Alabama Arts Radio Council on the Arts

In this episode, Jacqueline Viskup and Ren Carroll learn about the history of the Freedom Quilting Bee in conversations with Kim V. Kelly, volunteer director
and board members Lonnie Brown, Jr., Patty Irby, Taylor Irby, and Sheila Smith, all of whom grew up in Alberta, the Wilcox County community where the FQB is located.

In this episode, Annemarie Anderson talks with Caitlin Lollar, director of the Folk School at Camp McDowell. They discuss the history of the folk school, what people can expect when they attend classes there, and upcoming classes for the year.

In this episode, Rosemary Johnson talks with Tanya Wideman-Davis and Thaddeus Davis of the Wideman-Davis Dance Company about their work with the community to create performances based on everyday black life in Montgomery, using archival photographs to spark the process. 

In this episode Rosemary Johnson of the Alabama Dance Council talks with Tanya Wideman-Davis and Thaddeus Davis of Wideman-Davis Dance about their approaches to developing a dance piece in collaboration with a community, referencing Migratuse Ataraxia, which they presented in collaboration with the community of Harpersville, Alabama and Klein Arts and Culture.

In this episode, Rosemary Johnson, executive director of the Alabama Dance Council, talks with Lindsay Viatorri of Helen Simeneau Danse. As one of the largest gatherings of dancers and dance enthusiasts in the Southeast, the Alabama Dance Festival features master classes with world-renowned teachers, audition opportunities, teacher training, networking, performances by regional dance groups, and a guest company.  Each year, the Alabama Dance Festival boasts a weekend full of performances.  Participants and public alike enjoy work presented in a range of styles and traditions by schools, studios, companies, and choreographers.

In this episode, Annemarie Anderson talks with Jennifer McCohnell, an artist who talks about the traditional arts practiced in her family and how they influence her work and artistic choices. She reflects on how learning from traditional masters gives a depth of understanding of the tradition and her role in its practice.