Ten Jefferson County arts organizations will share more than $500,000 in grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts through the Creative Places Arts Facilities program, which funds construction, renovation, and equipment upgrades at facilities where the public participates in arts programming.
The grants, totaling $2.77 million statewide to 60 organizations, were awarded in March at the Council’s quarterly meeting in Montgomery. The program is funded through an appropriation from the Alabama Legislature.
The Arts Council of the Trussville Area and East Village Arts in Birmingham each received $100,000, the maximum award amount in this cycle. The Trussville grant will fund audio system modifications and a tech loft expansion at the ACTA Theater. East Village Arts will use its grant to renovate a historic facility to expand arts access in Birmingham.
Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema in Birmingham received $85,000 for an expansion that will include two micro cinemas, additional classroom space, and exterior signage.
Other Jefferson County recipients include:
- The Dance Foundation in Birmingham, $47,500 for studio theatre improvements
- Space One Eleven in Birmingham, $45,000 for flooring and lighting upgrades
- Terrific New Theatre in Birmingham, $42,500 for equipment and facility upgrades
- Red Mountain Makers in Birmingham, $30,000 for phase two renovations
- Leeds Arts Council, $22,000 for facility enhancement upgrades
- Homewood Theatre, $20,000 for microphone and speaker enhancements
- Firehouse Community Arts Center in Birmingham, $10,000 for two additional lesson rooms
“These critical investments make a big difference in communities throughout Alabama and will pay dividends for years to come,” said Elliot Knight, executive director of the Council on the Arts. “We extend our gratitude to the Alabama Legislature for their continued support of the Creative Places Arts Facilities grant program and their recognition of the importance of these investments, particularly in rural communities.”
The Alabama House-approved fiscal year 2027 Education Trust Fund budget includes $1.2 million for another round of Creative Places grants. Applications for the next cycle are expected to open in October.