We’ve got many public fieldwork days planned during weekends this fall and everyone is welcome! See the calendar for dates, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the know about ongoing programs and discoveries here at Pope’s Tavern Museum.

Día de los Muertos Educational Celebration

Florence Arts and Museums is celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)! Join us Saturday, October 31, from 1 to 4 pm at Southall at KD for this free family-friendly, community program. Guests may come and go as they please. This event will also feature Latine Art from the Kennedy-Douglass Art Collection and complimentary hot chocolate and authentic food tasting.

Explore the history and cultural significance of this traditional Latine holiday through a variety of hands-on activities. This year we will have flores de papel (tissue paper flowers) & papel picado (punched paper) making, ofrenda (altar) decorating, candle making, and more!

We will also be showcasing a mural by Mexican-American artist, Jorge Lopez.

Bring a photo of a departed loved one and help decorate our community ofrenda in the garden behind KD Art Center or drop in to our Memory Box Workshop and create your own miniature ofrenda (while supplies last). Bring a small picture of a loved one, a pet, or a favorite celebrity that has passed on. All other supplies will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & Museums. The event will be held at Southall House at KD Art Center, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence, AL. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, October 27th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. The event will feature original poetry and photography by Jake Berry and Wayne Sides. Afterwards, the floor will be opened to other poets to share their poems. The optional writing prompt for October is: Superstitions.

The photographs and poems published in The Burden of Broken Light are the result of Wayne Sides sending Jake Berry several photographs in response to which Berry composed poems. These award-winning artists have been collaborating for years. Some of their work from this book appears in the publication The Studio. Then, over a three-week period Berry composed 53 poems in response to the photographs. This book is the result.

Wayne Sides is an award-winning photographer, visual artist and musician. He grew up in Alabama and Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. For over 30 years he taught art in New York and Alabama and is professor emeritus at the University of North Alabama. His photographs, assemblages and paintings have been exhibited in the United States and Europe including several large career retrospectives. Collections of his work that have been published include Side Show, White Knights, and collaborations with the poets Jeanie Thompson and Jared McCoy. He lives in Florence, Alabama.

Jake Berry is a poet, musician and visual artist. His work has been published widely in the U.S. and internationally. His books include The Pandemonium Spirit, Brambu Drezi – Books 1-3, Phaneagrams, Trilogy: Kenosis, The Oracle House and many others. He has also released over a dozen albums of music solo and with the bands Bare Knuckles and Six Mile. He lives in Florence, Alabama.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & Museums. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is located at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL, and is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

We’ve got many public fieldwork days planned during weekends this fall and everyone is welcome! See the calendar for dates, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the know about ongoing programs and discoveries here at Pope’s Tavern Museum.

Join us each month this fall for more Storytime Atop the Mound! Stories read will be from Indigenous and Native American authors. The Museum Educator, Ana Peeples will read the story aloud atop the mound. Students will have a chance to walk atop of the mound, listen to a story, and stay for an activity in the museum afterwards.

October 17th, 3-3:45pm- When we Gather (Ostadahlosisha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast by Andrea L. Rogers, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight and Nature Journaling

November 14th, 3-3:45pm- Keepunumuk, Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Buten and Gratitude Quilt Making

December 12th, 3-3:45pm- Being Home by Traci Sorell and Michaela Goade and Shapes in Place drawing activity

This event is free and recommended for children ages 5-8, but all ages are welcome. 

The Florence Mound and Museum is located at 1028 S Court Street, Florence, AL 35630. Parking is located around the mound on the circular drive. Storytime will take place inside of the museum building inside of the conference room across from the front desk and permanent exhibit space. The Florence Mound and Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday from 1-4. For questions, call : (256) 760-6379 or email: connect@florencealmuseums.com.

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will host a free Tai Chi sword workshop led by Gary Padgett on Saturday, October 17th, from 10:00am–11:00am. This workshop is designed for individuals and families interested in exploring one of the oldest and most direct traditional Chinese martial arts.

Participants will be introduced to training practices that develop mindfulness, mobility, and practical martial arts skills in a supportive and accessible environment.

