About Us

THANKS to all for another great ART IN THE PARK!

Celebrating our 10th Year of Bringing the Arts to Walker County

The Walker County Arts Alliance (WCAA) is a 501c-3 nonprofit organization founded by a group of community members with a mission to promote cultural arts and the awareness of the arts to the citizens of Walker County. Since its inception, WCAA has enhanced the community with a variety of cultural arts programs. The Arts Alliance accomplishes most of its work through volunteer board members who gladly give their time and talent. A part-time position of executive coordinator was added in July 2008 and a tangible office in downtown Jasper was established. Since then, the organization has continued to grow and flourish as it engages the local community. 

Purpose and Mission

The WCAA was developed to:

• support and develop arts in Walker County and to integrate artistic activities into the total life of the community.
• identify and encourage existing artists, projects, and folk traditions through the exchange of ideas and resources.
• establish and maintain a partnership with federal, state, and local arts agencies and funding sources.
• enhance accessibility to artistic expression to all people in Walker County by developing community arts center(s), arts education in public schools, and community arts events.
• serve the people of Walker County by enhancing the public’s appreciation for and awareness of the arts as an expression of the best of the human spirit.

Major Programs of WCAA

WCAA has developed several programs and event projects designed to "Bring the Arts to Walker County."

In-School Programs: The Walker County Arts Alliance has several programs that work with children and students in the public school system in Walker County and in various locations throughout the county. For many children, the WCAA arts programs provide an escape and help them find and funnel their creativity. Without these programs, many children in rural Walker County would have no exposure to the arts. Because our rural schools are forced to focus on core learning due to funding limitations, art is often left out of the education mix. Our goal is to help ensure that each child in the public school system and those residents of rural Walker County are exposed to art and art education.

Healing Arts/Focus on Art: These programs benefit both children and adults. The Arts Alliance participates in Healing Arts and Focus on Art projects, partnering with Walker Baptist Medical Center to display art in the lobby and other public areas of the hospital, and providing public displays of local artists’ work in other locations in Walker County.

Art in the Park: An annual event featuring artists creating and displaying various types of art and sharing their talents with residents and visitors from across Alabama and beyond. Despite a forecast of rain that prompted the event being moved indoors, our 2013 Art in the Park was a huge success, showcasing over 60 artists and attracting our higest number of patrons to date. Birmingham Children’s Theatre was featured among a variety of entertainment options, including a new Singer/Songwriter stage. Chainsaw carving and chair-caning demonstrations were a great addition to this day of art, fine crafts, music and culture. Work is already underway planning for our 2014 Art in the Park - Saturday, May 10.

Mystery Dinner Theatre: This annual event, greatly appreciated and broadly supported by the community, serves as a successful fundraiser for the Arts Alliance while providing an opportunity to showcase local theatrical talent. This year's production of The Odd Couple on November 15 was directed by Arts Alliance Advisory Board member Eddie Brown.

50-Mule Team Public Art Project: A unique and special project honoring the hard working animal—the mule. The mule has worked alongside man in farming, transportation, and played an important role in the early days of mining, an important industry to Walker County. Working with local artists and sponsors, the Arts Alliance has brought 50 painted and decorated mule statues to Walker County. Mule sponsors have the opportunity to place their mules at their businesses or in a public location. A Mule Map is available for residents, visitors and tourists who wish to view the mules. This project has delighted children and adults alike with many posing for pictures with the mules. Not only has this project proven to be a fun art project but an educational one, as children learn about mules and the part they have played in area history. We have added FIVE NEW MULES to the 50-Mule Team! Come by the Arts Alliance office for a new Mule Map so you can find the new additions.