Albert B. Head

Al Head has worked in the state arts field for over 38 years beginning in 1972 with the Fine Arts Council of Florida, and continuing through executive director positions with the Stephen Foster Folklife Center, the Louisiana Division of the Arts, and the Alabama State Council on the arts. He has served his home state of Alabama for the past twenty years as the Council’s director. Mr. Head earned his undergraduate degree from Troy State University in art history and aesthetics, and his Master of Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Southern literature, from Auburn University at Montgomery. He received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in 1974 to attend Harvard’s Arts Administration Institute. Mr. Head has served two terms on the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies board participating in a wide range of committee work. He has been a member of the South Arts board (previously Southern Arts Federation) for 33 years and presided as its chair 1983-85. Prior to serving as chair of SAF, Mr. Head served as vice-chair 1981-1983. Mr. Head has served on numerous panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and has chaired the Folk Arts and Arts in Education panels. In 1998 he received the Gary Young Award presented by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies for his leadership and achievements in promoting the arts nationally. In 1999 he received Alumni of the Year from the National Troy University Alumni Association. Further recognition from Troy University came in 2008 in the form of The Distinguished Leadership Award for exemplary dedication and service to the University. Al Head is the only state arts director to start folk arts programs in three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama. Al is a native of Troy, Alabama.

Alabama State Council on the Arts