Participants should wear loose clothing or athletic wear and flat-bottom tennis shoes. Participants are encouraged to bring a three-foot (36 inch) dowel or a wrapping paper tube if available.  No prior martial arts experience is required.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐀 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬

Join us for a new workshop with Painter and Educator Trevor Thomas on Saturday, October 17th from 9am-4pm at Southall at KD. Spend the day exploring the art of handmade paper and the beauty of oil painting. You will learn how to make your own paper from pulp, then use it as a one-of-a-kind surface for creating a small oil painting. Leave with new skills, inspiration, and your own handmade artwork.

Trevor Thomas is a Southern Representational Painter and Educator with an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Athens State University. His work explores the landscapes, architecture, people, and everyday life of the rural south, with a particular focus on color, light, and atmosphere. As an artist he seeks to find the beauty and significance in the ordinary while creating a sense of place that reflects his own experiences and connection to the contemporary rural south.

Registration is $60 per participant, and limited to ages 16+. Sign-up now! Registration is limited to 15 people. Registration below.

Students should bring 3 images for inspiration and a personal sketchbook if they like. All other supplies will be provided. Please dress appropriately for making art!

The event will be held at Southall House, next door to KD Art Center, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence, AL. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Join us Friday, October 16th from 1:30-2:30pm at Southall at KD for a watercolor workshop with Pam Burns!
Admission fee: $40 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Sign up below to reserve your spot.

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The Art Center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website.

Art Journaling Your Life Story with Monica Yother

Join Monica Yother at Southall at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts on October 10th from 9am-4pm for an incredibly creative day. This workshop will begin in the morning with creating an Art Journal for your life story, then creating an Accordion Book of Gratitude in the afternoon. You can sign up to do one or both, whichever your schedule allows! 

TELL YOUR LIFE STORY ART JOURNAL: 9:00am – 12:00pm

This class will get you started on a rewarding and creative journey that you can share.

It’s not a scrap book, and it’s not an auto-biography…it’s something much more interesting! Art Journaling your life story is a wonderful way to record those meaningful moments in your life that goes way beyond a snapshot or just fact recording. You can creatively capture the emotion or meaning using collage. Not only will you have a fascinating book your family will love, but you’ll enjoy the process of creating it.

This course is perfect for beginners or those who are already journaling but would like guidance on the theme, “Your Life Story.” We’ll spend the class time learning some quick techniques to help you jump in and start creating pages you will love.

ACCORDION BOOK OF GRATITUDE: 1:30pm – 4:00pm

Create beautiful colored backgrounds in your accordion book, and layer with words and images to celebrate what you are thankful for. The joy is in the making of this thoughtful little book which you can keep or give as a beautiful gift. All materials are supplied, and no experience is needed.

If you want to hang out and do the whole day, purchase the FULL DAY ticket option, with or without lunch.

Tickets are available on eventbrite, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-journaling-your-life-storyaccordian-book-of-gratitude-tickets-1998392018322

The event will be held at Southall House, next door to KD Art Center, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence, AL. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

We’ve got many public fieldwork days planned during weekends this fall and everyone is welcome! See the calendar for dates, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the know about ongoing programs and discoveries here at Pope’s Tavern Museum.

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, September 28th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. The event will feature original poetry by Alan Burkett. Afterwards, the floor will be opened to other poets to share their poems. The optional writing prompt for September is: A Childhood Fear.

Burkett, who writes from his back patio in New Market, Alabama, is a 63-year-old retired defense analyst who spent much of his professional career studying foreign threat systems before turning, in retirement, to the quieter mysteries of poetry. What began as a way to fill the suddenly open hours of his days soon became a second vocation. His poems often find meaning in ordinary moments, memory, aging, place, loss, humor, and the complicated tenderness of a life lived in the American South. A multiple first-place award winner from the Alabama State Poetry Society, Burkett is the author of two poetry collections, January as a House You Walk Through and The Light Is Still On: Tales from a Southern Life. His third collection, The Museum of Ordinary Things, is forthcoming and expected to be published by the end of 2026.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & Museums. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is located at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL, and is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Join us Sunday, September 27th from 1:30-2:30pm at Southall at KD for a Greeting card workshop with Mary Houston!
Admission fee: $35 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Sign up below to reserve your spot.

