Arts in Education

TEACHING ARTIST PROJECT (TAP)

TAP instagram

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

amp up arts logo

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.

SHC + MAC Artist in Residency APPLICATIONS OPEN

April 17, 2026
Apply for the SHC + MAC Artist Residency. Enjoy studio space & lead workshops. Deadline: August 30, 2026.

Youth Drumming Workshop

April 7, 2026
Join the free Youth Drumming Workshop on May 2nd at Spring Hill College. Open to all ages, featuring professional drummers & recycled drum-making.

Mobile Arts Council Introduces a Partnership with Spring Hill College

By Kat Stoves • March 10, 2026
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…

Greater Mobile Student Show

By Sydney Cramer • January 8, 2026
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…

Art for All

The Mobile Arts Council, The Central Arts Collective, Full Life Ahead Foundation, and L'Arche Mobile are pleased to announce "Art for All," an inclusive arts education program for adults. The goal of the program is to bring people of all abilities together to express their creativity and develop their skills in a variety of arts media including acrylics, graphics, watercolors, and more. Biennially, framed works from Art for All, all created by students with developmental disabilities over a number of years, will be featured in our gallery with 100% of proceeds from these art sales will go toward purchasing supplies for Art For All‘s classes. Currently these works are available for purchase at Central Presbyterian Church.




art for all graphic

Poetry Out Loud

National Endowment for the Arts presents Poetry Out Loud
2026-27 Poetry Out Loud Competition

Poetry Out Loud lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this arts education program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history and contemporary life. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts, Poetry Out Loud provides free lesson plans and other educational materials to teachers and organizers, including an online anthology of classic and contemporary poems. The program starts at the local level with a school or participating organization. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals. Visit PoetryOutLoud.org for free materials, including instructions for organizing a local competition. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.6 million students and 89,000 teachers from 22,000 schools across the U.S. have participated in Poetry Out Loud


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 and Anthology Poetry. 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.


 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 2026-2027 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 9th, 2027 from 11 a.m. to 2p.m., location TBA. You can register here.


The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud competition will be held Saturday, January 23rd, 2027 at 11:00 a.m. , location TBA. The deadline to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 16th, 2027 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 Lyza at lyza@mobilearts.org or 251-432-9796 ext. 3. She will be glad to answer any questions. Information regarding the 2026-2027 competition should be updated no later than October 1st, 2026. Check back to this page for region-specific updates. These will be made available as soon as possible.

Recent POL News & Deadlines

2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud Competition Registration Open Now!

By Sydney Cramer • October 15, 2025
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…

2024-2025 Poetry Out Loud Competition Registration Open Now!

By Sydney Cramer • October 9, 2024
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…

Poetry Out Loud 2021-22

By Sydney Cramer • December 17, 2021
Every year Alabama high school students, grades 9th through 12th, are invited to participate in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. By performing poetry, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn more about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners…

Poetry Out Loud 2020-21

By Amber Swain • September 4, 2020
Alabama high school students, grades 9th through 12th, are invited to participate in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. By performing poetry, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn more about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to…
Katrina by Phoebe Graham, Winner of Best of Show, FIVE competition

Katrina by Phoebe Graham, Winner of Best of Show, FIVE competition 2026

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. Next Showing: April 2028


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

Inaugural Mobtown Mural Fest Artists

By Angela Montgomery • September 8, 2026
Inaugural Mobtown Mural Fest Artists & Map

April: Biennial FIVE Competition

April 7, 2026
Join the Biennial FIVE Competition for student artwork. Submit pieces for a chance to win cash prizes & a free membership!

“FIVE” Biennial College Art Competition

By Sydney Cramer • February 19, 2026
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…

FIVE Show Winners Awarded

By Sydney Cramer • April 14, 2024
MAC is delighted to announce the 2024 FIVE Show winners! These students’ works were picked out of 75 entries that had previously been juried into the exhibition. Thank you to all students currently exhibiting their work, and congratulations to this year’s FIVE winners. The FIVE Show will be on display in MAC’s Gallery @ Room…

Greater Mobile Student Show

Mobile Arts Council, in partnership with Amp Up Arts, is proud to continue its commitment to arts education and student recognition through the Greater Mobile Student Show. This exhibition provides K–12 students from across the Greater Mobile area with the opportunity to showcase their artwork in a professional gallery setting, offering young artists a meaningful and affirming experience that mirrors that of working artists. Through this platform, students gain visibility, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the professional arts world.


This program reflects Amp Up Arts’ and Mobile Arts Council’s ongoing dedication to expanding access to high-quality arts education and ensuring that young artists along the Gulf Coast continue to be celebrated for their creativity and achievement.


Awards will be given to the top juried artwork in several categories. Categories of artwork include craft, drawing, painting, photography/new media, printmaking, mixed media, and sculpture.

Recent VAAP News & Deadlines

2025 Visual Arts Achievement Program & Young at Art

By Sydney Cramer • December 6, 2024
The Mobile Arts Council is now accepting entries for the 2025 District 1 Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art! Those eligible for District 1 include public and private schools Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties. Every student who receives a District Award will be recognized in the State Awards from…

2024 Visual Arts Achievement Winners Announced

By Sydney Cramer • February 20, 2024
Every February, the Mobile Arts Council hosts the Visual Arts Achievement Program (VAAP) and Young at Art. VAAP is an arts in education program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and it awards students in grades 6 through 12 that are participating in arts programs within their academic institutions. Young At Art is…

February: 2024 Visual Arts Achievement Program & Young at Art

By Sydney Cramer • February 8, 2024
The Mobile Arts Council is pleased to host the 2024 District 1 Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art! Those eligible for District 1 include public and private schools Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties. Every student who receives a District Award will be recognized in the State Awards from the…

2024 Visual Arts Achievement Program & Young at Art

By Sydney Cramer • January 8, 2024
The Mobile Arts Council is now accepting entries for the 2024 District 1 Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art! Those eligible for District 1 include public and private schools Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties. Every student who receives a District Award will be recognized in the State Awards from…