Black Belt Treasures Teaching Artist Program

BLACK BELT TREASURES TEACHING ARTIST PROGRAM – This program places trained, quality, artists from across Alabama's Black Belt region in schools, community centers, and educational partner facilities across the region, state, and beyond. BBTCAC works in cooperation with the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education to ensure that Teaching Artists are prepared to present quality programs.

HISTORY | In 2016 and 2017, BBTCAC Staff identified and trained regional “Black Belt Treasures Teaching Artists” to present approved programs in Clarke, Dallas, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, and Wilcox, which have been funded by grants from the Black Belt Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of South Alabama. The first workshop and training session for Black Belt Treasures Teaching Artists was held on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 with 24 artists in attendance.

Each project incorporates art understandings and skills; regional history and culture; storytelling; and encourages students to contribute accurate, relevant information, make comparisons and contrasts, and analyze and produce a multitude of creative ideas.

Classes and Workshops are available in a multitude of mediums and formats, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, printmaking, basket weaving, quilting, pottery/ceramics, sculpture, African music and dance, folk art, soap making, recycled art, mixed media, encaustics, art history, regional history, storytelling, literary arts.

In addition, a Black Belt Treasures Teaching Artist Roster helps to make classes, workshops, demonstrations and programs available to not only schools, but also community programs, non-profits, and art centers across the Black Belt region, and ultimately the state of Alabama.

Each trained and approved Teaching Artist soon will be added to an online roster at https://www.blackbelttreasures.com/black-belt-teaching-artists.aspx, which will showcase: a short biography of the artist, a list of classes/workshops available, sample lesson plans, arts integration information, and options of class structure (hourly, half-day, full-day, 2 day, week-long, and residencies).

BBTCAC Teaching Artists include: Charlie “Tin Man” Lucas (Folk Art); Vassie Welbeck-Browne (African Music, Dance, Drama, Storytelling); Andrew McCall (Folk Art and Vine Baskets); Mary Margaret Pettway (Gee’s Bend Quilter); Claudia Pettway-Charley (Gee’s Bend Quilter) Homer Johnson (Folk Art, Wood Carving/Masks, Copper Jewelry); Laura Spencer (Soap Making, Candle Making, Farming); Jo Taylor (Pottery, Painting, Arts Enrichment); Kristin Law (Pottery, Printmaking, Painting, Folk Art, Arts Integration, Professional Development); Betty Anderson (Foot Soldier, Gee’s Bend Quilt History, Soap Making); Sharon Dozier (Mixed Media and Painting); and Linda Munoz (Mosaics); among many others.

FUNDING  |  In-School Programs are primarily funded by Grant Funding, mostly provided by participating schools.

If you are an Artist and interested in joining our Teaching Artist Program OR would like to bring a Teaching Artist to your school or organization, contact Kristin Law, Art Programs Director, or Karen Grimes, Arts Education Coordinator, at (334) 682-9878 or kristin@blackbelttreasures.com.