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The Art Center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website.

Mark your calendars for a monthly Storytime Atop the Mound program series that will start off this September with a story read by our Museum Educator along with a themed activity.

Join us at the Florence Mound and Museum on Saturday, September 26th from 11:30-12:30am for an interactive reading of Día de Muertos: A Day of the Dead Counting Book, by Duncan Tonatiuh, and stay afterward for a cookie decorating activity inside the museum.

This program is recommended for children ages 3-5 and families.

Stay tuned for more information on Storytimes to come this fall!

Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern Open House Event 

Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern invites you to a free open house event on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m at Pope’s Tavern Museum. Come see this public archaeology site in action! We’ll have hands-on activities for all ages. You can even get your hands dirty by helping us excavate—but only if you wish! Even if you don’t want to be in the dirt, there will be plenty of ways to engage and stay connected with archaeology on site. See some of the incredible artifacts we’ve discovered at the Pope’s Tavern Museum site, and learn how they help us understand the history of the site. Discover ways to stay connected and involved with Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern, and learn about field trip opportunities, resources for homeschoolers, and archaeology summer camps and internships. 

Free refreshments will be provided, too!  

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Fusion of Light, Glass, & Time: Handcrafted Glass Design from Ancient Times to Today

By Karen Hovis

Please join us for a “Meet & Greet” opportunity with the artist that will be held on Sunday, September 20th from 2-4 p.m. at the KDAC. This event is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome.

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present the fused glass artworks of Brasstown, North Carolina artisan, Karen Hovis, beginning September 6 and continuing through October 29, 2026. Her stunning glass sculptures showcase her mastery of various techniques, creating unique pieces that captivate with their interplay of light and glass.

Karen is a fused glass artist who creates kiln formed glass pieces using techniques of fusing, draping, dropping, slumping, and pulling of glass in its various forms of powder, frit, and sheet. Glass, and the beautiful dance that is created when light touches it, has always mesmerized Karen. She began her journey with fusing in 2005 in Martin County, Florida. Numerous courses and years of study, along with trial and error, have taken Karen from Florida, to Georgia, and finally to North Carolina. She has had the pleasure of learning personally from many well-established glass artists.

In 2017 she retired from the insurance world and now has more time to follow her passion. Karen is a student at heart and thrives on trying new techniques and methods. As a former teacher, she loves to explain to others how each piece is created.

Karen is a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild that includes artisans from over nine states: https://southernhighlandguild.org/about/. She was recently honored to have one of her pieces chosen for viewing in Washington D.C. at the Appalachian Regional Commission Office. Karen’s studio is located in Brasstown, North Carolina. To learn more about Karen, visit her website: https://timetofuse.com/

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.

Native American Education Days

Florence Arts & Museums and the Oka Kapassa Native American Festival are happy to present Native American Education Days on Thursday, September 10 (in school visits) and Friday, September 11th from 9 am to 3pm (at the Florence Mound Museum). Register for either option using the form below: This event will be limited to four class groups, with up to 30 students. Additionally, some artists will travel to schools on September 10. https://forms.gle/meZr1VwquzB5mkQw6 or by emailing Ana Peeples at apeeples@florenceal.org.

Who: Open to all educators located within 30 minutes of Florence. Program will consist of educational sessions with educational representatives from the Chickasaw, Eastern Band Cherokee, Cherokee, and Alabama-Coushatta Nations.

What: Thursday: Register to bring an artist to your school. Friday: Register to participate in an educational experience at the Florence Mound Museum. All programs are related to the subjects of storytelling, pottery making, hoop-dancing, community dancing, and tool making.

When: Thursday, September 10 (in-school visits) and Friday, September 11th, hourly sessions from 9am to 3pm (Florence Mound Museum)

Where: Thursday: at your school. Friday: the Florence Mound & Museum, 1028 S Court Street, Florence, Alabama 35630

Why: To enhance your social studies curriculum and student’s experience.

This program is hosted by Florence Arts & Museums. The Florence Mound Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10-4pm, and on Sunday from 1-4pm. The Florence Mound Museum is located at 1028 S. Court Street, Florence, AL 35630. For more information, call (256) 760-6379.

