Robert Daniel and Catherine Shearer

Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in Huntsville, Alabama, is the largest privately-owned arts center in the United States, housed in a historic former textile mill. This StoryCorps piece explores the facility’s origins through a discussion between Robert Daniel, the Gallery and Market Coordinator, and Catherine Shearer, the Event Coordinator. Their conversation centers on Shearer’s formation of Flying Monkey Arts, a pivotal artist collective that paved the way for the mill’s transformation into the massive creative complex it is today. Currently, the center serves as a thriving community hub, featuring over 150 artist studios, galleries, and performance venues across three floors.