2024 VISUAL ART ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS EXHIBIT DISPLAYED AT THE BAMA THEATRE’S JUNIOR LEAGUE GALLERY

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) Presented by The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, the 2024 Visual Art Achievement Awards Exhibit will be on display at the Bama Theatre’s Junior League Gallery March 4-21.  A reception and awards ceremony recognizing the winners will take place on March 7 from 6-7 p.m. in the gallery.

The exhibit will consist of the Best of Show, First, Second, and Third Place winners and Honorable Mentions awarded to students from local public and private schools with works divided into two groups based on grade level. Group I will consist of middle school students in grades 6-8, and Group II will include high school students in grades 9-12.  The program was open to students from Bibb, Chilton, Choctaw, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox counties. Entries were classified based on medium:  craft, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and photography/digital images/film/new media.

The local winners will be featured in the state level competition at the RSA Tower Artist’s Gallery in Montgomery. A program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Visual Arts Achievement Program provides local and state recognition for student achievement in the visual arts. The program is designed to offer encouragement to young artists, showcase their work and offer opportunities for advanced training beyond high school. The judge for the District 3 competition was Kaitlyn Redborg.

Best of Show
Alexandra Jones, Tuscaloosa County High School, “Suffocation”

Best of Group 1 (Grades 6-8)
Kinley Presley, The Alberta School of Performing Arts, “Conversation Hearts”

Best of Group 2 (Grades 9-12)
Madison Taylor, Northside High School, “Instincts”

To the list of all winners and those included in the exhibit is available for viewing at https://tuscarts.org/gallery-exhibits-competitions/competition-visual-achievement/.

The Junior League Gallery at the Bama Theatre is open weekdays from 9 a.m. -noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Enter the gallery through the PARA Building, located adjacent to the theatre, during daytime hours.

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 Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit bamatheatre.org for further information.

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TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOLS FINE ARTS SHOWCASE AT DWCAC

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host the annual Tuscaloosa County School System Fine Arts Showcase March 1-28, 2024 in The Arts Council Gallery and Black Box Theatre at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. An exhibit of select visual art comprised of art students from the TCSS secondary schools will open on March 1 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk. Each art teacher will select seven to ten pieces for the display in a variety of media. The exhibit will conclude on Thursday, March 28.

Also featured during the First Friday portion of the Showcase will be performances by the Brookwood Elementary Chorus, led by Amber Hartley, at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Tuscaloosa County High School Jazz Band.

Gallery hours are weekdays 9 a.m.- noon and 1-4 p.m.  For more information about all gallery events taking place on First Friday and the locations, visit 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, 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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ALABAMA BLUES PROJECT EXHIBIT AND EVENING OF ART AND BLUES IN FEBRUARY

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is hosting a preview exhibit of works featured in the Alabama Blues Project’s 14th Annual Evening of Art and Blues through February 23, 2024, in The Arts Council Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. The display corresponds with the Blues Project’s annual fundraiser, “Harlem Nights,” on February 23rd and consists of donated art and crafts from local artists that will be auctioned off with proceeds benefitting the Alabama Blues Project.

Gallery hours are weekdays 9 a.m.- noon and 1-4 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.alabamablues.org.

The 14th Annual “Evening of Art & Blues: Harlem Nights” will take place on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. This year the organization will celebrate some of the blues’ “fruits” in a nod back to jazzy “Harlem Nights,” along with more current hits performed by AJ and the Midnight Soulz. Alabama Blues Productions will also perform.

Hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, silent auction, and live auction with art and gifts from local artists and businesses will round out the evening.  Tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for kids ages 8 to 17, and free for kids ages 7 and under. Reserved tables for 8 are $300. For sponsorship opportunities, contact (205) 752-6263.

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 or for more information, 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 Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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2023-24 POETRY OUT LOUD WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN TUSCALOOSA

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The regional finals for Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation competition, took place on Feb. 8, 2024 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Prior to this final round in Tuscaloosa, the West-Central Alabama students participated in a primary competition at their respective high schools.

Poetry Out Loud is a national 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. Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 4.1 million students and 68,000 teachers from 17,000 schools and organizations in every state, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Students competing in the Regions 3 and 4 POL program were eligible to compete in the national anthology portion of the program, the original poetry portion, or social issue recitation. Traveling to Montgomery, Ala. this year, the winners will compete in the state-wide competition against winners in other Alabama regions.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts sponsored the competition and The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa administrates Poetry Out Loud on the local level. Additional sponsors include the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Judges for the Competition were Dr. Kerry Brackett, Joi Miner, and Alina Stefanescu. Accuracy judge was Martie Sample and prompter was Dr. Kevin Ledgewood. The State Competition will take place on March 6, 2024 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.

