Why we're here
Created in 1996, the mission of the Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) is to build a strong, creative, connected community through the arts. All of our work, from the Cotton District Arts Festival to after-school programs and outreach, is guided by two fundamental principles:
- Art education builds well-rounded, creative problem solvers.
- Cultural growth leads to economic impact: art is a workforce development tool.
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Meet Our New Executive Director: Charla Laney!
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We are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Executive Director, Charla Laney!
Originally from Saltillo, MS, Charla holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Mississippi State University and is currently pursuing her MBA at MSU. She also serves as coordinator for the Starkville Community Market and previously served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Starkville Habitat for Humanity, where she focused on building capacity for local housing initiatives. With a deep passion for the arts and community development, Charla is excited to lead us into our next chapter. In her spare time, she enjoys going on walks, sewing, cooking, and spending time with her cat, named Chicken. |
The Latest News!
AiPP Exhibit
Our latest AiPP exhibit is "Glib Glub" by Joseph MacGown. Please join us for an opening reception on May 17 at SAAC (5:30-7 PM). Online exhibit coming soon!
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AiPP - Call for Submissions
Our next AiPP Group Show is all about the beauty and simplicity of the square! Deadline: July 20 at MIDNIGHT. More info below.
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More CDAF 2025 T-Shirts!
If you missed out on getting a shirt at the festival this year, now's your chance to get one. Provide your info in the interest form below and we'll be in touch with next steps.
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Just in case you missed it...
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May Recap (2025)Now that we've settled into June, it's time to recap the start of our new chapter: May!
The month started off on a rough one with the sudden AmeriCorps news, but we adapted and made it work. Our former VISTA, Cornelius Edmond was officially hired as Program Coordinator. We also announced our new Executive Director, Charla Laney, who was also affected by the VISTA termination—talk about a turnaround for both! Charla has been doing great so far, and the opening for Joseph MacGown's "Glib Glub" was the perfect opportunity for her to meet our amazing arts community! We said our final goodbye (not really 😆) to Juliette as she wrapped up in the office. She continued helping remotely from her new home in North Carolina—if you're reading this, Juliette, thank you again for it all! Near the end, we started working on an application for a mini grant with the Mississippi Arts Commission to help fund our next round of workshops. Wish us luck—we can't wait to launch this project. All in all, May reminded us that we're resilient. And June? It's already shaping up to be a great one, especially for our Art Partners program! |
