The Alabama State Council on the Arts announced this week the granting of awards totaling more than $2.5 million in arts facility funding to 64 non-profits.

The Creative Places Arts Facilities grant program strengthens Alabama communities by providing grants for the construction, renovation, restoration or enhancement of facilities where the public can participate in arts programming and education. These investments throughout the state are possible thanks to an appropriation from the Alabama Legislature.

Andrea Pack, Johnson Center for the Arts executive director, made public an announcement that the JCA received a grant in the amount of $32,000 in funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts for the improvement to enhance staging and acoustics in the Johnson Center and The Studio.

“These improvements are much needed to get these spaces up to par for music and theater events,” Pack said. “We must thank the City of Troy government for their care and support of these facilities, the Troy Arts Council for their events and Troy University and their offsite performances through various music and student groups, students who learn here and the specialists who will help us select and install the best products to cut down on echo and unwanted feedback in these spaces making performances better for those with hearing difficulties.”

Pack said the new products will also making hearing easier for those who suddenly have hearing problems in certain spaces.

A thank you was given to Senator Josh Carnley, distract area senator, who called to share the news.

Troy has top notch musicians and performers and it is needed and, necessary

to have the right facilities to allow audiences to have the right facilities that allow for audiences to fully enjoy their audio and visual experiences,” Pack said.

“One of the major problems at The Studio has been the inability to view performers on a low stage. The staging will now allow audiences to see performances better.”

It has also been known for a long time that, although the Gibson gallery is beautifully restored and regularly used, the audio quality is severely sub-standard, with too much reverberation to allow listeners to hear clearly.

The Studio space, which accommodates larger audiences, is in need of similar treatment to improve audio quality for listeners.

“We hope to ultimately make these spaces prime locations for musical and artistic performances in downtown Troy for the use of its citizens and the surrounding areas to better enjoy live entertainment,” Pack said. This space is for the community and we look forward to the improvements.”