Message from the Director | October 2021
Message from the Director | October 2021
October invites us outside, to gatherings, fairs, awareness events, spooky parties and more. For the arts, that means outdoor festivals like the Cotton District Arts Festival, fall commissions and Halloween gigs, and for MAC, it means Mini-grants are open, and we are focused on planning winter and spring events, including the Governor’s Arts Awards.
This year, both Mini-grants and the ARP RESCUE grants are open for application to eligible parties, both with a deadline of Nov. 7. If you have never applied for a grant before, Mini-grants are a great introduction. Every weekday from now to Nov. 7, MAC staff is offering Office Hours, an opportunity to learn about the application process and get your questions answered.
We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2022 Governor’s Arts Awards. Alcorn State University Jazz Festival, Myrna Colley-Lee, Lawrence “Larry” Gordon, Holly Lange, Mary Lovelace O’Neal, and the Williams Brothers will be honored at an in-person ceremony this February. We invite you to learn more about their incredible careers in the arts here, and we invite you to join us for the 34th Governor’s Arts Awards on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in downtown Jackson.
This month, MAC kicked off an exciting new initiative “Mental Health and the Creative Mind.” Artists were significantly impacted by the pandemic and need access to affordable mental health resources more than ever. To speak to this need, we hosted a panel discussion with artists and mental health professionals at The Ecoshed in Jackson to discuss the topic on Oct. 20. As we move forward, MAC will provide the field with resources for mental health and ways to engage on the topic.
Always looking to the future, many bright spots are ahead: holidays with family and friends, arts events and opportunities, and chances to celebrate and start anew.
I hope to enjoy the arts with you soon.
Best,
Sarah Story