By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS, Ala.–Leeds Main Street has received a $3,500 grant to fund its “Pull up a Chair: An Artistic Journey Through Downtown Leeds” competition.
The grant comes from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. The competition will see a committee select 10-20 local artists to paint rocking chairs that, when completed, will be shown off in locations around Leeds for a year.
Leeds Main Street says the competition will “enliven” public spaces in the city and draw visitors to the historic downtown area to stimulate the local economy.
“This grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts will allow us to engage our community in a unique and interactive arts project that celebrates local creativity and encourages people to explore downtown Leeds,” said Kristy Biddle, Executive Director of Leeds Main Street.
“We are excited to see how the rocking chair installations will transform our public spaces and create new opportunities for connection between art and the community.”
The competition will be open to all artists in the region. After the winners are selected, the chairs will be available to be viewed in their designated locations beginning in February 2025.
“This grant, awarded by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, enables Leeds Main Street to reach new audiences, foster community development, provide quality programming, and demonstrate the importance of arts as a key component for enhancing quality of life in Alabama,” a statement from the group read.
The Alabama State Council on the Arts is a state agency that seeks to preserve Alabama’s “cultural resources” through supporting arts organizations, schools, colleges, units of local government, and individual artists.
The council often awards grants by appropriations from the Alabama Legislature and from the National Endowment for the Arts, which is a federal agency.
Additional details about the competition are to be announced at a future date.
A Facebook page for Leeds Main Street can be found at www.facebook.com/leedsmainstreet.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.
