The Alabama State Council on the Arts held its biannual Celebration of the Arts Awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. The event recognizes and honors Alabama artists and individuals for their contribution to the arts in Alabama and beyond. Al Head, executive director of the Council said, "This awards program is an opportunity for the state to recognize special individuals who make the arts happen and bring great credit to our state through their work."

This year’s recipients included a Pulitzer Prize winning author, an internationally recognized poet, a professor emeritus and cultural historian, a university president and his wife, a dance instructor and artistic director, a playwright, a traditional band, a community arts volunteer and arts patron, and a long-time leader in the state legislature. Their contributions to the arts are diverse and far-reaching. Their impact on the entire state has been profound and sustained for many years. Read more…