West Alabama Arts Education Collaborative
The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is home to the West Alabama Arts Education Collaborative, a project of Amp Up Arts.
About Amp Up Arts
Amp Up Arts is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization committed to increasing access to arts education and fostering artistic talent in Alabama communities. The organization advocates for equitable access to the arts for all Alabama students through certified art teachers, teaching artists, and partnerships with arts organizations.
With a focus on preK–12 schools, Amp Up Arts supports the development of arts education through networking, advocacy, and professional development, empowering communities to create sustainable and locally tailored arts programs.
This initiative is made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. As a state partner, Amp Up Arts expresses its gratitude for the council's ongoing support, guidance, and resources.
In response, a leadership team of experts from arts, education, business, and community sectors developed the Alabama Plan for Arts Education, approved by the State Board of Education in March 2016.
Legislative Support
In 2018, the Alabama State Legislature allocated $400,000 in funding for the launch of three pilot Regional Arts Education Collaboratives.
Goals of the collaboratives:
- Conducting regional arts education inventories
- Providing professional development for teachers, artists, and arts organizations
- Focus on arts integration
Regional Collaborative Sites
- Tuscaloosa
- Huntsville
- Birmingham
- Andalusia
- Mobile
- Troy
Contact
Autumn Fuller Bentley
Director, West Alabama Arts Education Collaborative
Phone: (205) 758-5195, x4
Email: education@tuscarts.org