The Arts cultivate imagination, creativity, and innovation, an essential part of a complete education for all students.
The Arts cultivate imagination, creativity, and innovation, an essential part of a complete education for all students.
We are Birmingham’s Arts Education Nexus.
We exist to ensure every student has equitable arts education opportunities in Birmingham by harnessing the momentum of hundreds of arts education partners, catalyzing creative opportunities for Birmingham learners, and sparking the next generation of creative educators. A proud part of Amp Up Arts, a collective impact initiative of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, we are one of several arts education resource centers throughout our state.
ARTS EDUCATION NETWORK
Join Birmingham’s community of artists, educators, parents, and community partners who are passionate about arts education. We are stronger when we work together.
MAGIC CITY MINDS™
These school partnerships spark the alchemy that exists when the inclusion of standards-based arts instruction meets the remarkable potential of
young learners.
ARTIST AND TEACHER TRAINING
Learn how to infuse the arts across your curriculum! We offer standards-based professional development for teachers in arts integration, and annual programs to help artists grow in the art of teaching.
Arts Education Resources
CONTACT US
Mailing address: 811 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Please add your information below to join our network, receive meeting details, and find out more about our programs:
Discover Birmingham’s Spectrum of Arts Education Experiences
Explore high-quality lessons, activities, and tools developed by Birmingham’s very own arts and cultural organizations
VISION
Our vision is rooted in the belief that every student in Greater Birmingham have access to high-quality, fully-funded arts education.
MISSION
Our mission is to empower our community to increase student access to quality arts education as part of the Artistic Literary Consortium.
OUR BELIEFS AND VALUES
THE ARTS
We believe that the arts are for everyone. The arts create spaces where, many times, there are no wrong answers. Arts education is a necessary part of being ready for life beyond school, and sharing the importance of the arts is at the heart of what we do.
JOY
We believe that everyone deserves to experience joy while learning. We aim to put smiles on the faces of those we serve.
EQUITY
We believe that all students, regardless of personal circumstances, deserve access to the arts. We strive to support individual strengths, reflect the people in front of us, include everyone at the table, and value all of our partners.
CREATIVITY
We believe that everyone is creative. We are committed to help those we serve discover the creativity that they already possess and create strategies to support individual needs.
GROWTH ORIENTATION
We believe that everyone is creative and can discover their own creativity. We encourage those we serve to uncover this power within themselves.
THE ARTS
We believe that the arts are for everyone. The arts create spaces where, many times, there are no wrong answers. Arts education is a necessary part of being ready for life beyond school, and sharing the importance of the arts is at the heart of what we do.
JOY
We believe that everyone deserves to experience joy while learning. We aim to put smiles on the faces of those we serve.
EQUITY
We believe that all students, regardless of personal circumstances, deserve access to the arts. We strive to support individual strengths, reflect the people in front of us, include everyone at the table, and value all of our partners.
CREATIVITY
We believe that everyone is creative. We are committed to help those we serve discover the creativity that they already possess; and create strategies to support individual needs.
GROWTH ORIENTATION
We believe that everyone is creative and can discover their own creativity. We encourage those we serve to uncover this power within themselves.
ABOUT
Who we are and why we exist
Research shows that well-designed and well-executed arts education programs are a necessary part of college and workforce readiness. The long-term benefits of arts education on student achievement are incredible – yet, many Alabama students have minimal to no access to this type of learning.
As one of several Regional Arts Collaborative organizations across Alabama, we exist to serve as part of Alabama’s Artistic Literacy Consortium (ALC) – a collaborative structure that supports the Plan for Arts Education endorsed by the State Board of Education. Together, we respond to local communities while sharing our mission and goals to create collective impact, ensuring proper planning, and building sustainability for arts education across the state. You can learn more by visiting our partner website.
The Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative is an Incorporated Nonprofit Organization (tax exempt status pending).
ABOUT
Who we are and why we exist
Research shows that well-designed and well-executed arts education programs are a necessary part of college and workforce readiness. The long-term benefits of arts education on student achievement are incredible – yet, many Alabama students have minimal to no access to this type of learning.
The Arts Collab is a proud part of the Artistic Literacy Consortium, a statewide partnership funded by Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Alabama State Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by the Alabama Arts Alliance and the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts. Our mission is to empower our community to increase student access to quality arts education as part of the Artistic Literacy Consortium. The Arts Collab provides arts education programs to schools, convenes Birmingham’s Arts Education Network, and provides professional development to teachers and arts professionals on arts integration. The Arts Collab is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
INCREASE access to arts education where it’s currently unavailable.
PROVIDE academic support for schools and custom support for teachers where they need it most.