National Anthology Competition

1st Place: Egg McClure, Alabama School of Fine Arts

2nd Place: Zariah Smith, Paul W. Bryant High School

3rd Place: Dana Cheek: Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing: Sidney Grace Culwell: Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing: Aysha Thomas: Paul W. Bryant High School

Original Poetry Competition

1st Place: Egg McClure, Alabama School of Fine Arts

2nd Place: Abigail White, Indian Springs School

3rd Place: Erin Sides, Indian Springs School

Also advancing: Dana Cheek, Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing: James Harden, Vestavia Hills High School

Social Issue Poetry Competition

1st Place: Aarvi Shah, Indian Springs School

2nd Place: Egg McClure, Alabama School of Fine Arts

3rd Place: James Harden, Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing to state competition: Ellis Carter, Indian Springs School and Jaid Sconiers, Alabama School of Fine Arts

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 Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN THE 2024 WEST ALABAMA JURIED SHOW

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center was the setting for the announcement of the winners in The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa’s 2024 Juried Show for West Alabama artists on Friday, Feb. 2 during the First Friday Art Walk. A huge group of art lovers and artists were present for the conclusion of the annual exhibit including 2 and 3-D art by artists throughout the West Alabama region.

Artists were allowed to submit up to three works for judging. The competition was juried with digital images and the winners then selected in person by Cynthia Buob, a figurative painter and art instructor at East Mississippi Community College. She attended Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. where she earned her BFA.  She earned her MFA in painting from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Established in 1985, the West Alabama Juried Show represents The Arts Council’s mission to promote the arts in Tuscaloosa County. The exhibit offers local artists in West Alabama counties the opportunity to have their work displayed in a public setting and win cash awards for their efforts.

The following prizes were awarded:
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Purchase Award – $1,000
Sarah Marshall for “Aggressive Reassurance”
This will be displayed at the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, 9th street in Downtown Tuscaloosa, as part of The Arts Council’s permanent collection and a partnership between the two organizations.

Gail Skidmore Memorial Award of Excellence Contributed by The Arts Council – $300
Eric Nubbe for “Lock #1”

One Cash Award contributed by The Arts Council – $100
Jenna Clark for “Mother’s Magnolias”

Honorable Mentions
Kate Gurganus for “Tea with Lemon”
Krislyn Koehn for “The Fronts #1”
Deborah Hughes for “Conjuring Woods and Water”

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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THE ARTS COUNCIL OF TUSCALOOSA ANNOUNCES NEW STAFF APPOINTMENT

(Tuscaloosa, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is pleased to announce the appointment of Autumn Fuller to the position of Education Director/West Alabama Arts Education Collaborative. The position was left vacant after Shannon McCue, the prior director, accepted a position at The University of Alabama’s Collaborative Arts Research Initiative.

Autumn Fuller is a native of Tuscaloosa and has been involved in the Tuscaloosa arts community for almost 20 years. Starting at age 7, Fuller began performing with Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and found a love for theatre and all fine arts. In 2020, she graduated from The University of Alabama and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education then took her love for the arts into the classroom. She went on to teach Theatre and ESL English at Tuscaloosa County H.S. for 3 years before her employment at The Arts Council as Box Office Manager. She is continuing her role as an educator with Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and is still heavily involved with different arts organizations within Tuscaloosa County such as The Actor’s Charitable Theatre and Theatre Tuscaloosa.

The deadline to apply for the Box Office Manager position will be announced at a later date.

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 Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit www.tuscarts.org for further information.

SCREENINGS IN THE BAMA ART HOUSE FILM SERIES WINTER 2024 BEGIN FEBRUARY 13

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa’s Bama Art House Film Series Winter 2024 will take place in February and will feature three movies. Screenings will take place at the Bama Theatre on Feb. 13, 20, and 27 at 7:00 p.m.

The box office, doors, and bar will open at 6:00 p.m. Single Tickets will be priced at $10 general, $9 seniors & students and $8 Arts Council Members and will be available at the box office prior to screenings. Discount Punch Card Tickets ($70) will also be available and will be good for any 10 Bama Art House films with no expiration date.

