JACKSON, MISS. – June 20, 2018 – Arts Means Business, a free, community event hosted by the Mississippi Arts Commission, will feature some of Jackson’s most creative and successful small business owners and community leaders as speakers. The event, a two-part public conversation about the many ways the arts, businesses, governments and communities intersect, will be held Thursday, June 28 from 2-4 p.m. at the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Lucky Town Brewing Company.

The first part of the event, geared toward business owners, will feature a panel discussion on “Utilizing the Arts in your Business,” which will be held at the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership from 2-4 p.m. Jackson business leaders Matthew McLaughlin, owner of McLaughlin, PC; Janice Cameron, owner of Cups, an Espresso Café; Paul Wolf, owner and publisher of Find it in Fondren and Explore Lefleur and Phillip Rollins of Offbeat Jackson will discuss and share tips for successfully using the arts as an integral part of business.

The second part of the event will be held at Lucky Town Brewing Company from 4:30-7:30 p.m. and will feature a panel discussion on “Community Engagement by Re-imagining Place.” Anne Marie Decker, owner of Duvall Decker Architects, PA; William Goodman, mixed media artist and muralist; Salam Rida, urban designer for the City of Jackson Planning Department and daniel johnson, CEO and Founder of Significant Developments will take part in a conversation about using the arts as a tool for community engagement by reimagining its impact on public spaces. DJ Young Venom will perform at this event.

These free community events are part of MAC’s statewide initiative, “The Arts Mean Business,” a series of events, workshops, resources and community forums to connect and empower Mississippi’s Creative Economy.

Contact: Melody Moody Thortis, Arts-Based Community Development Director       mthortis@arts.ms.gov | 601.359.6035