk. Visit www.jaywatersphotos.com to view more of his work.

Jay Waters is a native Alabamian currently teaching full-time in the Advertising and PR Department at The University of Alabama. Before joining the University, he pursued a career in advertising for over 20 years and was also in the retail grocery business.

With early influences including his mother, Mary, an accomplished commercial artist, and his father, Jerry, a construction worker with a serious photography habit, he has been interested in writing and photography since childhood. The early exposure to his father’s Bessemer darkroom was one of his most significant artistic inspirations.

Minimally processed landscape-oriented black and white photos are his preferred format, especially those taken with a mobile phone. Mobile phone photography of the images, scenes and stories that naturally appear during one’s day, whether at home or traveling, is the focus of his work. This style reflects his artistic influences, drawn from various fields including Edward Hopper, Randy Newman, Flannery O’Connor, Walker Evans, Ansel Adams and Alfred Bierstadt. The black and white photographs from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and photographers such as Gordon Parks, Spider Martin, and Charles Moore have also played a major role in his style development.

Credits include many online and print journals including The Lincoln Review, The Arkansas Review, The Wondrous Real, Straight Forward Poetry, The Broken City, and Reunion, The Dallas Review. 

“The Fringe Quarter” is a collection of photographs from New Orleans that focuses on the people around the fringes of one of the most visited tourist attractions in America – the French Quarter in New Orleans. The waiters, street buskers, vendors, homeless and musicians often fall into the background of New Orleans’ image as one of America’s most romantic cities. This collection of photographs seeks to focus attention on those usually overlooked when walking through the Quarter.

“Points West” is a collection of landscape photographs from the American West, including Alaska and Hawaii. In many of the black and white photos, the emphasis is on showing the interaction of people and their scale with the landscape.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre or CAC, patrons should like the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

 

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