Category: Blog

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.

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.

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.

David’s Travel Log – Meridian

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I have long wanted to make an extended visit to Meridian. In college, I spent the majority of a day photographing modern works of architecture throughout the city as part of an exhibition that we created featuring modern architecture in Mississippi. The three-foot building was still a hope and a dream, as was the Meridian Police Department building. But City Hall has just been renovated, and word was circulating about the upcoming MAX. Since then, I had only ever stopped at Chick-fil-A on my way through or looped through downtown – if I had some extra time – to see if much had changed.

David’s Travel Log – Decatur & Newton

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Reaching out to our Commissioners has been an amazing opportunity not only to get to know each member but also to get to know their community. They know their towns well and are wonderfully connected to the people and organizations we serve or need to be serving.

David’s Travel Log – Laurel & Hattiesburg

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Hello! Welcome to my travel log. As I travel all around the state and country in relation to my new role at the Mississippi Arts Commission as Executive Director, I want to bring you along. Sketching has been a part of my creative expression since refining it in architectural school and I love to sketch when I travel. I have been so inspired by all that I have seen and the people I have met. I want to share that with you through this series. I hope you’ll enjoy the journey.