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Local arts groups seek county support; Montgomery Sings asks for event funding and Alabama Shakespeare Festival outlines education programs
Summary
Montgomery Sings requested $10,000 to underwrite a local Carnegie Hall program event and asked commissioners for support; Alabama Shakespeare Festival presented season plans and education partnerships with five Montgomery public schools. Commissioners pledged some support from designated revenue and asked for follow‑up emails.
Two arts organizations briefed the commission and asked for county support for local programming and education partnerships.
Dr. Diana Gray, representing Montgomery Sings, said the nonprofit community choral group will bring a Carnegie Hall program to Montgomery on June 11 at Martha's Place and requested $10,000 to cover venue rental, catering, music purchases, accompaniment and event operations. "Our expenses for this event is a total of $10,000," Gray said, asking commissioners for financial support for the local event and related community workshops. Two commissioners verbally committed $2,000 each from designated or donated revenue during the meeting; staff asked Gray to send a follow‑up email with a budget breakdown.
Eve Loe, development director, and Quinn Gresham, artistic director of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, updated the commission on ASF operations and education outreach. Gresham described summer camps serving about 200 children and an artist‑in‑school program that will embed teaching artists in five Montgomery public schools for an eight‑week residency (Baldwin Middle, Johnny Carr Middle, Baldwin Magnet High, JAG High and Park Crossing High). Gresham also summarized the upcoming season, including planned productions and educational concerts.
Commissioners expressed appreciation for ASF's student programs and asked staff to keep lines of communication open about any county funding or collaborations. For travel‑funding requests, staff reminded speakers that county auditors do not allow the county to sponsor student travel; the commission encouraged support for local program components instead.
"This is where we're bringing Carnegie Hall here to Montgomery," Dr. Diana Gray said; commissioners thanked the groups for their community work and asked for follow‑up documentation from both organizations.
