Jim Harrison, III is the owner and director of Harrison Galleries LLC, which is located in downtown Tuscaloosa. Founded in 2001, Harrison Galleries deals in vintage and contemporary fine art and photography. Each year the gallery hosts dozens of civic, social and cultural events, fundraisers and exhibitions, including the annual University of Alabama Art Department’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) show, and is a corporate sponsor of the Kentuck Festival, the Alabama Blues Project, Arts n Autism, and numerous other cultural and educational entities. Harrison Galleries is a founding participant in Tuscaloosa’s monthly Art Night, which is held on the first Thursday of every month. 

A native of Tuscaloosa, Mr. Harrison has over the years been involved in the West Alabama community in many capacities, including chairmanship of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, where he co-chaired the development of the Chamber’s “Culture Builds” cultural master plan. Past chair of the DCH Hospital Foundation Board, he co-chaired the DCH Cancer Treatment Center capital campaign and served on the Public Art Steering Committee for the new Tuscaloosa Federal Courthouse, which opened in December 2011. >

Mr. Harrison currently serves as vice chair of the Paul Jones Collection Advisory Board and is a member of the board of the new Tuscaloosa Museum of Art, home of the Westervelt Collection. As co-chair of the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center Capital Campaign, he is spearheading efforts to transform a historic building in downtown Tuscaloosa into performance and office space for area arts organizations. In addition to his involvement in the cultural life of Tuscaloosa, Mr. Harrison serves on the boards of directors of the DCH Health Care Authority, the Chamber Foundation, and The Community Foundation of West Alabama.

Mr. Harrison and his wife Kaye, who is an antique dealer, have one son, James IV – an aspiring writer.

Mr. Harrison currently serves on the long-range planning committee. He has served in numerous leadership roles on the Council including Chair (2011-2013; 2020-2021) and Vice Chair (2009-2010; 2018-2019). Mr. Harrison has also previously served as Chair of the Council’s grants review committee.