THE PARTNERS PROJECT ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF REGIONAL TEAM

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

THE PARTNERS PROJECT ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF REGIONAL TEAM

 (TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The pARTners Project, a multi-phased collective impact initiative supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, is excited to announce the formation of a Regional Team that will oversee the direction and scope of the project over its two-year run. The grant was awarded to create a plan to increase access to arts education for students in the West-Central Alabama area, and the Regional Team is made up of individuals with deep connections to the diverse communities in this area.

Members of The pARTners Project Regional Team come from a variety of professional sectors and all have an interest in or connection to the arts. Team members include:

Joi Brown, Jefferson County Memorial Project

Bill Buchanan, Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History & Reconciliation Foundation and Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission

Elijah Davis (Birmingham co-Chair), Urban Impact, Inc.

Dr. Andrew Henley, Alabama State Council on the Arts

Myeisha Hutchinson, MDH Strategies, Inc.

Marie King (Birmingham co-Chair), Racial Justice & Equity Activist

Diane Litsey, The Dance Foundation

Shannon McCue (co-Director), West Alabama Arts Education Collaborative

Sean McMahon, UAB Lister Hill Center for Health Policy

Celestia Morgan, The University of Alabama, College of Arts and Sciences

Deanna Sirkot (co-Director), Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative

Ashley Wheat (Tuscaloosa co-Chair), Alabama Blues Project

Dr. Jesse Wheeler, Stillman College

Sandra Wolfe, Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa

“As the child of two educators, I know it’s critical to empower the next generation by providing equitable access to quality education. I am thrilled the Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa and the Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative have secured this critical federal funding as part of the National Endowment for the Arts initiative to expand access to arts education in rural and underserved areas. For generations, the arts have served to inspire and ignite young people’s imaginations, and I look forward to the creative solutions this investment will bring to broaden equal access to educational opportunities for the children of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.” –Congresswoman Terri Sewell, U.S. Representative, District 7

For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre, or Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center,  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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PROPOSALS REQUESTED FOR OUTDOOR SCULPTURE ON THE NORTHERN RIVERWALK IN TUSCALOOSA

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Sandra Wolfe
director@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195, x3

PROPOSALS REQUESTED FOR OUTDOOR SCULPTURE ON THE
NORTHERN RIVERWALK IN TUSCALOOSA, AL

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The City of Tuscaloosa Public Art Committee is inviting artists to submit proposals for an outdoor sculpture on The Northern Riverwalk. The site location is near 179 Rice Mine Road Loop, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 35406. All artists over the age of 18 are eligible to submit a proposal.

The Northern Riverwalk project begins east of McFarland Bvld. (near the Woolsey-Finnell Bridge) and will continue for approximately 3,000 linear feet to the east. The plans include a park, trailhead, recreational path, pavilion, parking area, playground, and other features. Future phases are anticipated to extend the length of the trail and amenities along the northern riverfront. This phase of the project is made possible by a 19-acre land donation from the Randall family, valued at $2.72 million.

Tuscaloosa’s Riverwalk on the south bank of the iconic Black Warrior River is one of the most popular destinations in the city. The existing 2.5-mile path extends from the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on the west side to the area adjacent to North Campus Way on the east side. Several parks and amenities also exist along the path. The previous phases of the Riverwalk were constructed according to the original 2003 Riverwalk Master Plan, which was updated in 2018.

Deadline for RFP Submissions: July 2, 2021

Winning Proposal Announced: July 16, 2021

Installation: Completed by January 6, 2022

Total Project Budget including transportation: $50,000

Installation, footer and lighting: $10,000

Concrete slab, footers, or other anchoring requirements will be considered based upon the chosen sculpture and poured to suit.

All proposals will be reviewed and considered by the City of Tuscaloosa Public Art Committee. Upon award selection, artist must adhere to the installation deadline of January 6, 2022. The decision of the selection committee will be final.

A link to the complete RFP including details such as Standards, Required Materials and Site Images are available on The Arts Council’s home page at https://tuscarts.org/ under “Announcements and Events.”

For more information, contact:

Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director, The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa
205-758-4994, x3 or director@tuscarts.org

Craig Wedderspoon, Professor of Sculpture, The University of Alabama
205-348-1898 or craig.wedderspoon@ua.edu. 

