Author Archives: Ellie Banks

MAC Calls for 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards Nominations

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The Mississippi Arts Commission is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards, an annual ceremony that recognizes individuals and organizations who have made noteworthy contributions to the arts in Mississippi. The awards are presented in partnership with the Governor’s Office and signify the important relationship between government and the arts. The deadline to submit nominations for the 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards is June 5, 2024. Award nominations may be submitted online via MAC’s website at arts.ms.gov/gaa.

Stitching the Final Square – Mississippi Folklife has a New Look!

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In the fall of 2022, the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) announced a new look for the agency and some of its programs. The new brand style for MAC is similar to what you might find on a quilt square. Today, MAC is pleased to stitch the final square to the MAC “quilt,” featuring a new look for Mississippi Folklife and the Mississippi Folklife Directory.

Malisha Taylor Named Mississippi Poetry Out Loud Champion 

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The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is pleased to announce that Malisha Taylor, a Sophomore at Pascagoula High School, is the 2024 Mississippi Poetry Out Loud® (POL) champion. Tommy Nichol, a Junior at Oxford High School, is the first runner-up, and Sanika Janorkar, a Freshman at Rosa Scott High School, is the second runner-up.

David’s Travel Log – Mississippi Gulf Coast

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Scrolling on social media and seeing the debut of the lights in both Ocean Springs and Gulfport over the Thanksgiving holidays brought me back to the wonderful time I had along the Mississippi Gulf Coast back in May.

NEA and NEH Chairs Historic Visit to Mississippi

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In a historic collaborative visit, the National Endowment for the Arts Chair, Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., and the National Endowment for the Humanities Chair, Shelly Lowe, visited the metro-Jackson area earlier this month. The cross-sector visit allowed national, regional, state, and local leaders from the arts and humanities worlds, including General Nolen Bivens, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts (AFTA), to meet and experience the incredible work happening in Mississippi.

MAC Awards $5.2 Million Through the Building Fund for the Arts Grant to 34 Arts Organizations in 23 Counties

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The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) awarded $5.2 million to 34 arts organizations in 23 counties in Mississippi through the Building Fund for the Arts (BFA) grant for FY2024. The funding opportunity provided through the BFA grant supports the much-needed repair, renovation, expansion, or construction of Mississippi facilities that serve as sites for year-round arts programming in their communities.

David’s Travel Log – Rolling Fork

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At our upcoming State Arts Conference on October 11-12, 2023, you can watch the carving of one of the famous bears of Rolling Fork in preparation for the triumphant return of the Great Delta Bear Affair Festival, which takes place in Rolling Fork on October 28, 2023. We have partnered with the Lower Mississippi Delta Partnership to sponsor the carving of this year’s bear in an effort to assist with the rebuilding efforts in Rolling Fork in an artful way.