The Fusion of Light, Glass, & Time: Handcrafted Glass Design from Ancient Times to Today

By Karen Hovis

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present the fused glass artworks of Brasstown, North Carolina artisan, Karen Hovis, beginning September 6 and continuing through October 29, 2026. Her stunning glass sculptures showcase her mastery of various techniques, creating unique pieces that captivate with their interplay of light and glass.

Please join us for a “Meet & Greet” opportunity with the artist that will be held on Sunday, September 20th from 2-4 pm at the KDAC. This event is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome.

Karen is a fused glass artist who creates kiln formed glass pieces using techniques of fusing, draping, dropping, slumping, and pulling of glass in its various forms of powder, frit, and sheet. Glass, and the beautiful dance that is created when light touches it, has always mesmerized Karen. She began her journey with fusing in 2005 in Martin County, Florida. Numerous courses and years of study, along with trial and error, have taken Karen from Florida, to Georgia, and finally to North Carolina. She has had the pleasure of learning personally from many well-established glass artists.

In 2017 she retired from the insurance world and now has more time to follow her passion. Karen is a student at heart and thrives on trying new techniques and methods. As a former teacher, she loves to explain to others how each piece is created.

Karen is a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild that includes artisans from over nine states: https://southernhighlandguild.org/about/. She was recently honored to have one of her pieces chosen for viewing in Washington D.C. at the Appalachian Regional Commission Office. Karen’s studio is located in Brasstown, North Carolina. To learn more about Karen, visit her website: https://timetofuse.com/

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.

Pendulum Machines & Copper Engravings:
Metal Works by Royal Miree

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present the dynamic metal works of Birmingham artist, Royal Miree, beginning August 30 and continuing through October 8, 2026.

Royal has been sculpting for over thirty years—an art form he began exploring in junior high school under the instruction of Edward Lee Hendricks—Royal has only ever met two other people who work with metal in the way that he does, which is why his works are so unique. Royal explains that he makes “hand-fabricated metal works. The sculptures are interactive pieces based on pendulum movement.” The works are interactive in that they must be touched in order for the movement to occur: They are entirely kinetic, requiring no electronic technology to keep the movement going. The sculptures are based on balance, and Royal creates all the parts and pieces by hand with newly purchased raw materials. Most of them are his own ideas, and many are inspired by events throughout history—certain pieces can be seen as clues that add up to create a bigger picture or event. 

The displayed sculptures at the KDAC are about 4-6 feet in width and each can weigh about 40 pounds or more. It may seem that the larger objects would take longer to create, however, according to Royal, the intricacy of the design determines the amount of time it will take to make the piece from beginning to end. “If there are a lot of parts and pieces, you have to engineer all those pieces. It could be a small piece of jewelry and still take a long time because of all the components,” Royal says.

Royal’s exhibit will include some of his “Pendulum Machines,” elaborate copper engravings, and a number of metal wall quilts—with each work exhibiting his unique style. For more information and videos about Royal’s work, visit his website: www.royalmiree.com

FAM Gathering: Collaborative Art Making

Join us Saturday, August 29th from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Southall at KD to make something beautiful together! This event marks the first installment of our FAM Gatherings. FAM Gatherings is a series that seeks to bring together communities across Florence to have critical conversations, establish a sense of belonging, and create and examine art. In this workshop, Florence Arts & Museums will be partnering with Nadene Mairesse from Idyllwilde and Liza Jane Richey from Studio 114 at Lowe Mill for a collaborative art making experience. Over wine and refreshments, participants will have the opportunity to engage in warm up activities, community-based painting exercises, and use a variety of materials to make a huge collage as a group.

This event is free to the public. However, registration will be limited to fifteen participants. This event will also be limited to ages 21+. You can register below.

This event will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website.

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, August 25th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. The event will feature original poetry by Mike Turner. Afterwards, the floor will be opened to other poets to recite their poems. The optional writing prompt for August is: Fashion.

