Underserved Mississippi Counties Encouraged to Apply for Grants

The Mississippi Arts Commission, in partnership with the Mississippi Library Commission, is launching a special initiative to provide underserved counties with grants for local artists and art programs.

In order to share information about its services and highlight the artists who benefit from them, MAC will host a variety of artists at libraries and other community spaces in Chickasaw, George, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jasper, Perry, Smith, and Tunica counties in November and December. After the artists showcase their work, in disciplines such as storytelling, music, and dance, MAC staff will discuss how organizations and individuals can apply for grants in the arts. All events are free and open to the public.

“We launched this special initiative so that we can reach the underserved.”

“We pride ourselves in serving all 2.9 million people who call themselves our neighbors, our family and our fellow Mississippians,“ said Malcolm White, executive director of MAC. “Over the decade past, we discovered that we had not funded a grant in a handful of counties. With that in mind, we have launched this special initiative in concert with the MS Library Commission so that we can accomplish one of our most important goals – to reach the underserved.”

All guest artists have been selected for the Mississippi Artist Roster, a juried listing of professional artists who have demonstrated mastery of their work.

List of Events

Smith County

Floyd J Robinson Memorial Library
Raleigh, MS
Artists: Dianne Butler (Storytelling), Jason Mathena (Percussion)
Date: November 7, 2016
Time: 4:00 p.m.

Chickasaw County

Okolona Carnegie Library
Okolona, MS
Artists: June Caldwell (Storytelling), Damein Wash (Vocal Music)
Date: November 15, 2016 Time: 5:00 p.m.

Humphreys County

Humphreys County Library System
Belzoni, MS
Artists: Chuck Galey (Children’s Publishing/Illustration), Doris Jones (Storytelling)
Date: November 15, 2016
Time: 5:00 p.m.

Tunica County

Robinsonville Public Library
Robinsonville, MS
Artists: Patricia Carreras (Theater), Ricky Burkhead (Percussion)
Date: November 16, 2016
Time: 4:30 p.m.

Perry County

Richton Public Library
Richton, MS
Artists: Terrence Roberts (Storytelling), Julie White (Dance)
Date: November 17, 2016
Time: 3:30 p.m.

Issaquena County

Mayersville Multi-Purpose Building, in collaboration with the City of Mayersville
Mayersville, MS
Artists: Amelia Brame (Modern Dance), Jerry Jenkins (African Djembe Drumming)
Date: November 19, 2016
Time: 1:00 p.m.

Jasper County

Bay Springs Municipal Library
Bay Springs, MS
Artists: Annie McKee (Writing & Storytelling), Baba Asante Nalls (African Djembe Drumming)
Date: December 8, 2016
Time: 10:30 a.m.

George County

Lucedale-George County Library
Lucedale, MS
Artists: Richelle Putnam (Writing), Kim Whitt (Visual Art)
Date: December 12, 2016
Time: 6:00 p.m.

If you have questions about this program, please contact Charlotte Smelser, Arts Education Director for the Mississippi Arts Commission (csmelser@arts.ms.gov / 601-359-6037)