Madison Arts Council annouces 'Love Art' Membership Drive | Arts & Culture

Along with being incredibly awesome at finding local places to shop and spend my money and sharing that on-line, I also happen to be passionate about the arts.   Now all across the Tennessee Valley there are local groups that support the arts, but what those groups need are YOUR support.

You may know about The Arts Council and how they put on Panoply, concerts in the park, the SPACES trail and Art on the Square.  Those things don’t just happen.  They take time, money, and volunteers to make these events possible for the public. 

In my neck of the woods, they have the Madison Arts Council.  They are hosting a Love Art Membership Drive.  What/Who is the Madison Arts Council? They host an event in April called Art 4 Paws, put on free summer concerts at the downtown Gazebo, help to extend the SPACES trail into Madison with the help of city leaders, and  provide grants to Madison City art teachers. 

The Madison Arts Council (MAC) is made up of volunteers and they have recently decided that 2013 will be the year of MAC.   They have redesigned their website so that it is easier on the eyes and user friendly.  They have also decided to create an on-line directory of all the artists in the area who are members of MAC. 

What’s great about the program is the price.  They have jokes about starving artists for  a reason!  For only $15 a year, artists get to showcase their work, get a page dedicated to them on the MAC website, and get links to their email, facebook, Etsy, website, or twitter.  So the next time you decide you want to take a class, buy some art, take some pictures, see a show or find an artsy businesses that gives back to the community, check the MAC Directory.

There are also options for people who are not artists, but appreciate art and want to keep it going in Madison.  They can join at a $25 a year or a $50 a year price.  This money goes to providing grants to teachers, holding free concerts, keeping our new SPACES trail beautiful plus much more.  My favorite part, which I always remember around the end of January and February is that it is tax deductible.

With the new site, people can sign up on-line and pay or they can print off a brochure and send in their information.

MAC worked with the Madison City Council, The Arts Council of Huntsville, and other city leaders to bring public art to Madison with SPACES.  You can stop by Dublin Park and see all of the different sculptures. My favorite are the whisper benches.  Kids (or adults like me who act like kids) can get on either end of these Suessical looking benches and whisper to a friend.

Art 4 Paws, the pet adoption festival that brings together the art and ‘arfs’ is starting to kick off as well.   Artists, pet related businesses, and rescue groups/shelters are encouraged to go on-line and sign up.  MAC gives rescue groups and shelters a complimentary booth space!

They are also looking for a few good groups to be musical talent for their Summer Gazebo Concerts.  If you have a band suggestion, shoot them an email or have your band sign up on-line!  The concerts are so fun to attend.  I volunteer to paint faces of the kids that attend with their.  I have to admit, my spiders, snakes, footballs, rainbows, hearts, and butterflies are pretty popular!  I also grab one of the ice treats from Iceworks Shaved Ice company and a piece of pizza from Domino’s. 

MAC also gives back to the community with more than $2,000 of grants and contributions to educators in Madison.  In 2012, they provided grants that helped create clay projects, clothing racks for the Liberty Middle School Drama Department, musical instruments for classrooms, and art supplies for special needs students.  MAC donated art supplies, books, and their time to the Madison Head Start Program in December for their Christmas project.

All of these projects would not be possible unless people help, donate, and support the arts.  It doesn’t take much time or money, but that little bit can make a difference! So have a heART and help out your local art organization.