The Northwest Alabama Arts Council’s annual membership drive is in full force.  Headed by Vice-President Carrie Bolton and Public Relations Co-Chairperson Kimmy Vinson, the nonprofit organization is seeking new members. 

Created in 2004, the arts council consisted of four counties – Franklin, Lamar, Marion, and Winston – but in a change to the organization last summer, members voted to reduce the boundaries and focus on one county – Marion County.

Bolton stated, “For the past two to three years, probably 90 percent of our membership and participation had been Marion County residents.  We felt we should direct our efforts and programs toward the people who supported us.  The change last summer made it easier to plan, implement, and carry forward our arts-related programs.  While we welcome members from outside of Marion County, our plan is to emphasize and support our local communities and local schools.”

Annual membership fees are $25 for individuals and $35 for families.  Active or retired arts-related educators can join at no charge.  Prospective members can be artists, or simply someone who enjoys the arts; or members do not have to be artists at all.  The arts council is looking for persons who want to be involved in a progressive, community-oriented volunteer organization.  Vinson added, “There are no paid officers, directors, or board members with the Northwest Alabama Arts Council.  Each and every member devotes his or her time, talents, and skills to whatever project we are working on.” 

The arts council’s mission is to support the arts and art education.  Most people are familiar with the arts council’s role as host of the Jerry Brown Arts Festival, a regionally-recognized juried arts festival held annually the first weekend of March in Hamilton, which generates the vast majority of funding for the organization’s programs throughout the year.  In addition to the JBAF and its art education programs, some of the areas which the council promotes include visual arts, literary arts, and performing arts.

Goals for the arts council include expanding art education programs in the Marion County and Winfield school systems, the promotion of local artists and arts destinations with the Marion County Arts Trail, and the construction or renovation of a facility large enough to house the JBAF, an arts museum, and host other arts-related activities.

Interested persons may obtain more information and a membership application on the arts council’s website:  www.NorthwestAlabamaArts.org, or can contact Bolton at (205) 468-1370 or Vinson at (205) 412-2999.

The arts council meets on the second Monday night of each month April through December, twice in January, and four times in February.  Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. at the Hamilton City Hall, which houses the offices of the Northwest Alabama Arts Council.

Brilliant Elementary School fourth-grade participants in the 2009 Molding
Hearts, Hands & Minds program receive their Certificates of Participation
from Ed Minter, Treasurer, Northwest Alabama Arts Council,
at their school’s Awards Day program.

Shown is Northwest Alabama Arts council president Tyna Pyburn and
2010 Reflections of the South scholarship winner Eric Robbins.

Eric Robbins, a 2010 senior at Hamilton High School, was selected by the Northwest Alabama Arts Council to receive a $500 scholarship to pursue his education in the field of media arts.  The 2009-2010 academic year marks the arts council’s creation and implementation of its “Reflections of the South” scholarship program.

Arts council president Tyna Pyburn presented the scholarship to Robbins at the Hamilton High School Awards Day on Tuesday, May 18.  She stated, “This was a logical next step for the arts council in promoting the arts and art education in Marion County.  The success of the Jerry Brown Arts Festival over the past two years and the increased corporate and community support has allowed us create this scholarship program.  We are excited about the opportunities it will present to the seniors to have an arts-related scholarship available in the county.  We have many students who receive academic and athletic scholarships, but there is a group of students who are interested in the arts and who will excel in the arts given the opportunity.”

Robbins has been a participating student artist at the 2009 and 2010 Jerry Brown Arts Festivals, winning recognition for his works in the arts council’s “Sketching the Future” program.  Robbins says by receiving the Reflections of the South scholarship, he hopes to be able to take his art to new levels, and “make something that resonates with people, something that makes them think and provokes a genuine emotional response.” 

In addition to sketching and drawing, Robbins also enjoys painting, poetry, and playing the piano.  Robbins will be attending Bevill State Community College – Hamilton Campus this fall.  He is the son of Angie and Danny Robbins.