TEACHING ARTIST PROJECT (TAP)
Mobile Arts Council has come together with Alabama Contemporary Art Center and Mobile Museum of Art to relaunch the "Teaching Artist Project". This project began in 2016 as a collaborative effort between our arts organizations to create a database of teaching artists who would become known as "floating faculty". Any artist interested in teaching their craft through education programming at any of our three organizations should fill out this form. All three entities will have access to the form once submitted.
Questions? Contact kat@mobilearts.org.
Amp Up Arts
Mobile Arts Council officially gained the title of "Collaborative Site" for Amp Up Arts in January, 2023. Amp Up Arts is a collective impact of the Alabama State Council on the Arts that focuses on the implementation of sustainable arts education for all K-12 public schools throughout the state. With their help, MAC will be searching for teaching artists in our area and training them through workshops and professional development opportunities to be able to effectively provide arts classes in Mobile County schools.
Interested in teaching with us? Fill out this form! We encourage teaching artists and organizations proficient in any and all mediums, including performance art, to apply! Interested in having Amp Up Arts work with your school? Then fill out this form! Email Kat Stoves at kat@mobilearts.org for additional information or to get involved.
Mobile Arts Council Introduces a Partnership with Spring Hill College
The Mobile Arts Council and Spring Hill College announce a new partnership designed to expand access to arts programming for students and the greater Mobile community. Built on a shared commitment to service, the collaboration will bring a series of artist residencies, hands-on workshops, and exhibitions hosted on the Spring Hill College campus, connecting students…
“FIVE” Biennial College Art Competition
The Mobile Arts Council (MAC) is delighted to sponsor the biennial Five show, a juried art competition including work from the five area colleges and universities – Bishop State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College, Spring Hill College, University of Mobile, and University of South Alabama. Three monetary prizes will be awarded. Open to all…
Greater Mobile Student Show
We are excited to share some important updates with you regarding our annual student exhibition. Beginning this year, the Visual Arts Achievement Program (VAAP) will now be known as the Greater Mobile Student Art Show, presented by Amp Up Arts. While the spirit and structure of the program remain strong, this refreshed name reflects our commitment to elevating…
JAWS Youth 2026: Applications Open!
JAWS Youth is a Jazz Art Writers South Festival (JAWS Fest) community arts education & celebration program for students under the age of 18. The JAWS Youth program is brought together in Partnership with Alabama Art Education Association (AAEA), Mobile Arts Council (MAC), Amp Up Arts, the University of South Alabama Libraries Art Galleries and…
2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud Competition Registration Open Now!
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is…
Sculpting Tradition: A Mardi Gras Moon Pie Workshop
The Mobile Arts Council and Amp Up Arts are proud to announce a unique professional development opportunity sponsored by Alabama Folklife Association for local art educators: Sculpting Tradition: A Mardi Gras MoonPie Workshop, taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Led by master float builder Steve Mussell and a team of professional artists with over…
Art in Motion-Education Workshop at MMofA
Mobile Arts Council and Mobile Museum of Art Present: Art in Motion Summer Educator Professional Development Friday, June 6, 20259 am – 12 pm@ Mobile Museum of Art4850 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608 Let’s get Alabama’s kids moving, creating, and thriving through the arts! Did you know that there are many public schools in our state without…
Make Music Day 2025
Get ready to celebrate the universal language of music right here in Mobile! Make Music Day is a global event, and we’re bringing the excitement to our city on June 21st. MMD Mobile will be a day filled with music, where everyone is invited to join in, whether you’re a seasoned musician, a beginner, or…
JAWSfest YOUTH: STUDENT ART NEEDED
Have you heard of JAWS fest? The Jazz-Art-Writers-South Festival is a two-month long celebration of music, art, and culture at the University of South Alabama. Hosted by the South Alabama University Libraries department, this festival brings jazz concerts, art galleries, and more to the South Alabama and Mobile communities. The first JAWS Festival was hosted…
Member’s Downtown Photo Walk
Photo Walk Workshop Join us for a fun and informative Photo Walk through downtown Mobile with professional photographer, Dan Domenzain! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this event is perfect for anyone wanting to learn the essentials of lighting and create stunning bokeh effects in their photos. Dan will guide…
Art for All
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have created Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, an innovative arts education program managed in partnership with the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA). Poetry Out Loud is a yearly national competition for high school students who are interested in poetry, creative writing, acting, and public speaking. Participants may go on to compete at regional, state, and final national levels. Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has reached more than 3.6 million students and 55,000 teachers from 14,000 schools nationwide.