Mike Turner retired to the Alabama Gulf Coast after a 27-year career as a Federal law enforcement executive. On a lark he took a beginner’s ukulele course, which led him into the world of songwriting and poetry. Mike was named 2017 Male Gospel Entertainer of the Year by the North America Country Music Associations International; was featured performing his original songs about life on the Gulf Coast a the 2020 Monroeville Literary Festival; was named 2025 Poet of the Year by the Alabama State Poetry Society; and is ASPS’s president elect for a term to run 2026-2028. Mike’s goal is for his poems and songs to inspire connection, community and commitment, bringing people together to achieve a caring, peaceful, prosperous and just world for us all. His debut poetry collection, Visions and Memories, is available on Amazon.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & Museums. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is located at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL, and is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Join us Friday, August 21st from 1:30-2:30pm at Southall at KD for a watercolor workshop with Pam Burns!
Admission fee: $40 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Register below to reserve your spot!

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The Art Center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website.

Join us Sunday, August 16th from 1:30-2:30pm at Southall at KD for a watercolor workshop with Pam Burns!
Admission fee: $40 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Register below to reserve your spot.

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The Art Center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website.

Join us Sunday August 9th from 1:30-3pm at Southall at KD for an Acrylic Painting workshop with Bonnie Davis!
Admission fee: $25 (can be paid at arrival, cash or check only)
Ages 16+
Register below to reserve your spot.

The workshop will take place at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL.

____________________________

Creative Tourism Workshops

Florence Arts & Museums is excited to announce our partnership with Visit The Shoals / Florence-Lauderdale CVB to provide creative opportunities for tourists and locals! Over the next three months, local artists will host greeting card workshops, and watercolor and acrylic painting classes. These workshops and classes have been designed with a variety of experience levels in mind. Therefore, you don’t have to be an expert or professional artist to attend. Our primary goals are to increase opportunities for tourism, build community, and raise awareness of local artists. The dates, times, and admission fees are as follows:

Acrylic Painting with Bonnie Davis:
Date and Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 PM – 3 PM
Admission Fee: $25

Fall Wildflowers Watercolor with Pam Burns:
Dates and Times:
Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, August 21st at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Friday, October 16th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $40

Greeting Cards with Mary Houston:
Date and Time: Sunday, Sept 27th at 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Admission Fee: $35

Each workshop will take place at Southall at KD, which is located at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. Participants can pay the admission fee upon arriving at the event. In order to participate, you must be sixteen years of age or older. We are encouraging people to arrive 15 minutes before class begins and not to bring food, drinks, or pets. Please check Florence Arts & Museum calendar for future updates. 

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The Art Center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website.

Ceramics Hand-building Workshop with Aaron Benson at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present another opportunity to participate in a ceramics hand-building workshop with Aaron Benson, UNA Chair of Visual Arts and Design, Associate Professor and Director of Ceramic and Sculpture. Join us 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1st and learn more about clay by building and glazing your own work in this one-day class! Registration is limited, so sign up soon!

Aaron Tennessee Benson has a combined twenty-years of experience working in clay. He received his MFA in Ceramics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has been an intern at Anderson Ranch Art Center in Colorado and a long-term resident and MJD Fellow at Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. Benson’s work has been published, collected, and exhibited both nationally and internationally. His current body of work uses traditional ceramic hand-building methods to create large scale public works.

Register online:https://www.florencealmuseums.com/calendar Or, to register in person visit the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence, AL (Note: payments at Art Center can only be made with cash or check; deadline to register is July 26).

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
9 am-Noon: Introduction, design, and hand-build
Noon-1:00 pm: Lunch Break (while clay dries)
1:00- 3:00 pm: Glaze and place in kiln.
Art pick-up: August 9th, between 1-4 pm.

WORKSHOP FEE: $95 (includes instruction & materials)

If you need any special accommodations, please reach out to KD Art Center Staff at 256-760-6379.

Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, July 28th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. The event will feature original poetry by Auburn Shukla. Afterwards, the floor will be opened to other poets to recite their poems. The optional writing prompt for July is: Being American.

