The Alabama State Council on the Arts honored HudsonAlpha co-founder Jim Hudson at the Celebration of the Arts awards, May 20, 2015, in a ceremony at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Ala.
Hudson received the 2015 Special Council Legacy Award, given to individuals who are not necessarily an artist or from the arts world but who have had a great impact on the arts in Alabama and leave a significant legacy as a result of their contributions.
“These individuals represent the scope and breadth of artistic diversity, talent, leadership and generosity that is an integral part of the cultural landscape of Alabama,” said Al Head, Executive Director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Hudson is a passionate advocate for local arts and entertainment in Huntsville. In 2001 he purchased Lowe Mill — originally a textile mill– and gave new life to what was Huntsville’s first suburb. Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment supports a diverse community of artisans and businesses dedicated to the free expression of the arts. The venue features several entertainment and exhibition events each month, as well as nearly 100 individual studios where the public is encouraged to interact with the artists. Lowe Mill serves as a state and national model for adaptive reuse of an old structure as a multi-purpose arts center. Lowe Mill is now the largest private multi-discipline arts center in the United States.
Video Tribute to Jim Hudson
Jim Hudson winner of the Alabama State Council on the Arts 2015 Special Council Legacy Award from Rick Sutton on Vimeo.
The Alabama State Council on the Arts aims to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality for all Alabamians by providing support for the state’s diverse and rich artistic resources. The bi-annual award program shines the spotlight on both the arts and its supporters in Alabama.
Other 2015 recipients include:
- Theresa Harper Bruno, Birmingham, Jonnie Dee Riley Little Lifetime Achievement Award
- Dr. Everett McCorvey, Montgomery/Louisville, Kentucky, Alabama’s Distinguished Artist Award
- Rick Hall, Muscle Shoals, Governor’s Arts Award
- Mack Gibson, Troy, Governor’s Arts Award
- Winston Groom, Mobile/Point Clear, Governor’s Arts Award
- Herb Trotman, Birmingham, The Alabama Folk Heritage Award