Each year, the Mobile Arts Council facilitates District 1 of Poetry Out Loud's Alabama Statewide Competition in partnership with ASCA. Categories include Original Poetry, Anthology Poetry, and the new Social Justice Poem competition. This program includes free professional development workshops for winner and runner-up competitors, performance training, and the Region 1 Competition. Unlike previous years, individuals are now eligible to compete independently of their schools.
In 2025-2026, Poetry Out Loud will focus on America250 in celebration of the 250th signing of the Declaration of Independence, featuring poems celebrating the rich tapestry of American history and culture. An updated online anthology is available this year, and replaces any earlier online or printed anthologies. Note: the anthology may have additional poems added through the month of October.
- In addition to the updated anthology now available online, please note that for the 2025-2026 program, students can choose any three poems from the anthology. Students do not need to select a poem that is 25 lines or fewer or a pre-20th century poem.
The program is FREE! Participating teachers receive free materials, including a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and access to audio-visual materials on the art of recitation. Each year, MAC hosts a free Region 1 Poetry Out Loud Workshop. Here, students will have access to poetry analysis, writing, and general competition info. Students will be given the opportunity to practice their poems in the competition space, so they can be as prepared as possible come competition day! The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud workshop will be January 24th, 2026 at the Ben May Main Library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can register here.
The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud competition will be held Saturday, January 31st, 2026 at the Ben May Main Library at 11:00 a.m. The deadline to register for the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 24th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Register for the competition here.
The official website is www.PoetryOutLoud.org
Please visit it to explore all the resources available.
We look forward to signing YOUR high school up
for this wonderful program!!
If you would like yourself or your high school in Region 1 to participate, please contact Sydney at scramer@mobilearts.org or 251-432-9796 ext. 3. She will be glad to answer any questions. Information regarding the 2025-2026 competition should be updated no later than October 1st, 2025. Check back to this page for region-specific updates. These will be made available as soon as possible.
Recent POL News & Deadlines
The "Five" Show
“FIVE” is a biennial juried exhibition of work by students from the area’s five colleges and universities. This exhibition gives young adults the opportunity to showcase their artwork in a professional venue, as well as a chance to meet other artists, win prizes, and gain public recognition. Prizes include cash, MAC Memberships, and gift certificates from local businesses. Entry is open to any student enrolled during the current academic year at Bishop State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College, Spring Hill College, the University of Mobile, or the University of South Alabama. Students do NOT have to major in art or be taking art classes to participate. Submission deadlines and application will go live in early Spring every other year.
Winners received cash, gift certificates, and other prizes for courtesy of Lupercalia Art Society, Sophiella Gallery, Mobile Art Association, Mobile Arts Council, and Ashland Gallery.
Interested in participating? Email info@mobilearts.org to sign up for our Five email list!
View relevant articles regarding upcoming show deadlines, past winners, photos, and how to get involved in the links below.
Recent FIVE News & Deadlines
Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art
The Visual Arts Achievement Program, also known as VAAP, has been one of the premier secondary visual arts competitions in Alabama for more than thirty years.
After much consideration, the Alabama State Council on the Arts is retiring VAAP effective immediately. During the program’s tenure, hundreds of middle and high school students were celebrated for their talent and dedication to the art form. We know that this is sad news, but we hope you will find comfort in knowing that your students made VAAP one of the most successful visual arts competitions in Alabama — that achievement is something to be proud of.