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VISUAL ART BY TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM STUDENTS WILL BE FEATURED IN MAY AT DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

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

VISUAL ART BY TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM STUDENTS WILL BE FEATURED IN MAY AT DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

(Tuscaloosa, Ala.) An exhibit of art work created by students in the Tuscaloosa County School System will be on display in The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center May 7-14, 2021. An opening reception will take place on May 7 from 5-8 p.m. during First Friday.

The exhibit will be composed of works by students of all ages. Each art teacher selected six pieces to be included in the display with a variety of media spanning the exhibit.

Gallery hours are weekdays from 1-3 p.m.

For more information about all gallery events taking place on First Friday and the locations, visit www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com. Visit https://cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery for more information about the gallery.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about the CAC, The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, 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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DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER TO HOST SYDNEY GRUBER EXHIBIT “BETWEEN US” IN APRIL

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

DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER TO HOST
SYDNEY GRUBER EXHIBIT “BETWEEN US” IN APRIL

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host an exhibit of work by Sydney Gruber April 2-30, 2021 at The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Titled “Between Us,” the exhibit of paintings and 3-D work will open with a reception on April 2 from 5-8 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Tuscaloosa.

Sydney Gruber invites you to connect with her world of raw energy through the mirror of art by exploring the relationship between the internal and external. She specializes in creating sublime meditation paintings that draw people towards the pulse of life in color. Moving through her like harnessed electricity, Sydney plays the role of interpreter and intuitively layers her colors and textures to chronicle experiences and environments. From large focal point paintings to signature chess sets, Sydney encourages you to consider abstractions and sensory impressions. She strives to match reason with passion and oscillates between living like the salt of the earth and sucking the nectar out of life.

Sydney works full-time as a creative in Alabama and enjoys her role in this modern art renaissance by pursuing expression, connecting authentically, and living in the discovery. When Gruber is not creating in her studio gallery and running her small business, she is on the move displaying her work in galleries in the Southeast, fine art festivals, and public art installations in both corporate and locally-owned businesses including FedEx, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Bridge Capital Assets, 901 Property Services, Metal Removal Technologies, Black Warrior Brewing Company, and more.

Solo exhibits included those at Hotel Indigo, Harrison Galleries, DCI and Levee Galleries of Memphis, Tenn., Kentuck Art Center and the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Court Center among others. Select group exhibits include those at Wesleyan Artist Market in Atlanta, 2020 Adult Juried Exhibit-Shelby County Arts Council, Kentuck Art Center & Museum, and Alabama State Council on the Arts Georgine Clarke Gallery.

For more information on Sydney, you can follow her on social media @seekingsydneygruber or visit her website at www.sydneygruber.comFor more information about the artist, visit www.sydneygruber.com.

Visit cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery.php for complete gallery and artist information and www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com to view the participating galleries of downtown Tuscaloosa’s First Friday Art Walk.

Gallery Hours are weekdays from 1-3 p.m. with facial coverings and social distancing requested.

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.

 

 

For more information about the artist, visit www.sydneygruber.com.

Visit cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery.php for complete gallery and artist information and www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com to view the participating galleries of downtown Tuscaloosa’s First Friday Art Walk.

Gallery Hours are weekdays from 1-3 p.m. with facial coverings and social distancing requested.

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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ARTIST WINFRED HAWKINS FEATURED DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

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

 

ARTIST WINFRED HAWKINS FEATURED DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE DINAH WASHINGTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host an exhibit of paintings by Winfred Hawkins in recognition of Black History Month Feb. 5-26, 2021 in The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Titled “Akachi: Hand Of God,” the exhibit will open with a reception on  from 5-8 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Tuscaloosa.

Akachi is an Igbo word from west Africa that means “Hand Of God.” The Igbo term evokes the history of slaves shipped to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade, the majority of whom came from central and west Africa. Hawkins says of his work, “This show is a combination of various works that I have been working on since my arm injury in 2012. Reflecting Boy is an ongoing series that focuses on my experiences growing up in Montgomery, Alabama. In a way, this work pays homage to my younger self. The ‘Boy’ is in the act of reflecting upon something that has happened, or is currently happening to him.”

