Arts in Education

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.

 

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.
If you are interested in volunteering or making a financial donation towards this program, please contact info@mobilearts.org. Coming soon: Art for All Dauphin Island!
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poetry out loud

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.

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 registration form should be filled out by the individual student planning to compete in the regional competition on January 25th, 2025 no later than Saturday, January 18th, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

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. View the most recent registration information, deadlines, etc. through the articles linked below!

 

Recent POL News & Deadlines

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…

Mobile Student Advances to National Poetry Out Loud Competition

By lgafford | February 21, 2019 |

We’re thrilled to announce that Garrett Whalen, from Baker High School, won 1st place at the Alabama State Finals of Poetry Out Loud! Garrett will receive a cash prize of $200, an additional $400 towards his school’s library, and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Finals on behalf of Alabama. Keyshawn…

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Portrait of Quarantine #3 by Micah Mermilliod, Winner of Best of Show, FIVE competition, 2022

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 provides opportunities for students in grades 6 through 12 to be recognized for their contributions to the visual arts at the local and state levels. The program encourages young artists by showcasing their work and gives them opportunities for arts education beyond high school. View the statewide schedule, including scholarship opportunities for students on the Alabama State Council on the Arts' website here! This program takes place every year and is featured for the month of February in the Mobile Arts Council's Gallery @ Room 1927.

Concurrently, Young at Art is for 5th grade students and below and not included in the juried competition. This exhibition takes place each year in conjunction with the Visual Arts Achievement Program in the JPAR Gulf Coast gallery located at 318 Dauphin St., and is a showcase of talent in elementary art students.

If you are a student or teacher wanting to participate in these programs, email scramer@mobilearts.org! All schools in Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington Counties are eligible for our District 1 competition and Young at Art. For details about this program and information about different districts in Alabama, visit ASCA's website!

Recent VAAP News & Deadlines