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.

“The BFA program is an important part of enhancing and supporting the creative economy in Mississippi,” said David Lewis, Executive Director of MAC. “The grants from this program reach well beyond the receiving organization – impacting and uplifting the deserving communities that these facilities will serve.”

MAC has awarded the following arts organizations funding through the BFA grant:

Mississippi Center for Cultural Production (Hinds) – awarded $500,000 to convert the unused building into the Main Street Cultural Center.

New Stage Theatre (Hinds) – awarded $494,356 to update electrical/lighting systems and replace roof.

Arts Foundation of Kosciusko (Attala) – awarded $315,672 to renovate existing structures in the L.V. Hull Legacy Center.

Hattiesburg Convention Commission (Forrest) – awarded $296,400 to renovate the Saenger Theater.

Town of Byhalia (Marshall) – awarded $273,000 to renovate the Byhalia Library.

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (Harrison) – awarded $267,248 to expand the parking lot, renovate the Treehouse Village exhibit, and add outdoor classroom space.

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art (Harrison) – awarded $246,000 to construct a berm to protect the facility from storm surge.

Jackson State University Development Foundation, Inc. (Hinds)– awarded 240,000 to replace the roof of the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium.

The Piney Woods School (Rankin) – awarded $240,000 to renovate the Zilpha Chandler Community Auditorium.

Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Inc. (Lafayette) – awarded $191,400 to support the development of a Humanities Hub.

City of Houston (Chickasaw) – awarded $180,000 to complete Phase II of the renovation of The Point.

E.E. Bass Education and Development Foundation (Washington) – awarded $165,000 to repair the roof of the North Building of the E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center.

City of Senatobia (Tate) – awarded $155,000 to outfit the new Sycamore Arts Gallery.

Delta Blues Museum (Coahoma) – awarded $120,057 to make repairs to the freight depot.

City of Louisville (Winston) – awarded $120,035.40 to purchase and install seating in the Strand Theater.

Museum of the Mississippi Delta (Leflore) – awarded $120,000 to repair the roof, ceilings, and build an art storage facility.

Desoto Arts Institute (DeSoto) – awarded $110,000 to expand studio space in Southpoint Church.

Quitman County Arts Council (Quitman) – awarded $105,000 to renovate the historic arts council building.

Meridian Little Theatre (Lauderdale) – awarded $102,600 to repair the theatre’s roof and lighting system.

Brookhaven Little Theatre (Lincoln) – awarded $99,000 to replace theatre seating and make repairs to the auditorium.

Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, Inc. (Madison) – awarded $75,000 to make building repairs to lighting and security system.

Griot Arts Inc. (Coahoma) – awarded $75,000 to renovate the Paramount Theater.

Gulfport Galleria of Fine Art (Harrison) – awarded $75,000 to effectively weather seal the building.

Friends of Lexington Preservation, Inc. (Holmes) – awarded $72,756 to repurpose the historic Lundy House.

Freedom Project Network (Lafayette) – awarded $60,000 to make repairs to the Rosedale Freedom Project.

The Arts Hancock County (Hancock) – awarded $60,000 to create a parking and sculpture garden.

Tupelo Community Theatre (Lee) – awarded $60,000 to repair the Lyric building.

New Albany Middle School (Union) – awarded $42,000 to create an ADA/fire code-compliant pottery studio.

Delta State University Foundation (Bolivar) – awarded $40,500 to replace the walls of the Fielding Wright Gallery.

Hundred Members Debating Benevolent Association (Hancock) – awarded $39,402 to refurbish a 1956 Silver Streak Clipper into a recording studio.

Hancock Performing Arts Center (Hancock) – awarded $38,400 to replace the existing sound speakers in the theater.

Biloxi Little Theatre (Harrison) – awarded $34,500 to replace HVAC, resurface stage floor, and indoor repairs.

Jackson Public Schools (Hinds) – awarded $30,000 to repair and renovate Jim Hill High School’s PAC.

Link Centre (Lee) – awarded 168,000 to repair and renovate the Black Box theatre space.

A panel of experts within the arts and economic development communities ranked the submissions based on artistic quality, project plan, project professionals, organizational capacity, and project impact.

“Our facility has been well-loved, and its use has caused some deterioration, but this generous grant helps cover the cost of the essential repairs we need to keep moving forward,” said Tiffany McGehee, artistic director with the Meridian Little Theater. “Our Little Theatre is now poised to venture into our next century of storytelling with stability and momentum toward growth.”

The Mississippi Legislature approved $5 million for the BFA program for FY2024, $2.2 Million more than in FY2023. In FY 2024, MAC received 63 letters of intent with a total amount of $12.8 Million requested for the BFA grant.

“Last year, we heard from our grantees about their need for more support through this type of grant,” said Lewis. “We are grateful to the members of the Mississippi Legislature who heard from their constituents. This year, MAC was able to fund projects in 23 counties, and our state leaders helped make this happen.”

“Grants like the Building Fund for the Arts are vital to our local communities in Mississippi,” said State Senator Nicole Boyd. “Art organizations serve as a community hub and often bring performances, shows, and events that boost our local economies. I am pleased to hear that the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council in my home district in Oxford received a grant for creating a Humanities Hub that will greatly benefit all of North Mississippi.”

Center Stage Biloxi was awarded $104,749.20 to renovate and make accessibility improvements to the theater lobby and restrooms. The project was completed in early fall of 2023, and the ribbon cutting took place on October 26.

“Our MAC Building Fund for the Arts grant was the spark that lit the flame for a tremendous community effort that allowed us to dramatically increase ADA accessibility to our programs and services. Without MAC’s investment, the project would have never gotten off the ground, and we are so grateful for their continued commitment to the arts in our corner of South Mississippi.” 

The Mississippi Arts Commission hopes to offer the Building Fund for the Arts grant in the future as funding through the Mississippi Legislature allows.

For more information about the BFA grant and other grant opportunities through the Mississippi Arts Commission, visit arts.ms.gov.