Birmingham, Alabama: Difference between revisions

[[File:Alabama Theatre.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Alabama Theatre]]]]

Birmingham has a distinctly [[Deep South]] culture and a dynamic [[Upper South]] influence that has molded it's culture from it's beginning. This is due to the city's location as the [[Gateway]] opening to and from both regions and their influences. Historically many African Americans from the [[Black Belt]] and Whites from across the state settled this area in large numbers in the 20th century contributing their music and foods to it's Southern nature. In the 1970's the city began to diversify spurred on by the growth of [[University of Alabama at Birmingham]] which attracted many students from out of state as well as international students. During this period Birmingham solidified itself as the most diverse city in Alabama and the hub of a growing [[Multi-culturalism|multi-cultural]] metropolitan area. This blending of southern cultures with international flavors is most evident in the city's cosmopolitan [[Southside, Birmingham, Alabama|Southside]] neighborhood. As the city's hub for bohemian culture and a long frequented nightlife area it is among the most popular and fastest growing in the city. Due to the presence of UAB it is the most racially and ethnically diverse neighborhood in the city.

Birmingham is the cultural and entertainment capital of Alabama, with numerous art galleries in the area including the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]], the largest art museum in the Southeast. Downtown Birmingham is currently experiencing a cultural and economic rejuvenation, with several new independent shops and restaurants opening in the area. Birmingham is home to the state's major ballet, opera and symphony orchestra companies such as the [[Alabama Ballet]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alabamaballet.org|title=Alabama Ballet|work=alabamaballet.org|accessdate=July 21, 2015}}</ref> [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra]], [[Birmingham Ballet]], [[Birmingham Concert Chorale]], and [[Opera Birmingham]].