JACKSON, MISS. – Dec. 21, 2021 – The Mississippi Arts Commission has awarded 23 RESCUE ARP Grants and 51 Mini-Grants to artists and organizations around the state. The RESCUE grants awarded were part of MAC’s second round of funding dedicated to providing relief to Mississippi’s arts sector during the continued economic impacts of COVID-19. RESCUE grants were made possible through American Rescue Plan funding allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts. MAC also awarded Mini-grants to eight organizations and 43 individual artists in the state.

“Congrats to each of these deserving grant recipients,” said Sarah Story, executive director of Mississippi Arts Commission. “We are very grateful to the President, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mississippi State Legislature for this important grant funding that will help alleviate the state arts sector and allow artists and arts organizations to develop new ideas and projects that add to the creative culture of our state.”

The NEA allocated 40 percent of funding received from the American Rescue Plan Act to state, jurisdictional and regional arts organizations. To distribute the portion of ARP funding received from the NEA, the Mississippi Arts Commission established the ARP COVID Relief Grant program and RESCUE Grants. Arts-focused 501c3 organizations with eligible expenses, such as salaries, rent and utilities could apply for RESCUE Grants.

MAC’s Mini-grant program is offered several times a year to organizations and individual artists to assist with professional development and capacity building. The Artist Mini-grant program provides for up to $500 in reimbursed funds to pursue artistic training, support promotion and marketing efforts or to purchase eligible art supplies. Mini-grants for organizations are matching grants designed to support professional development and capacity building activities for arts organizations and to provide opportunities for Mississippi nonprofits, schools and other units of government to hire professional artists.

A full list of FY2022 grant recipients is available at arts.ms.gov/grant-recipients. For more information on MAC’s grants programs and other services, visit the agency’s website at www.arts.ms.gov.

Contact:  Anna Ehrgott | Communications Director | aehrgott@arts.ms.gov | (601) 359-6546