COORDINATE and align a wide range of arts education partners from across the area.
INCREASE creative and critical thinking skills for students, attendance, and engagement.
PREPARE students for college and career.
STAFF AND LEADERSHIP
Ginger is the Senior Consultant at the Arts Collab. Her work as a teaching artist in Birmingham City Schools over the past decade has led to the foundation of arts integration, arts enrichment, and literacy programs for Create Birmingham (Straight As federal grant), Better Basics, The Birmingham Museum of Art, A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club and more. Storytelling and arts integration are her passions whether it be creative writing, acting, filmmaking or dance.
Eric MarabIe Jr., an actor, writer, slam poet, emcee, guitarist, singer/songwriter, teacher, and director from Birmingham, AL, joined the Arts Collab as Project Coordinator after several years as a resident Teaching Artist. After moving to New York City to teach and pursue acting, Eric decided to focus on developing a creative brand combining all modes of his expression to create work that drives thought, communication, and healing forward. Eric is a staff writer, song writer, and actor for “The Juke Joint Live,” a variety show created by the incomparable polymath Erika E. Wade. Eric is also Co-Executive Director/Director of Programming & Special Events for of The Flourish Alabama and produces, directs, and emcees The Flourish at Freedom House in Birmingham. Eric is the lead director of the award-winning Off-Broadway production “Black Enough,” a one-man show written/performed by one of the nation’s top slam poets, Jahman Ariel Hill.
As the Arts Collab’s founding Executive Director, Deanna provides key leadership in organizational strategy and leads the charge for continual learning and resources for hundreds of educators and arts leaders. She’s an advocate of how art shapes community, a featured Tedx speaker at Cleveland State University, and former Director of Education at the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Deanna holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and Master’s degree from Cleveland State University in Music Performance.
Salaam, an award-winning poet and author, is owner and founder of Literary Healing Arts and Red Couch Writers. She can be found helping others write to heal on red couches across the city. Her work has appeared in the Birmingham Times, Scalawag, Bust, Feminist Review, Black Youth Project, Elephant Journal, Southern Women’s Review, AL.com, Birmingham Arts Journal and more.
Jahman Ariel Hill is a poet, playwright, and college professor based in Birmingham, AL. He co-founded the Alabama Student Association for Poetry and The Flourish Alabama, two arts-based organizations focused on bringing art to local communities and educating youth. He was ranked 3rd in the world in slam poetry in 2018 and is touring his award-winning Off-Broadway one man show, Black Enough.
Eric MarabIe Jr., an actor, writer, slam poet, emcee, guitarist, singer/songwriter, teacher, and director from Birmingham, AL, joined the Arts Collab as Project Coordinator after several years as a resident Teaching Artist. After moving to New York City to teach and pursue acting, Eric decided to focus on developing a creative brand combining all modes of his expression to create work that drives thought, communication, and healing forward. Eric is a staff writer, song writer, and actor for “The Juke Joint Live,” a variety show created by the incomparable polymath Erika E. Wade. Eric is also Co-Executive Director/Director of Programming & Special Events for of The Flourish Alabama and produces, directs, and emcees The Flourish at Freedom House in Birmingham. Eric is the lead director of the award-winning Off-Broadway production “Black Enough,” a one-man show written/performed by one of the nation’s top slam poets, Jahman Ariel Hill.
Ginger is the Senior Consultant at the Arts Collab. Her work as a teaching artist in Birmingham City Schools over the past decade has led to the foundation of arts integration, arts enrichment, and literacy programs for Create Birmingham (Straight As federal grant), Better Basics, The Birmingham Museum of Art, A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club and more. Storytelling and arts integration are her passions whether it be creative writing, acting, filmmaking or dance.
Grace is a dancer originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated in May 2018 with dual degrees in Dance and Biology with an English Minor and Pre-Medical Track. Grace has had the opportunity to perform original and restaged works by Cornelius Carter and Lawrence Jackson of Cleo Parker Robinson, Kavin Grant, Natosha Washington, and Qianping Guo of Pacific Northwest Ballet. Grace has also had the opportunity to study movement with Staibdance in Italy, Countertechnique at One Body One Career, study choreography with Val Caniparoli of San Francisco Ballet through Regional Dance America Choreographer’s Intensive, and study dance for the camera with Rebecca Salzer of Rebecca Salzer Dance Theater. After Graduating, Grace worked at The Yard as the Technical Production Artist Intern. Recent commissions include a presentation of her work “Carousel” on University of Alabama Dance Department. Grace is currently working with Jellybean Dance Collective under the direction of Victoria Niblett. Grace recently became a certified Pilates instructor and MM1 Acrobatic Arts Instructor and teaches at Encore Performance Company.