Born in Montgomery, Winfred Hawkins started drawing at an early age. He developed his drafting skills by watching his father draw and by copying animals from nature books. “I was basically a copying machine. I would draw just about anything you put in front of me,” Hawkins says.

While attending high school at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery, Hawkins was commissioned by the Rosa Parks Museum at Troy University to design ten bronze roundels for the outside of the museum. He completed the project after graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2007. Since that time Hawkins has been working as a graphic designer in Montgomery. In 2020 he worked with two other artists to create a mural on the side of The King’s Canvas art studio in Montgomery on historic Oak Street, along the route where hundreds of Selma to Montgomery marchers walked to the State Capitol in 1965. He also works as Programs Manager for ArtsRevive in Selma.

For more information about Winfred Hawkins’ work on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, search for 33Akachi.

For more information about the gallery and Hawkins’ exhibit, visit cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery. The galleries available during First Friday are available for viewing at www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com.

Current Hours at The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center are weekdays 1 p.m.- 3 p.m.  

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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THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL OF TUSCALOOSA TO RECEIVE $100,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS FOR REGIONAL ARTS EDUCATION PROJECT

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

THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL OF TUSCALOOSA TO RECEIVE $100,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS FOR REGIONAL ARTS EDUCATION PROJECT

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa has been approved for a $100,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support the The pARTners Project, a multi-phase collective impact initiative spearheaded by the Greater Birmingham and West Alabama Arts Education Collaboratives . The grant was awarded for the two regional arts collaboratives to create a plan to increase access to arts education for students in the West-Central Alabama region, which includes the Greater Birmingham area and rural areas in western Alabama, especially those still facing the lasting effects of segregation and white flight.

The pARTners Project is among 1,073 projects across America totaling nearly $25 million that were selected during this first round of fiscal year 2021 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects funding category. The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa was awarded the highest funding amount possible from the NEA to support the pARTners Project.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support this project from the Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa,” said Arts Endowment Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa is among the arts organizations across the country that have demonstrated creativity, excellence, and resilience during this very challenging year.”

“As the child of two educators, I know it’s critical to empower the next generation by providing equitable access to quality education. I am thrilled the Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa and the Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative has secured this critical federal funding as part of the National Endowment for the Arts initiative to expand access to arts education in rural and underserved areas. For generations, the arts have served to inspire and ignite young people’s imaginations, and I look forward to the creative solutions this investment will bring to broaden equal access to educational opportunities for the children of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.”
–Congresswoman Terri Sewell, U.S. Representative, District 7

The pARTners Project will identify and leverage key community collaborators to work on strategic planning, research, and curriculum development to ensure that access to arts education throughout the region is widespread and equitable. The initiative will be deeply rooted in the communities it serves, and will empower its members to sustain and build on the goals well after the grant period concludes.

For more information on projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

To receive updates about The pARTners Project and find out how to get involved, sign up at
bit.ly/thepartnersproject.

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UPDATED CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, FIRST FRIDAY, AND SELFIES WITH SANTA ON DECEMBER 4

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                                    
Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority
Contact: bbooker@tcpara.org
Source: Sandy Wolfe, Director of the Tuscaloosa Arts Council, director@tuscarts.org

UPDATED CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, FIRST FRIDAY, AND SELFIES WITH SANTA ON DECEMBER 4

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The annual lighting of the Christmas tree at the Tuscaloosa County Court House will take place on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. Judge Rob Robertson will serve as master of ceremonies for this festive event.

Tuscaloosa native, Rosie Webber will perform. Webber is an Alabama native singer, musician, and songwriter. Since her graduation from Rider University in 2016, she has toured the country with the Broadway musical “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” and has traveled the world as a professional singer. She most recently released her Christmas EP, Jingle & Swing! available now, wherever you stream! For more information on Webber, please visit https://www.rosiewebber.com.

Theatre Tuscaloosa’s performance of “Lights Out for Christmas in Cootah County: A Country (COVID) Christmas Carol” at Government Plaza has been cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns. Instead, the performance will be recorded and offered as a free video stream available soon at www.theatretusc.com or 205.391.2277.

PARA’s presentation of Selfies with Santa on December 4 in Government Plaza has also been cancelled. Please visit www.tcpara.org/events for the most updated information on Holly Jolly in the Park scheduled on December 11.

