Business Details
Premier Arts & Cultural Hub in Birmingham, AL
We are a dynamic arts organization dedicated to fostering creativity and cultural enrichment through visual arts, performing arts, community education, and arts in medicine initiatives. Our team curates thought-provoking exhibitions, produces world-class performances, and develops innovative educational programs that engage diverse audiences. With partnerships spanning academic departments, symphony orchestras, and community organizations, we create transformative experiences that bridge artistic expression with social impact. Our commitment to accessibility ensures that arts programming remains inclusive and beneficial to all members of the Birmingham community. 
Services
Art Exhibitions
Live Performances
Community Classes
Arts in Medicine
Venue Rentals
Highlights and features
- We offer multidisciplinary arts programming across four specialized venues
- Our team partners with academic institutions and professional arts organizations
- We provide accessible arts education for all age groups and skill levels
- Our arts in medicine programs integrate creativity with healthcare
- We host over 200 annual events serving diverse community needs
Services
Art Exhibitions
The Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts presents rotating contemporary art exhibitions featuring regional, national, and international artists. Our galleries showcase diverse media including painting, sculpture, photography, and new media installations. Exhibitions are curated to provoke critical dialogue while remaining accessible to broad audiences through educational programming and public events.
Live Performances
Alys Stephens Center hosts over 200 annual performances spanning symphonic music, theater, dance, and chamber ensembles. Our venues accommodate diverse productions from classical concerts to experimental theater, featuring both emerging artists and internationally renowned performers across multiple genres.
Community Classes
ArtPlay offers hands-on art classes for all ages, from early childhood creative development to adult workshops in painting, ceramics, and digital media. Our curriculum emphasizes skill-building while fostering personal expression through structured instruction led by professional teaching artists in fully equipped studio spaces.
Arts in Medicine
Our Arts in Medicine program integrates creative practices into healthcare environments through bedside art sessions, wellness workshops, and hospital performances. Certified art therapists collaborate with medical teams to provide stress reduction, pain management, and emotional support for patients, families, and healthcare staff through evidence-based creative interventions.
Venue Rentals
We offer four professionally equipped venues for rent including the 1300-seat Jemison Concert Hall with Meyer Sound system, two mid-sized theaters, and a flexible black-box space. Rental packages include technical support, stage equipment, and event coordination services for performances, conferences, and private celebrations.
People
Lili Anderson
Executive Director
Lili Anderson leads Alys Stephens Center with over 15 years of experience in arts administration and community engagement. She oversees strategic programming across four arts organizations, fostering partnerships between academic departments and cultural institutions to expand access to arts education and professional performances.
Questions
What types of events does UAB Center for the Arts host?
We host visual art exhibitions, symphonic performances, theater productions, community art classes, and arts in medicine programs across our four venues.
How can I purchase tickets for performances?
Tickets can be bought online through our website, by phone at 205-975-2787, or in person at our ticketing office during business hours.
Are there educational programs for children?
Yes, ArtPlay offers age-appropriate art classes, vocabulary programs, and seasonal events designed specifically for children and families.
Can I rent event space at the Center?
Our venues accommodate events from intimate recitals to large concerts, with four distinct spaces available for rental including technical support.
Does the Center offer arts programs for healthcare settings?
Our Arts in Medicine program provides therapeutic art experiences, hospital performances, and creative wellness initiatives for patients and caregivers.
Videos
Reviews (5)
Jason Pylant
Jan 06, 2022
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The seat cushions have been updated and are comfortable. Sadly they're restricting seating due to COVID. Also, the symphony was so badly reduced due to their self imposed COVID restrictions that it made the experience not worth it to me. I see Messiah every year they play it and love it. This year was terribly disappointing. It was like listening to a song on a $10 speaker vs $1,000 one.
Polaris Txt
Dec 24, 2021
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Loved it, went there for UAB honor band 2021, staff was super nice and it was strict with COVID guidelines. I would recomend it.
Jamie
Nov 18, 2021
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I attended "Much Ado About Nothing," a play by UAB Theater students. It was excellent. The actors did such a good job I didn't even notice some of them had masks on at first; I thought only some did. They projected very well so that we could hear in spite of the masks, even though there were no mikes. (It was in the small theater.) The humor was awesome and wonderfully carried out, and the costumes were really beautiful. Really professional as well as entertaining. I would go again and bring more family members if it were not sold out! I really look forward to "Noises Off" and to more plays in
Rob McDonald
Sep 15, 2019
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We're very lucky to have this beautiful venue in the Southside of Birmingham. The ASO's matinee performance of Beethoven's Eroica was excellent, and the conductor and first clarinetist were kind enough to answer questions for our RMCS students. Fantastic experience.
C. S. O. Yall
Aug 28, 2019
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Went,my first time ever, for Roseanne Cash on Sunday with a new friend. It was a really great experience. The A.S.c is beautiful inside, very well ventilated. Roseanne Cash was really, really great. The Alys Stephens Center and Mrs. Cash got a new fan.