Aimee Castro and Bare Hands use art, traditions, even tacos to connect the community.
A major milestone has been reached in Bare Hands, Inc.’s capital campaign to bring Bare Hands Community Arts Center to life in Woodlawn. As the organization moves closer to launching Phase 1 renovations to the church building that will be their eventual home, leadership is celebrating the growing momentum of community, public, and private support.
Completion of Phase 1 will allow BHCAC to open and be operational. This phase of the renovation will activate approximately 60 percent of the building, creating essential spaces including a main hall, classroom, office, restrooms, and kitchen, laying the foundation for year-round arts education, arts programs, and community engagement in East Birmingham.
Bare Hands is working in partnership with CCR Architecture & Interiors and Dawson Building Company to guide the design and construction of Phase 1 renovations.
“This moment is about more than a building; it’s about creating a permanent home for creativity, connection, and community-led expression,” said Aimee Castro, Bare Hands Executive Director. “We’re incredibly grateful for the partners and supporters who are helping us move from vision to reality.”
Bare Hands, Inc. collaborates with individuals and local communities to create immersive arts experiences and arts education programs. Through festivals, workshops, and community-driven initiatives, Bare Hands celebrates culture, fosters connection, and builds lasting impact through creative expression.
An Interview with Aimee Castro, Barehands executive director.
Your community efforts are very well known—the Day of the Dead festival and Birmingham Taco Fest. How important is community building for Bare Hands?
Community building is truly at the heart of everything Bare Hands does. Whether it’s Día de los Muertos Alabama, Birmingham Taco Fest, community workshops, or newer initiatives like The View From Here, the goal has never simply been to host events — it has been to create spaces where people feel seen, connected, and valued. Birmingham is incredibly diverse and creative, and we believe the arts can bridge cultures, generations, and neighborhoods in powerful ways. Our work is about celebrating identity while also building belonging. Community-centered arts organizations are an essential part of helping people connect with one another in meaningful, human ways. As we continue developing Bare Hands Community Arts Center in Woodlawn, the vision of creating lasting community through the arts is becoming even more central to our work.
Is arts education for the young making an impact on Birmingham? What do you see as the goal?
Arts education absolutely makes an impact on Birmingham, especially for young people who may not otherwise have access to creative opportunities. We see the arts as much more than enrichment — they build confidence, communication skills, cultural awareness, critical thinking, and emotional expression. At Bare Hands, we are especially passionate about accessible, community-based arts education that reflects the cultures and experiences of the students we serve. Our long-term goal is to help young people see themselves as creators, leaders, and storytellers while also building pathways for local artists to showcase, teach and sustain their work. We want young people to understand that creative expression has value, that their voices matter, and that the arts can help strengthen both individuals and communities.
How would you rate our visual arts community? What does it need to continue to develop?
Birmingham’s visual arts community is outstanding!. There is a wealth of creativity here, and visual artists are a big part of that treasure. Some are finding exciting ways to connect across disciplines and communities through established organizations and grassroots initiatives. What we need most to continue developing is sustained investment in infrastructure, affordable creative spaces, and long-term support for artists and arts organizations. Many artists are doing extraordinary work with limited resources. As a city, we have an opportunity to continue and enhance support for spaces where artists can create, exhibit, teach, and collaborate year-round. That’s one reason Bare Hands Community Arts Center is so important to us — we see it as part of creating a stronger creative ecosystem for Birmingham and a place where emerging and established artists alike can share their practice and build community (a home for expression and a hub for connection).
What was your introduction to Bare Hands?
My introduction to Bare Hands actually began through my husband Jorge’s family and his brother, Guillermo, who was an integral part of Día de los Muertos Alabama’s early days. I attended the 2007 Día de los Muertos Alabama celebration, and that experience was incredibly meaningful to me because I saw firsthand how the organization created space for culture, remembrance, art, and community to come together in such an authentic and welcoming way. It felt deeply personal while also being community-centered, and that has stayed with me over the years.
Later, I became more formally involved by serving on the Board of Directors for six years and eventually as Board President before stepping into the role of Executive Director. Throughout that journey, I had the opportunity to really see the organization’s impact up close. What continued to draw me in was the way Bare Hands uses the arts to genuinely connect people and honor culture in meaningful, community-driven ways. As an educator, that mission deeply resonated with me. Over time, I became even more passionate about the organization’s role in Birmingham — not only through large festivals like Día de los Muertos Alabama and Taco Fest, but through year-round programming, arts education, and creating opportunities for artists and families to come together.
