Tag: South Alabama arts education

An artist painting a portrait in a studio setting

She Was a Reader’s Choice Award Finalist So Many Times It Felt Like Winning. This Year, Lydia Harsany Host Actually Won.

James Bullard, July 15, 2026July 16, 2026

Mobile artist Lydia Harsany Host, a longtime Bishop State instructor and repeat Reader’s Choice Award finalist, won Best Portrait Artist in the 2026 Reader’s Choice Awards after years building Mobile’s arts community.

Mobile

A ballet instructor teaching a dance class

She Moved to Mobile for ‘The Nutcracker’ and Never Left. Now She’s the City’s Best Arts Educator.

James Bullard, July 15, 2026July 16, 2026

Katia Garza moved to Mobile in 2017 to help with Mobile Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ and stayed to build a dance-teaching career, winning Best Arts Educator in the 2026 Reader’s Choice Awards.