Abilene Art Alliance: Keeping the magic downtown

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – It’s difficult to miss the beauty and complexity of Downtown Abilene. Generally, we credit this curated ambiance to the city or the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council. But did you know the other group making a difference behind the scenes; nonprofit Abilene Art Alliance, which supports Cultural Affairs.

“People say, ‘well, the city put up new lighting outside on First Street.’ No, they didn’t. The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council did. You know the storybook garden, that’s all from donations from people that donated to the Abilene Arts Alliance for the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council,” Darrel Knight, president of Abilene Arts Alliance, said.

The council’s support helps create what makes downtown Abilene so special, like the storybook garden and many establishments downtown. In the same rite, Knight said his organization helps shape the downtown area to be as interactive as it is today.

“What I see downtown is not what I saw growing up. Abilene was a desolate place downtown, and now it’s a place you want to walk around and look in the garden, and look at the art, and just see the beauty,” described Knight.

Long time resident, Betty Crowe is a big supporter of the Abilene Art Alliance. She told KTAB/KRBC it is important to keep up the magic that is in the city for the children.

“There are more qualities than reading and writing and arithmetic, but put them together with some creative things,” Crowe said. “That’s when they come alive, and you see a little person that’s never said much to anybody. They’ll come alive when they’re the important person in something to learn, to share, to get along.”

The art alliance is one of the many nonprofits you can donate to Tuesday for Abilene Gives .

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