#46: Arts & culture offer access to fun -- and more
Do you place a high value on our community’s cultural attractions and institutions? Alabama Gov. Bob Riley does, listing this dynamic part of our economy and our quality of life, along with UAB, as the two greatest assets of metro Birmingham.  “Arts and culture serve as a powerful economic driver for our community,” explained Buddy Palmer, president and CEO of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, which supports organizations and artists in our 12-county region with grants and other programs. “In Jefferson County alone, the nonprofit arts industry generates some $125 million a year through such things as salaries, taxes and spending on events.”
The creative professionals who run these organizations also generate their own special energy throughout the community, adding to the richness and diversity of greater Birmingham. “These talented individuals could live and work anywhere,” Palmer said. “We’re so fortunate to have professional staff of such a high quality, as well as impressive strength in our cultural institutions compared to other cities our size.” On Saturday, July 18, many cultural sites and organizations will provide a taste of the quality and variety they offer on a special Member Day. You’ll find handbells ringing among the airplanes at the Southern Museum of Flight, classical musicians playing at the Birmingham Public Library and ballerinas twirling at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute – and that’s just a sample of the activities scheduled at 11 different venues. Performers from Embellishments Handbell Ensemble, Alabama Ballet, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and Red Mountain Theatre Company.will perform across the community, giving audiences at the Birmingham Zoo, McWane Science Center and other locations the chance to sample something new. Sponsored by the Membership Alliance and promoted by the Cultural Alliance, Member Day offers free admission to all locations for anyone who is a member of any of the organizations listed below. Anyone who is not already a member can join on the spot and get free admission to every other venue for the rest of the day, as well as the chance to win a cultural prize package worth $1,800. “Member Day provides a great opportunity for cross-pollination, as groups perform at different locations,” Palmer said. “Whatever your passion, you can find a choice of places to go and things to do, plus the chance to experience something you didn’t know anything about at all.” One participant last year, laready a member of the Birmingham Zoo, Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art, used her free admission to explore Vulcan Park for the first time in years. While there, she and her friends enjoyed a performance by young jazz musicians, a group she had never heard before and looks forward to hearing again. The combinations may be different this year, but alwyas offer a chance to enjoy something familiar and explore something new.
If you can’t make it to Member Day, the Cultural Alliance offers other options for exploring literally thousands of organizations and events that keep metro Birmingham moving throughout the year. Go to activeculture.info for the community’s best calendar of “what’s going on where around here,” as the website slogan says. The full schedule of Member Day is there, along with daily, weekly and monthly lists that include everything from art exhibits to fundraising galas.  “This is the best community calendar in town – and not just for arts and culture,” Palmer said. “It’s a great place to find things and list things, especially if you represent an organization that is trying to stretch marketing dollars in this economy.”
There is no cost to add a listings on the ActiveCulture calendar, and you can easily submit and update information on line. The Cultural Alliance also offers the Ask Artie cultural marketplace, an on-line resource that helps to connect local artists and organizations with the community. “We serve as an essential hub for things to do, as well as a resource to help artists market their talents,” Palmer said. “Brand new on our website is the Smart Directory, a list of educational programming for teachers who want to expand their classroom offerings with presentations on site or through field trips.” Palmer praised the Community Foundation for its pivotal role in the development of the Cultural Master Plan for Greater Birmingham, which was developed in 2002 and led to the creation of the Cultural Alliance in 2003.  “Developing the plan was a great way for the community to voice its opinion and help to choose the direction of our organization,” Palmer said. “We now can lead the way on the big-picture issues and provide an umbrella organization that frees the individual arts and cultural organizations to focus on their individual missions. What comes out of the Cultural Alliance is what the community said it wanted, like the calendar and even more great events and venues to enjoy.”
Contact Palmer at 458-1393 or go to the web for more information about the Cultural Alliance or a quick way to connect with the types of arts and culture you enjoy. Your attendance at any event or membership in any of these organizations is another great way to love your community, and promises a lot of enjoyment at the same time. Organizations participating in 2009 Member Day:
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Alabama Ballet
Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Birmingham Museum of Art
Birmingham International Center
Birmingham Public Library
Birmingham Zoo
Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham
Embellishments Handbell Ensemble
McWane Science Center
Metropolitan Youth Orchestra
Red Mountain Theatre Company
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
Southern Museum of Flight
Vulcan Park and Museum
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