PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
The Arts Council
Contact: Kevin Ledgewood
pr@tuscarts.org
205-758-5195, x6
FOURTH ANNUAL “MONSTER MAKEOVER” AUCTION WILL PROVIDE GRANT MONEY FOR LOCAL ARTS IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS
(Tuscaloosa) The Tuscaloosa News and The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host the “Monster Makeover IV” exhibit at the Bama Theatre galleries on October 7 – 24, 2013, culminating with a closing reception/charity auction to raise money for arts in education on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission to the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
Each year for the show, a local first-grade class draws monsters for local and regional artists to reinterpret in painting, woodwork, glass art, sculpture, metalcasting and drawing. The art is featured in a book, and auctioned at the Halloween-themed closing reception at the Bama Theatre.
This year’s show features artwork by 60 first-graders from Westwood Elementary in Coker and about 90 artists. The show started in 2010 with about 20 children and 10 local artists and has grown each year since. The artists are predominantly from the Tuscaloosa area, but this year there are also some from Birmingham, and one artist from Missouri.
A Best of Show award will be presented to the top professional work as selected by a group of judges. In addition to the silent auction, the closing reception will feature storytelling by Drew Baker, a live band, refreshments and a book signing. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes. The evening will conclude with the presentation of the artist award and the announcement of the auction winners with payment and pick-up. Cash, check and credit will be accepted.
Books depicting color images of the student and professional art will be available for purchase and Monster Makeover T-shirts will also be available. Proceeds from the art auction, book and T-shirt sales and donations will go to the Community Foundation of West Alabama, alongside funds that are specifically earmarked for Arts in Education. Local arts educators can then apply for funding from the Foundation through The Arts Council with a deadline of March 1 for grant activities which are to start after June 1 and be completed by April 30 of the following year. Teachers should visit tuscarts.org to access Monster Makeover grant materials which will be posted in the upcoming weeks. The same dates and deadlines are also applicable to The Arts Council’s Small Grants program. To date, Monster Makeover has raised more than $10,000 for arts education.
In addition to The Tuscaloosa News and The Arts Council, this year’s program is funded in part by the Support the Arts License Tag Fund. Additional sponsors include the makers market, Mammoth Print Shop, Hudson Poole Jewelers and Spirit Halloween Store.
The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue is downtown Tuscaloosa. Gallery Hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and also during Bama Theatre events. 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.
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