Tuscaloosa City schoolteachers and University of Alabama students can now apply for the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art K-12 fellowship. The fellowship offers an opportunity for local teachers to develop new curriculum that shares the motifs and ideas of the Paul R. Jones Collection at the University. The fellowship program was first run in the fall of 2014. Students from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary and Westlawn Middle School were invited to view the gallery, which focused on the theme of identity. This theme inspired the students to create their own unique artwork, which was displayed in the Gallery during December of 2014. 

Lucy Curzon, director of education and outreach for the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art, helped found the project. She said the traveling portions of the exhibit allow viewers to see the passion Paul R. Jones had for art.

“We wanted to do something more interactive,” Curzon said. “It’s part of the overall mission of the collection.”

The collection itself is unique in its concentration of pieces that define African American identity. In total, the collection contains over 2,100 pieces. Collector Paul R. Jones was a Bessemer, AL native who had a passion for African American art. In terms of criteria for applicants, Curzon said the founders are still working on precise application criteria. She said that it really varies due to the different needs of K-12 teachers. Curzon said she hopes that the program and collection will continue to grow.

“I would like it to become institutionalized,” Curzon said. “Our goal is to move to the county schools. Mr. Jones dream was to reach a broad spectrum of Alabama.”

Those interested in applying for the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art K-12 fellowship must apply by May 1. Applications may be submitted at paulrjonescollection.as.ua.edu/apply.

Compiled by Blain Bradley