Your Town Alabama: Designing Our Future

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State Council on the Arts continued

While there are fine cultural spaces that have been built in Alabama over the past several years, specialized spaces are still limited in number and often times inadequate to meet needs. With this new grant program, ASCA will be able to support community efforts throughout the state to construct, renovate and/or adapt buildings for cultural purposes.

Cultural facility needs include museums, art centers and a wide range of performing arts halls. The new facilities will be for the betterment of communities across Alabama in the accommodation of their art forms and audiences.
           
            “The Art and Cultural Facilities Program has been part of the Council’s long range plan for over ten years. As the result of an increased appropriation by the Legislature, the Council is now able to implement this important program” stated Al Head, Executive Director of the Council. Head added, “Even a small number of grants for sufficient amounts of money can make a big difference in community arts programming.”

 ASCA has awarded five organizations to receive grants under the new Arts and Cultural Facilities Program:

Alabama Ballet Center

The Alabama Ballet Center for Dance, Birmingham, (Jefferson County)

A construction award of $70,000 has been made to The Alabama Ballet Center for Dance in Birmingham, Alabama. The funds are in support of construction for the company’s studio and dressing room expansion. Since the opening of this facility in 1999, the demand for various dance programs has exceeded the company’s ability to provide these services. The addition of three sprung-floor studios and dressing rooms will allow The Alabama Ballet School to expand its curriculum, thus making the most comprehensive training available to students in the surrounding area.

Upon receiving the news of their grant, Alice Cox, the Executive Director for Alabama Ballet, replied, “ASCA has been vital to the Ballet’s growth and success. It is our privilege to recognize the Council in such a lasting endeavor as the extension of” our company. The additional studio space will optimistically be readily available to students for the 2007 school year. This project will benefit not only the organization, but also the community by encouraging the further revitalization of the Birmingham downtown district.”

The Centre for the Living Arts, Inc., Mobile, (Mobile County)

The Centre for the Living Arts was awarded a grant of $70,000 in support of Phase II of their adaptive conversion of the former Mobile Register building into a 3-story contemporary arts facility. The Centre will be unique to Alabama, by providing art workshops in glass, clay, wood and metal. These classes will be available for the general public in newly remodeled classrooms, galleries, lecture halls and auditorium spaces.

Carlos F. Parkman proclaims, “If Mobile is to become a shaping force in the recognition, development and display of contemporary artistic talent, then we must provide permanent facilities to achieve this goal.” The Centre plans to build upon existing programming by serving as a resource foundation for teachers and students, offering them hands-on learning opportunities both on- and off-site. An added bonus for the community is this company’s continuing promise to restore and rejuvenate historical property in the downtown Mobile area, transforming a historic relic into a vibrant and thriving hub for artistic creativity in this region of Alabama.

Ms. Parkman acknowledges the generous support from the Council stating “ASCA has partnered with Centre for the Living Arts since inception to provide artistic and educational programs for artists, schoolchildren and adults within the area and the state.”

Envision Opelika, Opelika, (Lee County)

Envision Opelika

Envision Opelika’s mission is to make a lasting difference in the quality of life for Opelika residents by engaging them in the collection, preservation, exhibition and interpretation of art in its highest quality. The organization was awarded $25,000 for the design to help restore the Miriam S. Brown School and bring new life to this historical asset as a Cultural Center. Barbara Patton, Executive Director of Envision Opelika, said, “The arts have always been a significant part of our community and the decision to use the school as a Community Cultural Center seemed to be the perfect fit. This new facility will be the portal that will allow a refreshingly new ray of light to shine through and bring attention to the artistic faction of this community.” Patton added, “the restoration of this structure will impact the cultural landscape in Opelika and further advance educational and programming possibilities for the area.”

The additions for arts purposes will include a performance space, a community gathering space and a learning center for children and adults. The new auditorium will accommodate 200-300 audience members per show. The completion of Opelika’s art center will allow diverse multicultural groups to integrate through various events that will build a greater sense of community in the city.

Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center, Inc., Troy, (Pike County)

Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center

With a grant of $70,000, the City of Troy, Alabama will be able to create a Fine Arts Center designed for the community’s enrichment, enlightenment, and enjoyment. The funds are in support of the renovation of the old post office and its grounds. Built in 1911 and left vacant since 1980, the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center, Inc. has big plans to restore the building to its original beauty and to convert the driveways and parking area into a walled garden. The Troy and Pike County region are in need of such a facility in order to collectively incorporate the many artistic assets that this area has to offer. The new Arts Center will provide the city with their first long-range visual arts exhibition, as well as an arts education space and a venue that will allow for collaboration in the Arts with Troy University.  The Center also has future plans to host traveling exhibitions and concerts for the City of Troy and surrounding communities. The renovations should be completed by June 2007.

Upon notification of receiving the Arts and Cultural Facilities grant, Mack Gibson, Chairman of the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center, Inc. stated, “This grant moves us a step closer with our fundraising efforts to reserve the circa 1911 post office building and to serve citizens of all ages in Pike County. This is a much needed facility and will be used not only for the arts. But for the community and corporate activities as well,” Gibson says. “We envision it to be a hub of activity, with ongoing exhibitions, concerts, workshops and classes in all areas of the arts.”

Gibson further commented, “The legislature is to be commented for its vision of placing the arts in the rural areas of Alabama for the enrichment of all of its citizens. Their efforts will provide a venue for the arts for many years to come.”

The Whole BackStage, Inc., Guntersville, (Marshall County)

The Whole BackStage, Inc. was awarded a grant of $40,000 in support of Phase II of their renovations in converting the Old Rock School. The facility is becoming a Community Arts Center, which will serve as a permanent home for the Whole BackStage Theatre and will also support other visual and performing arts activities. Phase II of the renovation focuses on Public Safety/Access, Performance Support Space and critical long-term Building Preservation issues.

Jim Peterson remarks, “The Whole BackStage Community Theatre appreciates the continued support of the Alabama State Council on the Arts in the renovation of the Old Rock School in Guntersville as a permanent home. This brick and mortar matched with the public donations and funding obtained with the help of Congressman Robert Aderholt, will enable us to move forward with Phase II of our project.”

According to Mr. Peterson, “This new facility, along with the Guntersville Museum and the Guntersville Library come together to embody the Cultural Area on the Guntersville peninsula and surrounding areas. Not only will the theatre be the single full-time community theatre in the county, it will also be the lone facility with full-staging capabilities for itself and other art organizations to utilize. The completion of new Arts Center will give children and families positive activities to embrace, through exposure to and involvement with the arts.”

The Alabama State Council on the Arts is the official state arts agency of Alabama. The staff of the Council, directed by Al Head, administers the grants programs and provides technical assistance in arts planning and programming. The Council receives its support through an annual appropriation from the Alabama Legislature and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

For more information about a particular grant, contact Barbara Reed, Public Information Officer at 334-242-4076, ext. 223.