Day 1

Thursday,  April  28   8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Ross Bridge Conference Center

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Check in and continental breakfast
8:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Donna Russell, Melissa Hughey
The State of the Arts in Alabama – Dr. Elliot Knight
Innovate Alabama – Representative Tracy Estes

8:40 a.m.The Unity of Rhythm-Yogi Dada

9:40 a.m.Keynote Speakers
Michael Porten and Trish Andersen
Innovation, Creativity and the Arts

Break: Visit exhibits and vendors

10:55 a.m.The Arts as an Economic Engine: Supporting Innovation
and Creativity in Alabama
Meghann Bridgeman, President and CEO, Create Birmingham
Sulynn Creswell, Executive Director, Blackbelt Treasures Cultural Arts Center, Camden
Victoria Jones, Partnership Manager, tvg Hospitality, Orion Amphitheatre, Huntsville
Libby Jordan, Director Florence Arts & Museums

Break: Visit exhibits and vendors

12:30 p.m. Lunch & Featured Speakers
Innovative and Creative ways to Build a Community of Support

Christopher Loftin, Albert H. Collins Fellow, Ph.D. Student and GTA Choral Music Education, Auburn University
Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama Superintendent of Schools

Break: Visit exhibits and vendors

1:45 p.m.Creativity and Innovation: Community Revival in Rural and Urban Alabama
Kevin King, Founder/Executive Director, The King’s Canvas, Montgomery
Bryant Whelan, Executive Director, Eastern Shore Arts Center-Fairhope
Shellie Whitfield, Executive Director, Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce/Big Fish Arts Studio

2:45 p.m. Innovative and Creative Ways to Improve Health and Wellness in all Alabamians
Salaam Green, Founder-Literary Healing Arts Foundation, Artist in Residence-UAB, Co-Director of Arts Education, Blackbelt Community Foundation

Innovation, Creativity: The why and how of Arts Education

3:15 p.m.The Arts & The Brain
Dr. Firat Soylu, Assoc. Prof. of Educational Psychology/Neuroscience, University of Alabama and Dr. Mary Soylu, Art History Faculty, Alabama State University

Creative Programming for Arts Education
Arts Integration – Jessica Patterson, Arts Education Advocate; Director, Center Stage

3:45 p.m. Breakout sessions

Alabama Arts Education Initiative Grantees Group A Adjourn to meeting room

Main Ballroom: Networking with Grantees: Alabama Arts Education Initiative Grantees Group B

4:30 p.m. Closing & Preview of the evening

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Reception and Awards (Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres)

Red Mountain Theatre Campus (Transportation will be provided) Featuring performances by the Red Mountain Theatre Youth Ensemble
Alabama Arts Alliance awards will be presented

 

Day 2

Friday, April 29 Ross   Bridge   Conference Center   8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Check in and continental breakfast

8:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening remarks

8:25 a.m. Innovation and Creativity on the Move

Introducing the Jefferson County Art Bus

Shelly Bailey, Visual Arts Specialist, Jefferson County Schools

 8: 35 a.m. Innovation, Creativity and Quality of Life: The Arts for Social Good

Giving Back & Changing Lives

Amy Peterson, Artist –The Peony Project
Beverly McNeil, Founder, Portraits of Hope

“Give me Love” a dance performance featuring Students from Florence High School

Break

9:35 a.m. Innovative and Creative Ways to Utilize grant Funds to Design Impactful Experiences
Benja Jackson, Assistant Principal and Arts Coordinator, Hamilton Middle School;
Heath Mixon, Director ArtPlay, UAB; Tawny Stephens, Red MountainTheatre

10:05 a.m. Innovation and Creativity in Alabama’s Entertainment Industry
Dr. Robert A. Garfrerick, University of North Alabama
Chair, Department of Entertainment Industry University of North Alabama, Professor Eminent Scholar
Jessica Moody, Director of Programs and Operations, Create Birmingham, Film Birmingham

10:50 a.m. Funding Opportunities for Arts and Arts education
Alabama State Council on the Arts Program Managers
Support the Arts Tag Grant

11:05 a.m. Alabama’s “STEAMY” connection between the arts and sciences 
Grayson Lawrence, Principal Winterboro High School, Project based learning
Amy Guerin, Assistant Professor of Theatre, University of Alabama Huntsville, STEAM
Zac Shotts, An Engineer’s Perspective

Breakout sessions

Grantee Presentation room: Alabama Arts Education Initiative Grantees Group B

Main Ballroom: Networking with Grantees: Alabama Arts Education Initiative Grantees Group A

12: 15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Lunch on the terrace

 Lunch, entertainment, and closing ceremonies.

Performances featuring students from Hamilton, AL Schools, Florence High School, Marcelle LeBlanc, Natalie Robertson and more!

 

Donate

The Alabama Arts Alliance is a statewide partnership program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, is a member of Americans for the Arts, the Southeastern Arts Advocacy Group, and a partner with the Alabama State Department of Education. Projects and programs are supported by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, South Arts Inc., Support the Arts License Tag Fund, and individual donations.

Equal Opportunity Policy: It is the official policy of the Alabama Arts Alliance that no person shall,
on the ground of race, sex, religion, color, creed, national origin, handicap, or age,
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any program, activity, or employment. Inquiries or complaints regarding compliance with federal regulations may be directed to Donna Russell, Executive Director (drussell@alartsalliance.org)
or Melissa Hughey, Chairman of the Board (mwhughey111@gmail.com)
Alabama Arts Alliance, 400 South Union St., Suite 325 Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 269-1435

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