Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the state and jurisdictional arts agencies and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts. The Region 1 program, facilitated by the Mobile Arts Council, involves an Interest Meet-Up Open Mic, Find Your Voice Workshop in December, followed by the Region 1 Recitation Competition in January. Winners at the Regional Level will advance to the Statewide Competition, who may advance to the National Competition. The program is FREE! Participating teachers receive free materials, including a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and access to audio-visual materials on the art of recitation. Students may compete independently from their school. October 2026: Interest Meet-Up The Mobile Art Council will be present from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Mobile Museum of Art 's GATEWAY: Family Day on October 24th. We encourage students and their families to join the Museum from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the festivities, enjoy the exhibitions, and performance by PowerLines Poetry. Students will have a chance to learn more about the program along with the opportunity to step up to the mic and make their voices heard. Students will be able to register for the Find Your Voice Workshop and Competition at this event. December 2026: Free Find Your Voice Workshop The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud workshop will be December 5th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. , at Mobile Arts Council's Gallery @ Room 1927 . During this workshop, students will collaborate with the MAC PACK, a monthly poetry program facilitated by the Mobile Arts Council, with programming hosted by one of the packs published poets. Here, students will have access to poetry analysis, writing, and general competition info. The deadline to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 16th, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. There will be an opportunity to register for the competition at this workshop. Workshop Registration Here! January 2027: Competition (Rules, Registration & Dates) The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud competition will be held Saturday, January 23, 2027 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Baker High School . Only currently enrolled students in grades 9-12 are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th through 12th-grade class. A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition. The deadline to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 16th, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Region 1 consists of Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Choctaw, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Washington, and Wilcox counties. Only currently enrolled students in grades 9th-12th are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th through 12th-grade class. A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition. An updated online anthology is available this year, and replaces any earlier online or printed anthologies. Note: the anthology may have additional poems added through the month of October. Please note that for the 2026-2027 program, students can choose any three poems from the anthology. Students do not need to select a poem that is 25 lines or fewer or a pre-20th century poem. Register for the Region 1 Competition! 2027 State and Regional Finals February 25, 2027: Alabama Poetry Out Loud State Finals in Montgomery, AL Wednesday, March 10, 2027: State Champion and Chaperone Registration Deadline Monday, April 26- Wednesday, April 28, 2027: National Finals Events in Washington, DC The 2027 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will be held in Washington, DC from April 26-28, 2027. Champions from each state will recite in one of three semifinal groups on Tuesday, April 27, 2027, and the top three students from each semifinal group moved on to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on Wednesday, April 28, 2027, at 7:00 PM ET. Contact Lyza Rodriguez, Region 1 Poetry Out Loud Coordinator, with any questions at lyza@mobilearts.org .

Mobile Arts Council is pleased to present Michelle Pujols in our Members’ Mini MAC Gallery this quarter. Michelle Aline Pujols is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana settled in Mobile, Alabama. An award winning photographer, graduating from Sam Houston State University with a major in Photography. Michelle began traveling across the country photographing equestrian shows and doing advertising photography for equestrian ranches. During her travels she often stopped to photograph natural settings that inspired her. Michelle sees her photography of nature as part of a universal whole. Her goal is to bring that understanding to all who view her work. The beauty of the land belongs to all. Her work gives the viewer an opportunity to see places and things that maybe unknown to them or to see them in a different light. As a fine art photographer Michelle Aline Pujols brings the beauty of the environment to all. Her fine art photography features environmental landscapes but she also enjoys stirring the creative juices by going into the fantasy world of ghostly images and otherworldly colors. Along with her fine art work Pujols continues with her work photographing the environment, weddings, events, sports and animals. Michelle has stock and fine art images on hand. Her stock and fine art images are predominantly environmental. Stop by the Mini MAC to see her works in person! Exhibition will remain on display throughout the end of the year. To see more of Michelle's work, visit her website here .

