HUNTSVILLE – In October 1962, Americans were listening to the sexy new sounds of the Beatles “Love, Love Me, Do” and Broadway was challenging the age-old tradition of marriage with Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?”
Also that month, Huntsville created a nonprofit organization called The Huntsville Arts Council, with a mission to advance the arts in Huntsville and Madison County.
Today, that organization known as Arts Huntsville is the largest arts engagement, advocacy, and service organization in North Alabama. With a much more ambitious mission today, Arts Council stimulates and supports community creativity and engagement. It is done through four core program areas: arts community promotion and support, arts education, public art, and community events.
To celebrate 60 visionary years, Arts Huntsville launched a special $60 for 60 Years Giving Campaign on Facebook. The campaign runs through Oct. 31.
Donations support Arts Huntsville to continue those values, while also connecting residents and visitors to arts, entertainment, and culture across the area.
“Arts Huntsville’s board of directors, volunteers, artists, and staff are honored to be part of Arts Huntsville’s milestone 60th celebration,” said Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Jauken. “Over the last sixty years, our city and our arts community have both experienced exciting, dynamic growth marked by innovation and discovery.
“Arts Huntsville’s commitment to community creativity and engagement in the arts will continue to guide our work for decades to come, and we invite everyone to join in our 60th year celebration through our $60 for 60 Years Giving Campaign.”
With its own Public Art Master Plan, a first in Alabama, Arts Huntsville manages numerous art and entertainment-related programs and events such as the Panoply Arts Festival, Concerts in the Park, the Monte Sano Art Festival, and Art Tour of Homes; as well as a Public Art Program and managing a $1.2 million public art investment for Huntsville’s new City Hall. Next year, the organization will manage and award more than 10 citywide public art projects by local artists.
Arts Huntsville will take on 2023-24 with the launch and management of the Moon Performing Arts Center and the Sandra Moon Community Complex. It will serve as an arts hub with office space, rehearsal space, and an 800-seat performance venue in the former Grissom High School.
Click here to support the $60 for 60 Years Giving Campaign.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
