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companies give to the arts when they are looking for a city in which to locate a plant or to provide a site for their main office. “Their employees don’t want to live in an artistic desert and don’t want to bring up their children where they will be deprived of artistic opportunities, especially dance and music. One of Mont- gomery’s true assets is the Alabama Shakespeare Festival which is supposed to pump $10,000,000 into the community every year. But we have to make more progress to guarantee that the arts are for everyone, not just for the elite. It’s a cliché by now that the working class has enormous creative ability which will be lost unless it’s actively encouraged. “I’m a firm believer in the government funding the arts. People are shocked when I say that, but most other governments do it. In our society we have a partner relationship, both public institutions and private businesses supporting the arts together and adding to the quality of life. It’s alright that way — just not enough. Anyway, looking back, I’ve been fortunate in my career to always work with brilliant, productive, hopeful people. They’ve made me feel as though my glass was not half full… but that it was always running over.” A L ’ S R ETIRING … Effective December 31, Al Head will retire after 33 years at the helm. Head summarized a long career with the state arts agency field by saying, “It has been a wonderful and memorable run in a field that is made up of a special group of artists, arts administra- tors, arts educators, arts patrons and volunteers. The opportunity to contribute a bit to the quality of life in Alabama through the arts has been a privilege.” Having served as council director since 1985 he is the longest sitting state arts agency director in the country. Prior to accepting the position in Alabama, he was the Director of the Louisiana Di- vision of the Arts and Arts Council from 1977 to 1985. As the first state arts director under governmental reorganization he or- chestrated the first state appropriation for the Arts Council in Louisiana. His state service began in 1972 with the Florida De- partment of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and included a two year period as director of the Stephen Foster Folk Life Center. In- cluding the Florida and Louisiana years Head’s tenure in the arts field spans over forty-six years, a four decade period that has expe- rienced significant change in the arts and government. During Head’s time in Alabama he considers, the development of a nationally recognized state folklife program, the creation of the Alabama Writers Forum, the creation of Design Alabama, the creation of the Alabama Dance Council, expanding arts education partnerships and the cultivation of a cultural exchange with Pietrasanta (the Little Athens of ) Italy as a few of many highlights. For personal recognition on a national level Head received the National Heritage Award in 2012 given by the National Endow- ment for the Arts and the Gary Young Award presented to him by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies as particularly re- warding. As part of his retirement announcement Head emphasized, “I’ve been fortunate and blessed to have been surrounded by such special people/staff with the agency as well as all Alabamians.” n 26 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com “…looking back, I’ve been fortunate in my career to always work with brilliant, productive, hopeful people. They’ve made me feel as though my glass was not half full… but that it was always running over.”