PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
Contact: Kevin Ledgewood
pr@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195, x6
DRUID ARTS AWARDS PRESENTED AT THE BAMA THEATRE
MARCH 28, 2019
(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will recognize artists, educators, volunteers and patrons of the arts at the 23rd Druid Arts Awards ceremony on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at the Bama Theatre. The winners and their families will be honored at a reception at the theatre’s Greensboro Room at 6 p.m. with the awards presented at 7 p.m. in the theatre.
Admission to the reception and ceremony is $10, and the deadline to purchase tickets in person or reserve by phone is March 18 at 5 p.m. Call 758-5195, exts. 3, 4, or 6 or visit The Arts Council office at 614 Greensboro Avenue in the PARA Building for tickets. Checks and credit cards will be accepted with no ticket sales taking place the evening of the awards ceremony. Tickets will only be available for pick-up at will call.
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- were requested from the community in each of the categories of music, visual arts, dance, literature and theatre. Nominations were also requested for Patron of the Arts, Corporate Sponsor, Tuscaloosa’s Home Grown and Special Awards. Tuscaloosa’s Home Grown was established to honor those native to Tuscaloosa who have become recognized in their field on a national/international level. Individuals or groups who have contributed to or supported the arts through actions outside of the aforementioned categories are honored with a Special Award. Nominations were submitted by citizens of Tuscaloosa County, and a committee comprised of members of The Arts Council Board of Directors made the final selections.
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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