By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore/Autauga News
With Spring only weeks away, the Prattville Cultural Arts Department is gearing up for the Celebration of Arts, which aims to highlight local artists. There will be local art exhibits, the Prattville Pops will hold a concert, children’s workshops, and much more during this year’s celebration.
“Throughout the month of March and the first weekend in April, we have a lot of arts events in that month to celebrate the arts and to provide people with an opportunity to engage with arts,” Programs Specialist with the Prattville Cultural Arts Department Brittany Glenn said.
This annual event began years ago and has since grown into a monthlong celebration.
“It started with the Fountain City Arts Festival, and has since evolved into a larger celebration,” Glenn said.
This year, to kick off the Celebration of Arts, there will be an Honoree Dinner on Saturday, March 4, at the Marriott Prattville Hotel and Conference Center. There will be a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The Honoree Dinner will spotlight NewSouth Books founders Randall Williams and Suzanne La Rosa. After working together for two years at Black Belt Press, Williams and La Rosa co-founded NewSouth Books in 2000. Tickets for the Honoree Dinner are available now at the cc.prattville.gov. or call 334-595-0850.
On Thursday, March 9, Words and Music will take place beginning at 7 p.m. There is a $5 fee for attendance.
On Saturday, March 11, there will be a free Theater Workshop. There is no charge for the workshop, however, registration is required.
On Saturday, March 18, there will be an Art Workshop from 9-10:30 a.m. and another from 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
On Sunday, March 19, The Pops Spring Concert will be held at the Doster Center at 3 p.m. This event is free to the public.
On Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, the Paint Prattville Plein Air Event will be held in downtown Prattville from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. registration is required to attend this event.
On Monday, March 27, World Theater Day will be celebrated at the Cultural Arts Center beginning at 7 p.m. This event is also free of charge.
On Saturday, April 1, The Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival will wrap up the Celebration of Arts at Pratt Park from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. There is no fee to attend.
Also on Saturday, April 1, ‘His Life, His Music, His Journey’ will be held at the Doster Center starting at 7 p.m. There is no charge for this event.
Most of the events scheduled for the Celebrations of Arts are free of charge and aim to connect local artists with the community.
“The goal is to connect the community with the arts, and with our arts groups. Because under the Arts Council, there is the Way Off Broadway Theater, The Prattville Pops, the Prattville Community Choirs, and the Autauga Art Guild. Those are the different groups with visual arts, performing arts, singing and theater. Those are the groups that we want to bring public awareness to because we have the opportunity for you to participate in the arts,” Glenn said.
The Prattville Pops and the Prattville Community Choirs are made up of volunteers who would like to share their musical talents with the community.
“Anyone can join The Pops, anyone can join the Choir,” Glenn explained. “The theater has multiple opportunities to participate, throughout the years, and during this time. Also, any performing or visual artist can apply to be part of the Wilson-Picket Arts Festival.”
For a nominal fee, artists can set up a booth at the Wilson Pickett Arts and Music Festival. Anyone who is a performing artist can apply to be part of the Wilson Pickett Festival Entertainment. To apply for a booth at the festival, visit https://www.wilsonpickettfestival.com/artist-registration.
This year’s Celebration of Arts has something that will spark interest in nearly everyone.
For the children, there will be a theater workshop on March 11 and the second session is a children’s session. The art workshop on March 18, that is a children’s workshop.
“Those are geared specifically for children,” Glenn said.
The Wilson Picket Music and Arts Festival will have free arts activities onsite. There will be an art supply giveaway for the first 200 kids that come through the festival gates. The theater will host a puppet show area.
“There will be plenty of opportunity for hands on arts experience at the festival,” Glean said.
The People of Prattville Exhibit is also incorporated in the Celebration of Arts. The exhibit will showcase the local photographers and introduce them to the community. The People of Prattville Exhibit will be on display at the Creative Arts Center located at 342 S Chestnut St. on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
Event organizers encourage everyone to come out and take part in this year’s Celebration of Arts.
“Take a look at the list of events that we offer during March, find one that piques your interest and, whether it is music, visual arts, or theater, come out and try it. It is free. It only costs your time,” Glenn said.
