Community consists of all walks of life –  artists, bakers, printers, mechanics, teachers, and farmers. Our artisans play an important role in documenting moments of civic life; bearing witness to our people and our communities. And, Birmingham’s vibrant arts and cultural sector deserves bold investment and financial support  across each of our 99 neighborhoods – ensuring  our artists, makers, and cultural centers thrive for generations to come.

Policy Priorities

Transformational investment in Birmingham’s Civil Rights District.

Birmingham has been the epicenter of civil rights tourism in the State of Alabama for more than 50 years. But, we can’t take for granted it will remain this way for the next 50 years. It’s time for a transformational investment in Kelly Ingram Park, facilities for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, programming at the A.G. Gaston Motel, and support for 16th Street Baptist Church, St. Paul’s Methodist Church, the Ballard House and the Historic 4th Avenue Business District, among other efforts. 

Investing in arts and cultural institutions to strengthen creative life in every neighborhood.

We believe the arts are essential to a thriving, equitable city, providing a way for communities to tell their stories and build local pride. I will continue to support  institutions like the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and Sidewalk Film Festival, while piloting public art installations and artist-led placemaking initiatives. We’ve funded the city’s first-ever poet laureate and the Birmingham Museum of Art, housing one of the finest global collections in our region. In the next term, we’ll continue investing in both legacy and emerging cultural organizations with an emphasis on creating new opportunities for community-based cultural programming. 

Protecting funding for creative arts organizations through philanthropy and state and federal advocacy. 

Cuts to federal funding threaten the health of  Birmingham’s creative ecosystem. Reliable funding supports our economy, sustaining local jobs and keeping cultural institutions available to the public at no charge. Under Mayor Woodfin’s leadership, the City of Birmingham has partnered with organizations like CREATE Birmingham and the Alabama State Council on the Arts to support Birmingham’s Film Office, entrepreneurial training and professional development for creatives, and workforce development strategies to make economic opportunities in the arts attainable for our youth, seniors, and others. We won’t stop fighting for robust public funding from the federal government.

Randall’s Record

• Partnered with CREATE Birmingham and the Birmingham City Council to launch Birmingham’s inaugural Poet Laureate program.
• Supported the opening of new community theaters in downtown’s Theatre District, including the Terrific New Theatre. 
• Completed the rehabilitation of the A.G. Gaston Motel in partnership with the National Parks Service, honoring its important role as headquarters during the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.
• Hosted Major League Baseball’s “Field of Dreams” in partnership with Rickwood Field and the Negro Southern League Musuem for global sporting and cultural education events.
• Maintained strong physical assets that support public access to arts, like the Virginia Samford Theatre, Red Mountain Theatre, and the Birmingham Children’s Theatre. 
• Curated a world-class collection of more than 29,000 paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and decorative arts at the Birmingham Museum of Art. 
• Hosted the inaugural Smithfield Public Art Walk with a vibrant, walkable outdoor gallery celebrating the neighborhood’s past, present, and future.
• Supported Birmingham Artwalk, an autumn staple bringing more than 8,000+ people to the streets of downtown. 
• Sponsored the Magic City Art Connection festival, bringing together 200 vibrant contemporary art makers annually.