Simone Cottrell is a Deep South creative, specializing in cultural strategy, community storytelling, and arts administration. As the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Special Initiatives Director, she develops and leads innovative programs that support Mississippi’s arts and culture landscape. Before joining MAC, Cottrell worked with a range of arts and culture organizations, including serving as Cultural Researcher for the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Project Consultant & Creative for Arts for EveryBody – Phillips County, AR, Cultural Dramaturg for TheatreSquared’s Cambodian Rock Band, and Arts Resource Desk Manager for CACHE. Her interests include studying art law, philanthropy, and advocating for the inclusion of rural Southern creatives in the broader arts and culture narrative. Cottrell also serves on the board for the National Cambodian Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial (Chicago, IL).

Contact Simone about the America250 Public Art Grant and the Mississippi Artist Roster. scottrell@arts.ms.gov | 601.359.6044