Patrons are requested to wear a face covering and practice social distancing per City of Tuscaloosa and State of Alabama guidelines. The Tree Lighting and First Friday events are free and open to the public.

Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of downtown Tuscaloosa’s First Friday Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. Visit www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com for complete information. 

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DOCUMENTARY FEATURING TUSCALOOSA NATIVE CHUCK LEAVELL WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING BEGINNING NOVEMBER 16TH

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

 DOCUMENTARY FEATURING TUSCALOOSA NATIVE CHUCK LEAVELL WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING BEGINNING NOVEMBER 16TH

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is continuing film streaming opportunities, this time featuring “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man.” A documentary about Leavell, who is a Tuscaloosa native and Rolling Stones keyboardist and rock ‘n roll pianist, it highlights not only his incredible talent but also his commitment to the environment through forestry.

When a patron purchases a $12 ticket for the film on the Bama’s unique webpage, 50% of the net proceeds will go directly to the theatre. The film will be available for streaming Nov. 16-28, 2020.

Visit https://bamatheatre.org/streaming.php to access the film.

Filmed in four countries with more than 80 interviews from artists with a combined 58 Grammy Awards by the artist included, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” an Allen Farst film, is the cinematic documentary that shines a light on one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll pianists and keyboardists over the last 40 years. Not only known for his musical influence, Leavell is also one of the biggest names in environmental forestry and was selected the National Tree Farmer of the Year in the U.S. His commitment to the planet and his strong family ties are refreshing reminders to be kind and treat your neighbor with respect. As Leavell puts it, “if you cut a tree down, plant two for the next guy.”

The film features Allman Brothers band members Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes. Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Woods are also spotlighted in the movie along with President Jimmy Carter, Eric Clapton, Chris Robinson, Mike Mills, Pat Monahan, John Bell, Lee Ann Womack, Bruce Hornsby, John Popper, Bonnie Raitt, Julian Lennon, Charlie Daniels, Miranda Lambert, John Mayer and David Gilmore, among others.

A Tuscaloosa native, Leavell began his amazing musical career with a local band named the Misfitz that performed at the YMCA on Friday nights. Playing both keyboards and guitar, he was then employed at the acclaimed Muscle Shoals Fame Studio at age 16 and won his first gold record at that same age. After joining the Allman Brothers Band at age 20, he formed his own band named Sea Level. In 1982 he auditioned and became the keyboard player with the Rolling Stones. During breaks with the Stones, he has toured and recorded with Eric Clapton, George Harrison and John Mayer and has recorded with a who’s who of pop, jazz, country and rock performers. In 2012 he was honored with a Lifetime Grammy. He received the Home Grown Award at The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa’s 2013 Druid Arts Awards ceremony.

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. Visit bamatheatre.org for further information.

 

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NOVEMBER FIRST FRIDAY AT DWCAC WILL FEATURE THE WORK OF ROBIN NANCE METZ

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

 

NOVEMBER FIRST FRIDAY AT DWCAC WILL FEATURE THE WORK OF ROBIN NANCE METZ

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host an exhibit of works in clay and paintings by Robin Nance Metz Nov. 6-Dec. 11, 2020 in The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Titled “A Life in Color,” the exhibit will open with a reception on Nov. 6 from 5-8 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Tuscaloosa.

Artist Robin Nance Metz studied Graphic Design and Illustration at the University of Montevallo and Auburn University and was then employed in those fields from 1980-2000. Her introduction to clay in the past six years gave her the chance to try a new medium in her creative journey. The platter is the closest thing to an actual canvas and was the easiest for the artist to apply what she already knew to another medium. Metz also  holds grief centered clay hand building workshops in her studio, and she also enjoys hand building and carving.

Metz’s accolades include solo exhibits of her paintings at the Lyda Rose Gallery in Homewood, Ala., Homewood Library’s Ellenburg Gallery, Shorty Cate’s gallery in Fairhope, Ala., and The Cannery in Daphne, Ala. Her works in clay have been displayed at Monte Sano outdoor show, Bluff Park outdoor show, Johnson Center for the Arts in Troy, Ala., Aldridge Gardens in Hoover, Ala., Bluff Park outdoor show, Artists Incorporated Gallery in Vestavia Hills, Ala., The Grand Bohemian Gallery in Mountain Brook, Ala., Alabama Clay Conference Participants Show, and Kentuck 2019. 

