Alabama State Council on the Arts

09/28/2026

What if your older brother started acting like a werewolf?

Birmingham author Kerry Madden-Lunsford’s Werewolf Hamlet follows a 10-year-old with a Shakespearean plan to bring his brother back. It’s funny, tender, and built around a big question: What can kids do when someone they love is struggling?

Listen to Kerry’s conversation with Anne Kimzey on the latest episode of , available wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

09/25/2026

Registration for Alabama’s Poetry Out Loud program is open now!

What is Poetry Out Loud? It’s a national poetry recitation competition that helps high school students improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and grow their appreciation for poetry.

Alabama students in grades 9-12 also have the option to showcase their creative writing skills by participating in the state’s original poetry competition.

Schools and organizations that wish to be part of Alabama’s 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud program must contact their region’s coordinator by November 30, 2026. Find resources linked in the comments.

09/25/2026

Alabama writers, publishers, and literary organizations -- don't miss out on these funding opportunities from our friends at South Arts!

Southern writers, publishers, and literary organizations: your next opportunity is here.

Two South Arts literary funding opportunities are now open:

📖 Literary Arts Project Grants | Up to $5,000 per project

🏆 Southern Prize for Literature | $45,000 in awards

Bring the next project, manuscript, or story forward.

🗓️ Apply by October 7.
www.southarts.org/grants-opportunities

09/22/2026

We’re pleased to share that Kaci Norman, the Council’s arts in education program manager, has received the 2026 MacArthur Goodwin Distinguished Service within the Profession Award, presented by the Alabama Art Education Association.

Congratulations, Kaci! 👏

It's time to recognize our incredible Award Winners! They will be recognized at the Fall Conference at the BMA during the Awards Dinner/Gala. Next up is Kaci Norman, our winner of the AAEA Mac Arthur Goodwin Award. Congratulations, Kaci!

09/18/2026

Attention artists, technicians, and others working in the performing arts: The Material Impacts of AI in the Performing Arts Survey is a national study of how AI is affecting work, income, and creative practices in theater, dance, and live music.

Please take a couple of minutes now to share your experiences. Findings will help inform policy, funding, and support efforts across the field. ⬇️

GenAI Usage in the Performing Arts.

09/16/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED: The Alabama State Council on the Arts is awarding over $3.9 million in grants to 201 nonprofit organizations, schools, and universities.

From theatre productions, festivals, and concert series to administrative support, exhibitions, and after-school arts programs, these grants assist organizations that bring arts experiences to communities across the state.

Congrats to all the grant recipients! View the announcement here: https://media.alabama.gov/pr/pr.aspx?id=16804

09/15/2026

“One, two, three, over the mud puddle!”

For participants in Birmingham’s Dance for PD (Parkinson’s disease) program, a short rhythm cue can become a practical tool for everyday movement, and Mary Margaret Scalici is showing them how.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

09/14/2026

Join UAB Arts in Medicine for a Movement for Parkinson’s class designed to build coordination, strength, flexibility, balance, control, and confidence in a supportive and engaging environment.

Free and open to all senior adults. Care partners are welcome, and participants are encouraged to wear tennis shoes or socks. No prior dance experience is necessary—just bring yourself and a willingness to move.

🌟 Movement for Parkinson’s Class – Free & Open to All Senior Adults! 🌟   Join UAB Arts in Medicine for a Movement for Parkinson’s class designed to build coordination, strength, flexibility, balance, control, and confidence in a supportive and engaging environment.   Led by experienced...

09/08/2026

Last call! We're hiring a Visual Arts Program Manager. Tomorrow, September 9, is the last day to apply for this position.

More details:https://arts.alabama.gov/PDF/VAPM_Flyer_2026.pdf

The Council on the Arts is hiring a Visual Arts Program Manager. This position serves as the agency’s primary staff resource for the visual arts field and manages a diverse portfolio of responsibilities that include grant administration, applicant support, statewide field engagement, program development, and on-site art gallery operations. This is a full-time position based in Montgomery, AL.

More details linked in comments. Please share!

09/04/2026

Alabama State Council on the Arts’ offices & on-site gallery will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.