The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) has announced $3.5 million in funding awarded to 20 arts organizations in 13 counties.
The funding was made through the Building Fund for the Arts (BFA) Grant, which supports the repair, renovation, expansion, or construction of facilities in the Magnolia State that host year-round arts programming.
“MAC is thrilled to support these vital building projects that enhance the arts and our communities in Mississippi,” David Lewis, executive director of MAC, said. “Through this grant, we showcase our state’s commitment to our rich artistic heritage by investing in the spaces that foster the growth of our next great Mississippi artists, while providing an enriched quality of life for Mississippians throughout our state.”
41 letters of intent were received by MAC during the grant application process for Fiscal Year 2025, with a total of $7 million requested to fund BFA projects. Submissions were ranked based on artistic quality, project plan, project professionals, organizational capacity, and project impact.
“The impact of receiving funding from the (BFA) grant cannot be understated,” Lewis said. “Arts and culture are the backbone of Mississippi’s identity, and getting significant investments for infrastructure from MAC ensures the continuation of our cultural legacies.”
MAC awarded funding to the following arts organizations:
- Ballet Mississippi (Madison County) – awarded $480,000 to renovate performance and practice studios.
- Brookhaven Little Theatre (Lincoln County) – awarded $25,200 to repair the roof and install air conditioning.
- City of Meridian (Lauderdale County) – awarded $332,670 to make ADA improvements to the Meridian Museum of Art.
- City of Ocean Springs (Jackson County) – awarded $291,000 to stabilize the exterior and repair the interior of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center.
- Coast Episcopal School (Harrison County) – awarded $37,200 to repair the Gail Keenan Art Center.
- Delta Arts Alliance (Bolivar County) – awarded $104,290 to repair the roof after storm damage.
- E. Bass Education and Development Foundation (Washington County) – awarded $180,000 to make ADA improvements.
- Friends of Pickens Public Library (Holmes County) – awarded $75,000 to renovate the Pickens Public Library.
- Foundation for Mississippi History (Hinds County)– awarded 225,000 to construct the Margaret Ann Crigler Park.
- Goldring/Woldenberg Institute for Southern Jewish Life (Adams County) awarded $168,400 for plaster repair, repainting, and rewiring in the historic Temple B’nai Israel.
- Hattiesburg Community Arts Center (Forrest County) – awarded $300,000 to expand studio and classroom space and to install air conditioning.
- International Museum of Muslim Cultures (Hinds County) – awarded $420,000 to complete a new facility’s architectural and engineering design.
- Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (Lauderdale County) – awarded $66,000 to add power-assisted automatic doors.
- Mississippi Children’s Museum (Hinds County) – awarded $93,600 to redesign an existing gallery and create a new interactive exhibit.
- Mississippi Museum of Art (Hinds County) – awarded $98,020 to update the security system and improve accessibility.
- New Albany Main Street (Union County) – awarded $26,430 to update the Magnolia Theatre with a new sound system and make aesthetic improvements.
- Panola Playhouse (Panola County) was awarded $240,000 to replace the roof and complete other repairs.
- Pearl River Glass Conservatory (Hinds County) – awarded $31,160 to expand and improve ADA accommodations.
- Prairie Belt Blues Foundation (Clay County) – awarded $73,690 to design and develop the Black Prairie Blues Museum.
- Union County Historical Society & Heritage Museum (Union County) – awarded $225,100 to renovate arts exhibition space
Those awarded grant funding will have two years to complete their respective projects. For more information about the BFA grant and other grant opportunities through the MAC, click here.
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