Shukla is a poet based in Alabama. Her debut poetry collection explores the journey out of dogmatic religion and politics and into a life focused on human connection, reason, and healing. Auburn enjoys spending time with her family, working with animals, especially dogs and horses, skiing in Montana, and listening to alternative hip hop. She describes Uncovered as the universal part of the human experience.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & Museums. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is located at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL, and is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Calling all Alabama Educators! Have you been interested in incorporating more Native American culture and history into your Social Studies curriculum, but are unsure of how to begin or how to stretch it across the curriculum? Join us at the UNA Regional Inservice Center and at the Florence Mound and Museum for an interactive teacher’s in-service with special guest teacher, artist, and storyteller, Anita Flannagan of the Eastern Band Cherokee Nation, Vice President of The Trail of Tears Association, former Cultural Chair Member of the Oka-Kapassa Planning Committee, and current Advisory Board Member of the Florence Mound and Museum. The workshop will be held on Monday, July 20th, 2026 from 9 am to 11 am, register online at http://bit.ly/3Qp0C5D, and receive professional development hours.

Xing Yi Quan Workshop with Gary Padgett

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will host a Xing Yi Quan workshop led by Gary Padgett on Saturday, July 18, from 10:00am–11:00am. This workshop is designed for individuals and families interested in exploring one of the oldest and most direct traditional Chinese martial arts.

Participants will be introduced to training practices that develop mindfulness, mobility, and practical martial arts skills in a supportive and accessible environment. Participants should wear loose clothing or athletic wear and flat-bottom tennis shoes. No prior martial arts experience is required.
This workshop will take place outdoors at KD Art Center. No registration required. 

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.

STEAM CAMP

Florence Arts and Museums is thrilled to partner with the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library to continue a STEAM Camp for students ages 11-18 from Monday, July 13th through Friday, July 17th, 2026. The camp will take place at KD Art Center and FLPL from 8:45 am to 12 pm each day.

STEAM Camp 2026 will provide opportunities for students to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through FOUR exciting projects! 

Using puppets, claymation, and more, students will learn about visual storytelling through character design, script writing, and filming. They will create their own books from scratch in a papermaking and bookbinding class. Through printmaking, students will learn about creating textures using alternative and found materials to design their own masterpieces while also learning about the history and variety of the art form. In the artifact making class, students will identify and research artifacts from museum collections and learn how to create replicas through 3D printing. On Friday, July 17 students will present their work at a showcase exhibit open to friends and family. 

Registration will open Monday April 20th. Applications will be available through the Florence Arts & Museums website www.florencealmuseums.com/steam or come by KDAC and pick one up! Enrollment fee of $25 will be due upon registration and payable by cash or check only. Submit applications with tuition by mail or in person to Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. in downtown Florence.

This program is sponsored by the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library and Florence Arts and Museums. Florence-Lauderdale Public Library (FLPL) strives to be indispensable to community success by providing every citizen with a reason to use the library. FLPL is a gathering place for new ideas, a technology hub, and a center of learning, creation, and diversity. FLPL office is located at 350 N. Wood Avenue Florence, AL, 35630 and can be reached at (256) 764-6564. Check out their website at www.flpl.com .

Florence Arts & Museums encompasses the KD Art Center, the FLW Rosenbaum House, Pope’s Tavern Museum, and the Florence Indian Mound and Museum. FAM seeks to connect our community through art, history, people, and place. Offices are located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL 35630. Check out our website at: www.florencealmuseums.com, email us at connect@florencealmuseums.com, or call at (256) 760-6379. 

Mostly Blues 2026 Invitational Exhibition
at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present Mostly Blues, an annual soulful exhibition of paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed media works by regional artists that visually interpret and pay homage to the power of music. While invited artists from Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties have diverse interpretations—whether depicting a scene from the W.C. Handy Music Festival or literally painting in ‘blues’—all works have a common musical theme that celebrate this area’s ties to the music world. A reception is planned for Sunday, July 19, 1-4 p.m., with an awards presentation that is to be held at 1:30 p.m.

The Mostly Blues exhibit was started in 1994 to honor Florence native W.C. Handy, “Father of the Blues”. Since then, the music-themed display has become a popular summer highlight! The KDAC again looks forward to this opportunity to exhibit the soulful collection of art by not only well-known and established area artists—but also by new, up-and-coming artists as well. This visual homage to the power of music will open on July 12 and remain on display through August 27, 2026.

The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling 256-760-6379 or visiting our website at www.florencealmuseums.com.