Patrons can also order tickets ahead of screenings by visiting The Arts Council’s ticketing page at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36768.

Visit www.tuscarts.org to view the list of films, details and accompanying trailers under the Bama Art House link.

February 13
“Fallen Leaves” (2023)
Comedy/drama, Unrated / 1h 21m
Original title: Kuolleet lehdet
Director: Aki Kaurismäki, Writer: Aki Kaurismäki, Stars: Alma Pöysti, Jussi Vatanen, and Alina Tomnikov

Synopsis: In modern-day Helsinki, two lonely souls in search of love meet by chance in a karaoke bar. However, their path to happiness is beset by obstacles – from lost phone numbers to mistaken addresses, alcoholism, and a charming stray dog.

February 20
“Oscar Nominated Short Films”
Since 2006, ShortsTV has proudly brought the Oscar® Nominated Short Films to audiences across the globe.
This special release features the year’s most spectacular short films and is available to watch on the big screen for a limited time shortly after nominations are announced. Each nominee is released in one of three distinct feature-length compilations according to their category of nomination: Live Action, Animation, or Documentary. The theatrical release of the nominated short films is the world’s largest commercial release of short films.

February 27
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Crime/drama/thriller, Rated R / 2h 31m
Original title: Anatomie d’une chute
Director: Justine Triet, Writers: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, Stars: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner

Synopsis: A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.

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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THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL OF TUSCALOOSA COUNTY TO RECEIVE $100,000 GRANT FROM THE NEA

(Tuscaloosa, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $100,000. This grant will support the pARTners Project. In total, the NEA will award 958 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $27.1 million that were announced as part of its first round of fiscal year 2024 grants.

This support will advance the pARTners Project, an initiative aimed at enhancing arts education access in West-Central Alabama. The project focuses on implementing a comprehensive plan for arts education across Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Hale Counties. Key activities include developing individual campus arts education plans, collaborating with local higher education institutions and providing professional development in creative teaching methods.

“The NEA is delighted to announce this grant to The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, Inc., which is helping contribute to the strength and well-being of the arts sector and local community,” said National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “We are pleased to be able to support the West Alabama community and help create an environment where all people have the opportunity to live artful lives.” 

Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director of The Arts Council, reiterated the significance of the grant. “The Arts Council is thrilled to be awarded this important financial support from the NEA. This will build on the pARTners Project initiative to enhance access to arts education in our community. Arts Organizations throughout the nation depend on the NEA for its continuing contribution toward the goals of local, state, and regional organizations in all arts sectors, but especially in education.”

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

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 Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit www.tuscarts.org for further information.

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THE ARTS COUNCIL’S 2024 DRUID ARTS AWARDS CEREMONY POSTPONED TO 2025

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.)  The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa’s biennial Druid Arts Awards ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Bama Theatre, has been postponed to 2025.

Due to unforeseen circumstances at this time, the staff and board agreed that a postponement to 2025 would be appropriate. The arts community is encouraged to consider your most deserving artists, volunteers, educators, and corporate sponsors throughout 2024 so that they can receive the recognition they deserve in 2025. 

The Arts Council offices are located in the Bama Theatre at 600 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa with the Dinah Washington Cultural Center on the same block. For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre or DWCAC, patrons should like the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and follow the group on Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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BACK-N-BLACK: THE ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE AT THE BAMA THEATRE IN FEBRUARY 2024

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will present “Back-n-Black: The Ultimate AC/DC Experience” at the Bama Theatre on February 3, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 to $30 (Premium) and are available for purchase at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36768/production/1183874.

Seating is reserved. Doors and the Bama Bar open at 7 p.m.

Back-N-Black delivers the goods with a set list that spans four decades of AC/DC’s finest. Vocalist David Jaynes founded Back-N-Black in 2007 after touring internationally with the AC/DC tribute Hells Bells named by Rolling Stone Magazine as “The Greatest Tribute Band on The Planet” and the world-renowned Black Jacket Symphony. Hear “Thunderstruck,” “Back In Black,” “Highway To Hell,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “TNT,” “Hells Bells,” “For Those About To Rock We Salute You” and many, many more.

The audience experience will include the wild antics of Angus in his signature schoolboy uniform, the tolling of Hells Bell and the explosion of the cannons, and the feel of thunder as Back-N-Black recreates an authentic AC/DC concert setting. After sixteen years, 47 states, five countries and over one thousand performances, the show is still going strong.

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 Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit www.tuscarts.org for further information.

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