The Mobile Arts Council is thrilled to offer up quite a treat this October with two eye candy exhibitions. Cottagecore Curated by Benjamin Kaiser Step into a world of whimsy, wonder, and the natural world with Cottagecore, a group exhibition curated by Ben Kaiser. In an age increasingly shaped by mass production, technology, and artificial intelligence, Cottagecore invites us to slow down and reconnect with the value of handmade art and our relationship with nature. Inspired by the romanticized vision of a slower, sustainable rural lifestyle, the exhibition brings together gardens overflowing with flowers, woodland creatures, folklore, and the quiet magic found in everyday moments. But beneath its whimsical aesthetic is a deeper invitation: to reconsider how we spend our time, what we consume, and how we connect with the natural world and one another. Look closely, and you may discover inspiration in the smallest details, a bee gathering pollen, a spider weaving an intricate web, or a mushroom emerging from a bed of moss. Cottagecore reminds us that wonder doesn't always require spectacle. Sometimes, it simply asks us to slow down long enough to notice what has been there all along. Featuring the work of local artists: Vanessa Quintana , Mayssam Iskander , Wanda Sullivan , Savannah Mercer , Muffinjaw Designs , & Moon Struck Pottery invited by Kaiser, this exhibition celebrates the beauty of craftsmanship, curiosity, and creating by hand. Come slow down, look closer, and discover a little magic.  Annual Fall Show Watercolor & Graphic Arts Society of Mobile Also opening during October ArtWalk is the Annual Fall Show of the Watercolor & Graphic Arts Society of Mobile, one of Mobile's oldest arts organizations and one of the oldest art societies in Alabama. The Society began on June 5, 1948, growing out of the celebrated Bayou Painters group. Originally known as the Watercolor Society of Mobile, the organization began with 22 members, including Genevieve Southerland, Edmond deCelle, William Bush, and the late Bea Q. Tucker. The graphic arts division was added in 1954. Today, the Society has nearly 100 members and continues its mission of promoting education, appreciation, and excellence in watercolor and graphic arts throughout Alabama. The organization presents at least two exhibitions each year, including a juried exhibition, providing artists opportunities to share their work with the community. Come experience the variety, skill, and creativity of Alabama artists through this year's Annual Fall Show. Join Us for October ArtWalk! Make plans to spend your Friday evening downtown with Mobile Arts Council! Enjoy two new exhibitions, connect with local artists, explore ArtWalk vendors and galleries, and experience the creativity that makes Mobile's arts community so special. Friday, October 16, 2026 | 6–9 PM Mobile Arts Council | Downtown Mobile In addition to ArtWalk, Step into the whimsical world of Cottagecore and join us for a special Cottagecore Tea Party on Saturday, October 24, from 10 AM–1 PM! Check out what The Haunted Book Shop has in store for their ACOTAR Event on October 30th!

Inaugural Mobtown Mural Fest Artists & Map

The Mobile Arts Council is delighted to present our September artists, Gary Brady and Ginger Woechan. Gary Brady is a contemporary realist painter originating from right here in Mobile. Inspired by the places he has lived and traveled, as well as the people and cultures that influenced his evolution, Brady’s paintings are rich with influence. Drawing his creative lens from the landscapes, cultures, and communities from the Gulf Coast and beyond. Each environment leaves a visual imprint on his work. His ability to absorb and reinterpret these experiences allows him to create compositions that feel immersive- capturing not just a subject, but the atmosphere and energy surrounding it. Ginger Woechan is a professional artist, art instructor and therapist, muralist, live painter and contemporary artist, reiki practitioner, and the dancing queen of Mobile. Having grown up around her artist mother and great grandfather, Ginger has always felt like she was raised to be an artist. Her style is heavily influenced by the Impressionist movement, specifically Van Gogh. Throughout her inner quest, Ginger has found herself always painting and loving Mobile. Mobile has shown her a lot of love that has lit the way, for which she is forever grateful. Her exhibition So Mobile is a visual manifestation of that love. Join us for the opening reception on September 11th, 2026 during ArtWalk. The exhibit will be open for free public viewing from September 2, 2026 through September 30, 2026. MAC's gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 AM - 5 PM, and Saturday, 11 AM - 2 PM.

Congratulations to our August Organization Member of the Month Spring Hill College!

Congratulations to our August Artist Member of the Month, Sabah Siddiqui

The Mobile Arts Council (MAC) is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Members’ Show, during our Members Appreciation Night celebration on August 14th at the Gallery @ Room 1927. More than 800 visitors poured through the doors to experience an evening of art, music, and community. This year’s exhibition was juried by Eastern Shore Art Center 's very own Administrative Specialist, Kayla Dean and Community Outreach Director, Lindsey Lawrence who selected the following award recipients: Best in Show: Elsa Payton for The Keeper 2nd Place: Frank Vogtner for I Am a Puzzle, II 3rd Place: Daniel Smith for Call Someone Who Cares Members’ Choice: Patrick Hurley for Resolve: Rise and Fall Dempsey & Litchfield Award: Gwenn Ainsworth for Last Harbor Honorable Mentions: Nancy Goodman for Children's Corner & Wayne McNeil for Short Parade The Members’ Show will remain on view through the end of the month at the Gallery @ Room 1927, offering the public an opportunity to experience these award-winning works in person. The night’s success would not have been possible without the support of the community. MAC extends its gratitude to Greer’s St. Louis Market for providing delicious refreshments, to The Bassment Music who kept the streets alive with their unique sound all night long, to our friends at The Exploreum for sharing their reptilian pals, and to Miss Jess's Face & Body Painting , Flowers of the Bay, The Lotus Belly Dancers , along with all of our wonderful volunteers for making it a night to remember. Once again, Mobile has proven its love for the arts — and MAC is grateful for every member, guest, vendor, and patron who makes celebrations like this possible.

Congratulations to our July Organization Member of the Month Innovation Portal