As the Arts Collab’s founding Executive Director, Deanna provides key leadership in organizational strategy and leads the charge for continual learning and resources for hundreds of educators and arts leaders. She’s an advocate of how art shapes community, a featured Tedx speaker at Cleveland State University, and former Director of Education at the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Deanna holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and Master’s degree from Cleveland State University in Music Performance.
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, where she received a BA in Theatrical Production Design, Kendra also holds an MFA in Costume Design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and is completing her Master’s in Art Education at UAB. She has worked at a variety of professional theatre companies in Alabama and North Carolina, including new works and children’s theatre. She recently returned to Birmingham after teaching as the Instructor of Costume Design and Technology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She currently works as a textile and teaching artist focusing on the positive influences of theatre, recycled art, weaving, and choice learning.
Willie currently owns and operates his studio and gallery, Studio 2500, located in North Birmingham. He is an artist teacher-in-resident at Ossie Ware Middle School and Midfield Elementary School and is minister of music at Life Changing Outreach Ministries in North Birmingham. Willie’s art is inspired by African art and black women and their influence in cultural trends in American.
Kerri-Noelle holds an Alabama Professional Educator Certificate in Dance (P-12). She is a 2022 Arts Educator Fellowship Recipient from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. She was voted 2019-2020 Academy for Academics and Arts Middle School Teacher of the Year. She is the founder of Dance Your Voice and Dance Africa festivals, free community outreach dance workshops that celebrate diversity through dance. Her current research, Dancing the Diaspora: Discovering the Influence of Traditional and Tribal African Dance in the History of African- American Social and Concert Dance in the Caribbean and the United States was featured on Dancemagazine.com and DanceTeacher.com. Her academic achievements include a BS, Mathematics from Howard University, an MBA from Barry University, and an MA, Dance Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Board of Directors
Dr. Thomas Bice, Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation
Elijah E. Davis, Urban Impact, Inc.
T. Marie King, Vice Chair, Cortico & Local Voices Network, Jefferson County Memorial Project
Diane Litsey, Chair, The Dance Foundation
April Jackson MacLennan, Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
Jackie Lund Pearson, Treasurer, Medical Properties Trust
CONTACT US
Mailing address: 811 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Please add your information below to join our network, receive meeting details, and find out more about our programs:
OUR PROGRAMS
MAGIC CITY MINDS™
Create a platform to amplify and conjure creativity in your future innovators! We collaborate with schools to infuse the arts into the classroom for long-term benefits in artistic and academic growth and increased student engagement. MAGIC CITY MINDS™ understands the alchemy that is created in classrooms when the inclusion of standards-based arts instruction meets the remarkable potential of young learners.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Learn how to infuse the arts across your curriculum! We offer standards-based professional development for teachers, administrators, artists, program directors, and arts organizations every year. Included in each session: skill-building opportunities in arts education, arts integration, arts leadership, or community building capacity, meeting the needs of Birmingham’s growing arts education community. Sessions specifically designed for classroom teachers are coordinated with In Service Centers and the State Department of Education to ensure that participating teachers receive continuing education credit for their participation.
For more information about our Professional Development Program, visit our Facebook page to find out details about our upcoming event.
COLLABORATING SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Our Collaborating Schools share the belief that the arts are an essential part of education. We collaborate with schools to infuse the arts into the classroom for long-term benefits in artistic and academic growth and increased student engagement using standards-based arts integration instruction. Our Collaborating Schools receive weekly, standards-based arts instruction that is specially designed to meet their goals. Become a Collaborating School today!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Learn how to infuse the arts across your curriculum! We offer standards-based professional development for teachers, administrators, artists, program directors, and arts organizations every year. Included in each session: skill-building opportunities in arts education, arts integration, arts leadership, or community building capacity, meeting the needs of Birmingham’s growing arts education community. Sessions specifically designed for classroom teachers are coordinated with In Service Centers and the State Department of Education to ensure that participating teachers receive continuing education credit for their participation.
For more information about our Professional Development Program, visit our Facebook page to find out details about our upcoming event.
ANNOUNCING The pARTners Project
Bringing people together to build more creative, more resilient communities through increased access to arts education in West Central Alabama. READ MORE
Fox 6 News Story
We are excited to be featured on Fox 6’s “What’s Right with Our Schools” story. We were at Midfield Elementary giving arts education to the students there. READ MORE
June Professional Development Session
Thanks to everyone for attending our June Professional Development Session! Our topic was Putting the A in STEAM: An Introduction to Arts Integration. The discussion was facilitated by Ginger Lindsey and T. Marie King. For more about our upcoming events visit our Facebook page.