Birmingham’s Creative Future Gets a Boost with $150,000 Funding

Birmingham’s Creative Future Gets a Boost with $150,000 Funding

Birmingham is buzzing with excitement after the city recently approved $150,000 for “Create Birmingham,” a local nonprofit dedicated exclusively to nurturing the regions arts, culture, media, and film aspects. This funding is expected to significantly elevate the film industry in our vibrant city. Today, we caught up with the team at Create Birmingham to find out how this money will be allocated and what it means for filmmaking in their lively community.

Breaking Down the Funding

The generous funding will be divided into three main projects. Here’s how the pie will be sliced:

• $25,000 will be allocated to Birmingham365, which will introduce an inclusive community arts calendar. This platform will not only promote various events happening in Birmingham to residents and tourists alike but will also highlight public art routes throughout city neighborhoods. It’s all about getting the word out and celebrating our local scene!
• $50,000 will fund a selection process for four $10,000 community arts projects. These projects will tackle pressing issues like civic advocacy, education, public health, and food systems within Birmingham. The goal is to uplift small to mid-sized arts nonprofits to help them make a real difference in the community.
• $75,000 will go to maintaining the Reel Scout Database. This essential tool helps filmmakers connect with local crew members, locations, and support services, all while hosting beneficial workshops and programming to strengthen the local filmmaking infrastructure.

The Joy of a Thriving Film Industry

Jessica Moody, the Director of Programs and Operations for Create Birmingham, shared her enthusiasm about the burgeoning film industry. She mentioned the significant economic ripple-effect that a successful film industry can create in Birmingham. “If the money was purple, you would be seeing it everywhere,” said Moody. This means that local businesses, such as gas stations and restaurants, benefit from the spending of film productions that roll into town.

According to Create Birmingham data, an average small-budget film employs about 50 to 75 people locally, and these productions spend around 60% of their budget right where they film. Last year, our city hosted 27 projects and assisted with an additional 47 projects—making for a whopping estimated combined budget of $58 million dollars with around $32 million dollars spent locally. Pretty fantastic, right?

The Role of Tax Incentives

One factor that’s got everyone excited about the film industry in Alabama is the tax incentives available to productions shooting in the state. With a pool of funds totaling $20 million, productions can qualify for a 25% rebate on what they spend in-state (with an additional 35% rebate for local hires). These incentives are crucial for not just attracting bigger films but also maintaining a steady stream of smaller projects.

Moody emphasizes that while larger films can help keep our local crews and talent employed, there’s a delicate balance. Larger productions consume more of the state’s available film budget, which can hinder smaller projects that also desperately need funding. The hope is that this budget will grow to serve all levels of production.

What’s Next for Birmingham’s Film Scene?

As if all this information wasn’t exciting enough, there’s more good news to share! A new project is set to begin filming on September 5th. Keep your eyes peeled for crews working around town, as Birmingham continues to become a hub for film and creativity!

For those passionate about the arts and eager to get involved, now’s a great time to step up! There are ways to register your locations and be part of Birmingham’s remarkable artistic journey.