Current Hours at The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center are weekdays 1 p.m.- 3 p.m.  

For more information about Metz Studios, visit facebook.com/Metz Studios.

For more information about the gallery visit cac.tuscarts.org/cacgallery. The galleries available during First Friday are available for viewing at www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com.

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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LIVE MUSIC IS BACK AT THE BAMA THEATRE AS TUSCALOOSA TOURISM & SPORTS HOSTS THE THIRD VIRTUAL MUSIC EXPERIENCE

MEDIA CONTACT
Barrett Elder, Marketing & Communications Director
Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports
205-391-9200

Don Staley, President & CEO
Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports
205-391-9200

LIVE MUSIC IS BACK AT THE BAMA THEATRE AS TUSCALOOSA TOURISM & SPORTS HOSTS THE THIRD VIRTUAL MUSIC EXPERIENCE

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports (TTS) will host a third virtual music experience Friday, September 25, 2020, with a live component at The Bama Theatre. Featuring GrAystone and Casie and the NoJoes, this will be the first live concert event at The Bama Theatre in several months. Due to social distancing, tickets will be limited to only 250, and will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Like previous virtual concerts, this event will be live streamed on the Visit Tuscaloosa Facebook page. There will be a donation link available during the event with one hundred percent of the proceeds going The Bama Theatre.

The Virtual Music Experience is presented by Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports, The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, WVUA, Eat My Beats, Buffalo Rock, and BioPURE. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. at the Bama and tickets can be found at LIVEFromTheBama.Eventbrite.com.

“We have been watching The Bama Theatre successfully enforce a socially distant atmosphere for a few events and are thrilled that we are able to partner with them on our third Virtual Music Experience,” Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports CEO Don Staley said. “Working with The Arts Council and the Chamber to help the Bama Theatre will be a perfect way to give back to the Tuscaloosa community.”

When asked about the event, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama President & CEO Jim Page said, “The Chamber is proud to be part of another virtual music experience and we can’t thank our partners at TTS enough for their innovation in making live entertainment possible during these challenging times. It’s also important to all of us to support The Bama Theatre that, like many local businesses, has been financially impacted by the pandemic.”

This unique event will feature local artists GrAystone and Casey and the NoJoes. GrAystone will open the show with top 40 favorites from the 70’s and 80’s. With a combined 248 years of professional rock experience, GrAystone is truly expert at their craft. Casie and the NoJoes feature rock and blues music with an eclectic group of artists that are sure to bring the house down. Lead singer Casie Jones says, “The NoJoes consists of a band of friends embodying the best parts of blues and southern rock music, with a new twist.”

“GrAystone is honored and excited to be a part of the event to help the Bama Theatre,” offered drummer Gene ‘Poodgie’ Poole. “The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa and the Bama Theatre are wonderful assets for Tuscaloosa and add tremendously to our quality of life. We are hoping that everyone who enjoys good old rock and roll will join us for a great event that is for a great cause.”

Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director of The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa added, “We are so appreciative of the efforts of Tourism and Sports and The Chamber of Commerce to make this event possible. We are thrilled to have people in the theatre again in a safe way,” she said. “We have all safety protocols in place, including reduced seating capacity, hand sanitizing stations, and directional signs. I love that even with a small house, we will be able to share the experience virtually. I hope that people will support this very special space. The arts have an impact on our social and emotional wellbeing – it will be so nice to share music again as a community!”

The live stream can be found on Visit Tuscaloosa’s Facebook page. Additional information will be forthcoming. Those who would like to learn more about the event can go to Visit Tuscaloosa’s Facebook event page or visittuscaloosa.com/events. Information on the bands including bios, videos, and images can be found there.

Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports’ (TTS) mission is to increase economic impact to the City of Tuscaloosa by positioning Tuscaloosa as a destination for our targeted markets including sporting events, meetings, reunions, and leisure tourism.  This generates lodging, dining, shopping, and entertainment revenue for the City. To learn more, go to www.visittuscaloosa.com.

 

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