Create Birmingham

Create Birmingham (formerly the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham (CAGB) is a cultural advocacy organization. Its offices are located in the Pythian Temple building at 310 18th Street North. The executive director and CEO is Meghann Bridgeman.

The Cultural Alliance was founded in 2003 from a recommendation in Birmingham's Cultural Master Plan. The group functions as an advocate and planning organization for cultural activities. It also oversees grant funding for a variety of arts organizations, educational programs, and events.

Until the Jefferson County debt crisis effectively eliminated the Jefferson County Commission Arts Fund, the Cultural Alliance was engaged in managing that source of funding for the arts.

In 2011 the CAGB launched the Birmingham365.org events website.

The group lost its space in the Center for Regional Planning and Design in 2013 and moved temporarily to storefront space at 1806 3rd Avenue North in the Lyric Building before moving into the Pythian Temple.

In October 2014 the organization adopted its current name and announced a refocusing of efforts toward supporting economic development projects to benefit the "creative economy" or working artists, designers, filmmakers, and chefs, and to better connect that sector with other businesses.

Film Birmingham

In late 2015 Create Birmingham began supporting efforts by the Birmingham Mayor's office to recruit film production to the area, coordinating with the Alabama Film Office and picking up from the former Birmingham-Jefferson Film Office. Productions that benefited from the group's involvement included "Let There Be Light", a narrative feature directed by Kevin Sorbo.

In 2017 those efforts were formalized as Film Birmingham, still operating from Create Birmingham's offices with existing staff. Mayor Bell included $100,000 for Film Birmingham operations in his proposed 2018 Birmingham budget. Additional funds have been provided by the Goodrich Foundation, the Alabama Power Foundation, the Hugh Kaul Foundation, the Robert R. Meyer Foundation and the Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust.

In 2022 Create Birmingham was awarded a $150,000 "consulting" contract with the City of Birmingham "to attract and develop film, television, commercial and music video projects."

Directors

• Buddy Palmer, 2008–2021
• Meghann Bridgeman, 2021–

References

• Huebner, Michael (January 29, 2013) "Cultural Alliance outlines three-year 'Creative Birmingham' initiative." The Birmingham News
• Huebner, Michael (October 25, 2013) "Cultural Alliance moving to prime arts location, but may have to pick up stakes again." The Birmingham News
• Huebner, Michael (October 16, 2014) "A new name, bold mission for Create Birmingham, formerly known as the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham." The Birmingham News
• Edgemon, Erin (May 23, 2017) "Birmingham launches film office in effort to recruit movie productions." The Birmingham News
• Rebman, Stephanie (February 16, 2021) "Create Birmingham CEO Buddy Palmer to retire this fall." Birmingham Business Journal
• Pernell, Avalon (June 25, 2021) "Create Birmingham names Meghann Bridgeman president and CEO." Birmingham Business Journal
• O'Leary, A. J. (October 11, 2022) "Find out what the city is doing to boost the local film industry." Birmingham Business Journal

External links

• Create Birmingham website
• Film Birmingham website