Historical Society and museum among recipients of $1.4 million in MAC grants statewide

The Mississippi Arts Commission has awarded more than $1.4 million in funding to artists and arts programs across the state for fiscal year 2022, which began July 1, 2021.

Awards were made in 79 Mississippi House of Representatives districts and 50 state Senate districts, to 136 organizations and schools and to 59 individual artists. Recipients will benefit in a number of ways, including operating support for museums and community arts organizations, arts integration and guest artist presentations in schools and continuing education and supplies for working artists.

The Union County Historical Society and Heritage Museum received $3,750 to present the William Faulkner Literary Festival & Competition.

The historical society and museum also received a rapid response grant. These grants were in an effort to respond to the changing needs of artists and arts organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals could receive up to $500 while organizations could get up to $1,000 to adapt their arts-related work to online platforms such as online workshops, children’s art activities or virtual gatherings. Funds may also be used to hire MAC roster artists or to pursue organizational professional development such as hiring a consultant or attending training for emergency response and future preparedness, strategic planning or other adaptive organizational pursuits.

“We are thrilled to announce and congratulate this year’s many deserving grant recipients,” said Sarah Story, executive director of MAC. “We applaud these talented and innovative individuals and groups who met the challenge of one of the hardest years the arts sector has experienced. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Mississippi State Legislature fund MAC’s annual grants, and we are thankful for their support. We are especially grateful for Sen. Briggs Hopson and Rep. John Read who recognized the great need of the arts community during the pandemic and increased MAC’s budget by $140,000 to provide greater support of the arts in our state this past Legislative Session.”

In addition to making direct grants, MAC accepted 21 schools into its Whole Schools Initiative program, which provides educators with intensive professional development for integrating the arts across the curriculum.

MAC also approved 31 artists and performing groups for inclusion in its Artist Roster and Teaching Artist Roster, which features many of the best artists and arts educators working in the state. The Artist Roster is updated annually on MAC’s website, and all new roster artists will be added by this fall.

To see the full list of grantees, please visit the following link: https://arts.ms.gov/grant-recipients/. For more information on MAC’s grant programs, Artist Roster and other services, visit the agency’s website at arts.ms.gov.

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is a state agency serving more than two million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote arts education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. MAC is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson and other private sources. For more information, visit www.arts.ms.gov.