Governor Reeves proclaimed February 3-7, 2025, to be Arts Week in Mississippi. On Tuesday, February 4, the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) hosted the 2025 Arts Day at the Capitol as part of Arts Week. MAC, partner agencies, arts advocacy groups, and grantees visited the Capitol to share the importance of the arts, a $2.6 billion industry in Mississippi, with state-wide leaders.

“I learned recently that in the past year, 1.9 million people participated in events and programming that received grants through MAC,” said Senator Jeremy England of District 51 during a press conference at Arts Day at the Capitol. “In addition, I learned that $1.5 million of the grants through MAC leverages $32 million invested in arts-based projects in Mississippi.”

MAC grantees Julian Rankin, executive director of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, and Rebekah Pleasant-Patterson, Executive Director of Griot Arts in Clarksdale, spoke on their communities’ impacts from receiving support through MAC grants.

“Without the arts, I wouldn’t have a job,” said Walt Grayson, 2025 Governor’s Arts Award Lifetime Achievement recipient. “I think the first thing people think about when they think of Mississippi is our artists.”

Grayson will be honored on Thursday, February 6, at 6 p.m. during the 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. Other honorees include Eddie Cotton Jr., Jane C. Hiatt, Robert Poore, Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band, and Tate Taylor. A 4:30 p.m. public reception will take place at the Two Mississippi Museums prior to the ceremony. Public seating is available but limited.

MAC is currently accepting applications for the FY26 annual grants. The deadline for annual grant applications is March 3, 2025. For a full list of available grants, visit arts.ms.gov/grants