BIC’s goal is to educate – and entertain – Alabamians regarding different cultures, while providing a central “home away from home” for many international students, transplanted employees and dignitaries. On top of producing programs that encompass a variety of cultures, BIC spotlights a different country each year, facilitating activities throughout the state. The spotlight program provides an in-depth knowledge about a country’s history and culture, as well as its relations with the United States, that the general public otherwise might not typically know. Coordinating with the spotlighted country’s government and community partners, BIC brings renowned performers, art exhibits, culinary demonstrations and educational materials to the schools and communities of Alabama. The country spotlights have brought many significant additions to Birmingham, including the Japanese Garden’s tea house at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Moroccan fountain on 5th Avenue North, valuable art work for the Birmingham Museum of Art from Italy and South Korea and the formation of the Alabama German Partnership Association.
Selection of the spotlight country is based on various factors such as the U.S.’s current relationship with the country and events that may have caused a need for educating the public on a specific country. This year, BIC is spotlighting Ireland. BIC last spotlighted Ireland in 1980.
Ireland Links
Alabama Celtic Association
Birmingham International Spotlights from 1951-2009
2009 Spotlight on Ireland
2008 Spotlight on Spain
2007 Spotlight on the CzechRepublic
2006 Spotlight on Japan
2005 Salute to Mexico
2004 Salute to Alabama’s International Community
2003 Salute to Canada
2002 Salute to South Africa
2001 Salute to Hungary
2000 Salute to Native Americans
1999 Salute to Morocco
1998 Salute to Brazil
1997 Salute to Germany
1996 Salute to the Republic of Korea
1995 Salute to Holland
1994 Salute to Italy
1993 Salute to Switzerland
1992 Salute to Spain
1991 Salute to the United Kingdom
1990 Salute to Australia
1989 Salute to France
1988 Salute to Egypt
1987 Salute to the People’s Republic of China
1986 Salute to Sweden
1985 Salute to Israel
1984 Salute to Nigeria
1983 Salute to India
1982 Salute to Japan
1981 Salute to Mexico
1980 Salute to Ireland
1979 Salute to Canada
1978 Salute to Belgium
1977 Salute to Austria
1976 Salute to Greece
1975 Salute to Brazil
1974 Salute to the FederalRepublic of Germany
1973 Salute to France
1972 Salute to the USA
1971 Salute to Spain
1970 Salute to Great Britain
1969 Salute to Italy
1968 Salute to Greece
1967 Salute to Japan
1966 Salute to the Netherlands
1965 Salute to Mexico
1964 Salute to Scandinavia
1963 Arts Around Us
1962 Arts Around Us
1961 Salute to the South
1960 Pan America
1959 America in the New World
1958 Salute to Italy
1957 England and Alabama
1956 Land of Cotton
1955 Alabama’s Heritage: France and Spain in Alabama
1954 Alabama’s Heritage
1953 Festival of the Seven Arts
1952 Festival of Contemporary Music and Painting
1951 Festival of Contemporary Music