Valley Arts and Entertainment, Inc. has earned a competitive major grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance. This award will help make possible a presentation about women performers who have impacted musical heritage and culture in Alabama.
The program is aimed to impact youth, seniors, and emerging artists.
Commitment to Music Education and Community Impact
“My first and most important role is helping others to be the very best they can be through music education,” said Patrice Bivins, founder and director of Valley Arts and Entertainment. This grant is an exceptional opportunity to offer this project to the community as a public no-cost event.
Second Grant Awarded to Valley Arts and Entertainment
This is the second time that Valley Arts and Entertainment, Inc. has received a grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance, the primary source of grants for public humanities programming in the state. “We’re honored to support cultural organizations that make Alabama a richer, smarter, and more vibrant place to live and learn,” says Chuck Holmes, executive director of the Alabama Humanities Alliance. “Our grant recipients are community cornerstones and creative storytellers who explore what it means to be human. They help us better understand ourselves, our neighbors, and the wider world.”
(EXHIBIT 1): Presentation at Full Moon BAR-B-QUE Restaurant – November 9th
The program will be held on Saturday, November 9th, inside the Full Moon BAR-B-QUE Restaurant meeting room at 1009 Memorial Pkwy, NW in Huntsville, Alabama, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Moderator Xanthia Elmore will present visuals and highlight an extensive collection of photographs and multimedia information about several women musicians of Alabama, including Dinah Washington, Big Mama Thornton, and others, assisted by founding director Patrice Bivins.
Registration is open, and seating will be limited. You are welcome to order lunch on your own if you wish to eat and enjoy lunch during the presentation. The menu can be found on the restaurant’s website at www.fullmoonbbq.com/menu. The organizers ask that you arrive early enough to order before the meeting so that the program can start promptly at 2 p.m.
(EXHIBIT 2): Meet and Greet at H.C. Blake Art & History Center – November 10th
The second part of the program will be held on Sunday, November 10th, at the H.C. Blake Art & History Center inside the Huntsville Revisited Museum, 2007 North Memorial Pkwy, NW, in Huntsville, Alabama.
This event is a Meet and Greet with SCHOLAR Kristin Atkins, niece of Dinah Washington, and Discussion Leader Ms. Clarissa Smith (age 85 years old and only sister of Dinah Washington). Dinah Washington would have been 100 years old on August 29th. Kristin will have on exhibit personal memorabilia and information about Dinah Washington for those Dinah Washington fans. Dinah’s family is coming in from Chicago to help the community of Huntsville experience a unique program presented by Valley Arts and Entertainment, Inc.
A special treat will also include Huntsville’s own Moderator, Mr. William Hampton, founder of the Huntsville Revisited Program.
Registration and Ticket Information
Registration is open now for both exhibits; please register and attend both days. Ticket details are below:
Saturday Nov. 9th for Lunch Presentation:
sbtickets.ticketleap.com/presentation
Sunday Nov. 10th Meet and Greet:
sbtickets.ticketleap.com/meetandgreet
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