PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Schultz, System Coordinator of Arts in Education
205-759-8395
TUSCALOOSA CITY SCHOOLS TO HOST 5TH ANNUAL
TUSCALOOSA CAN! EVENT
(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) In a continued response to the persistent concern of food insecurity in the lives of citizens in West Alabama, the 2019 Tuscaloosa Can! event will feature over 20 school teams creating large sculptures made from canned food items. After the structures are built, the creations remain on display to the public as a giant art exhibition. At the end of the viewing, all food is donated to the West Alabama Food Bank.
In an effort to expand awareness of food insecurity in our community, and increase the volume of food donated from this project, this year’s structures will be on display Feb. 26-March 1 at downtown Tuscaloosa venues including the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, Harrison Galleries and more. Awards will be presented to school teams at the First Friday Art Walk event held on Friday, March 1 at 5:45 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. The public is encouraged to attend and complete the First Friday Art Walk to view all of the structures.
Donations of canned goods for the projects will be accepted, but specific foods and corresponding brands are required by participating schools. To view a list of these foods and school contact information, visit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RHK-uacHOgmYBf5HlQy6iOSZBRqqGTufVmu3GXYnTxI/edit?usp=sharing
Over the past four years, Tuscaloosa City students and schools have raised over 40,000 pounds of food for the West Alabama Food Bank through similar projects. As part of our growing partnerships with The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa and the West Alabama Food Bank, we invite other public or private schools and higher education institutions to join our cause as we grow this event toward 2020.
The event fits with the vision of 21st Century curriculum goals by providing students opportunities for service-based, collaborative, hands-on learning targeting real world problems – in this case, regional hunger. Students integrate the skills of math and geometry, art and design, physics and engineering, as well as 3D rendering in creating their structures.
The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about the CAC, visit www.cac.tuscarts.org.
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