City Beat: Money for cancer research, grant for Sidewalk, new art exhibit
This month in City Beat, cancer research by the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB gets a financial boost, the deadline to apply for a seat on the city of Birmingham’s Small Business Council draws near, Birmingham’s acclaimed Sidewalk Film Festival receives some national validation and a cutting-edge art gallery in the city has a new exhibit on view.
RESEARCH DOESN’T STOP
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) — founded in 1996 — has raised almost $11 million for research, much of it carried out at UAB.
The organization announced recently that it raised another $1.05 million in 2020, equaling its total for 2019, even in the midst of the pandemic.
“Despite COVID-19, individuals and companies throughout the state stepped up for breast cancer research,” BCRFA Executive Director Beth Bradner Davis said.
Cancer diagnoses “don’t stop during a pandemic,” Davis said. “This investment will ensure that research won’t either.”
Money was raised in 2020 from donations, grants, special events, corporate sponsorships and sales of the Breast Cancer Research specialty license plate.
The funding will support 14 research projects in Alabama, including eight studies at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB and studies at Cerflux and Southern Research in Birmingham.
The BCRFA invests in projects in their early stages, providing “seed money” to attract additional funding, including national grants from the National Institutes of Health and others.
“Developing projects often have an undeniable positive impact for research in the field of breast cancer,” said Dr. Barry P. Sleckman, director of the O’Neal center. “Each discovery brings us closer to a cure.”
To learn more or to make a donation, go to bcrfa.org.
SMALL BUSINESS COUNCIL
The city’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity is accepting applications through March 4 from small business owners, start-up founders, ecosystem builders and others who wish to serve on the city’s 22-person Small Business Council (SBC).
The SBC will act as an advisory group to Mayor Randall Woodfin and the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity and will recommend policies and programs to boost small businesses in the Magic City.
“Uplifting small businesses — specifically women and minority-owned businesses – has long been a top priority of my administration,” Woodfin said in January. “That priority takes a renewed focus now as we continue to rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Applications may be found at birminghamal.gov/smallbiz. Applicants are required to upload a resume, a letter of interest and two letters of recommendation.
Questions about the process should be sent to smallbiz@birminghamal.gov.
SIDEWALK’S ‘SEAL OF APPROVAL’
The Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, which presents the Sidewalk Film Festival each August, carries the torch for independent film in the Magic City, and the nonprofit got a nice financial boost for this effort recently.
Sidewalk announced Feb. 4 that it had received a $20,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts. The money will help present the 23rd annual Sidewalk Film Festival from Aug. 23-29.
Sidewalk Executive Director Chloe Cook said the organization is “thrilled” by the award, and not just because of the financial assistance.
The NEA also “acts as a ‘Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval’ for our organization and the funded project, encouraging other grant-making organizations to contribute to our organization,” she said.
“Sidewalk is among the arts organizations across the country that has demonstrated creativity, excellence, and resilience during this very challenging year,” NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers said, referring to COVID-19.
Due to the pandemic, Sidewalk held its August 2020 festival at The Grand River Drive-In at The Backyard in Leeds, an outdoor events venue.
Sidewalk also received positive national attention in January when it was chosen to take part in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival as one of the world-famous event’s Satellite Screens.
For more information, including movie showings at the cinema downtown, go to sidewalkfest.com/sundance-lineup.
EMERGING ARTIST
Brandi Shah is a physician in UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine and an advocate for sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice.
However, Shah is also a writer and visual artist who experiments with still images, animation, photography, video editing, found media and sounds.
She will present her latest work, an exhibition called “Sawubona/Sala Kahle,” at Vinegar Contemporary in Forest Park from Feb. 19 to March 27, according to a Vinegar news release.
Vinegar is an artist-run, women-led non-profit that showcases contemporary artists working in emerging and experimental forms.
The exhibition title combines Zulu words for greeting and leave-taking, with sawubona translating to “I see you” and sala kahle translating to “stay well,” according to the release.
The show deals in part with the use of language, story and authentic collaboration to help build community and nurture human connection.
The opening reception took place Feb. 19 from 5-8 p.m., with face coverings and social distancing required and a limit of four people in the gallery at one time.
Vinegar Contemporary is located at 7013 7th St. S., Suite 12. For details, go to vinegarprojects.org.