TMS campus photo

Thomasville Middle School has received a $25,000 “Alabama Arts Education Initiative (AAEI)” grant from the Alabama Department of Education.

The grant application was written by LeAnn Pope Moore, library media specialist at TMS. The focus of the grant is “Arts Enrichment for Adolescents,” Moore said, and will be allocated for the 2023-2024 school year.

The funding will allow for the hiring of an art teacher at TMS.

The grant funding will provide TMS students fine arts education in interactive classes. Moore expects to see students in grades five to eight creating art shows, theatrical productions or musical reviews. The class schedule will be adapted to allow all students the opportunity to experience arts instruction.

The school already has supplies and equipment available for art classes, she said. The school had earlier received a $5,000 appropriation from the Westervelt Foundation, which was used for supplies. The TMS gym also has a new sound system, Moore said, which was previously bought with AAEI funding and can be used for performances.

In past years, TMS had theater productions and a choir. The library has also sponsored art programs, such as a photography contest.

“There is a hunger for fine arts,” she said, and we want to feed it.” In addition, parents and the Thomasville community has always been responsive to TMS arts programs.

“I am thankful that we were able to receive funding from the Alabama Arts Education Initiative,” said Eddie Armstead Jr., TMS principal. “This funding will assist us with providing the students at TMS an opportunity to express their gifts and talents through music and arts. We are excited about the upcoming year, and we are hopeful to have as many students as possible to participate and take advantage of this opportunity.”