By NEAL WAGNER/ City Editor

The Alabaster Arts Council, which organizes the Alabaster CityFest event each year, has donated more than $8,000 to city schools so far this year to cover everything from digital cameras to musical instruments.

Most of the donations were distributed during the Arts Council’s annual Arts Social, which was held in mid-May at the Jacob’s Corner Event Center.

The art grants helped fund a student trip to the Destination Imagination competition, a student project to create landscape collages of Grant Wood, educational apps, digital photography equipment and musical instruments.

In addition to awarding grants, the Arts Social also provided a venue for Alabaster teachers, administrators and school staff to network with Arts Council members. Cash door prizes also were awarded to several teachers who attended the event.

Teachers from Thompson High, Meadow View Elementary, Creek View Elementary, Thompson Sixth Grade Center, Kingwood Christian School, Thompson Middle School and Thompson Intermediate School attended the event.

“The Alabaster Arts Council would like to thank the teachers and administrators for attending the Arts Social, and we look forward to next year,” read an Arts Council release.

To learn more about the Alabaster Arts Council visit Alabastercityfest.com/alabaster-arts-council/.