2021 Letter to Legislators

​Each year, the Mississippi Arts Commission and Mississippi Development Authority offer grants that strengthen our state's arts and culture economy. MAC provides critical general operating funds, while MDA provides Visit Mississippi grants to promote tourism-oriented events like Cotton District Arts Festival and Forks & Corks. Thank you for support of these two agencies. In addition, critical state and federal stimulus funds in 2020 helped keep the lights on. As a steward of charitable resources invested in our communities, I'm writing on behalf of SAAC to share highlights and input with hopes that it helps your work.

Here is a snapshot of how funds, given to SAAC, impacted Oktibbeha County. One-third of our community lives in poverty, which means access is vital. Although falling under various programs, collectively in 2020, we:

• Awarded more than $5,000 in microgrants to artists for free online content and street performances.
• Provided $10,000 in free supplies and books to youth and families.
• Provided a free CEU for teachers with Arts For All and Columbus Arts Council.
• Collaborated with Mississippi Presenter's Network and YAC (Oxford) to offer free virtual business workshops for creatives (statewide).
• Hosted three virtual art exhibits.
• Created public art, providing activities for volunteers and drawing attention to our creative assets.

Arts education is a core competency that builds creative, well-rounded problem solvers, regardless of future career. Art also means business: it generates economic growth and makes Mississippi a great place to visit.... and stay. The Mississippi economy suffers and we lose creative capital when folks spend their money elsewhere... or move.

Although financial support is tremendous, other issues must be addressed in order to sustain and secure the future of our state cultural assets. Three of these are briefly outlined below, which we hope helps you in your work.

1. We face a striking inconsistency in quality of services provided from professional vendors across the state. This includes accounting, banking, bookkeeping, insurance, legal, and more. As local arts organizations begin to work with each other, we find that this disparity exists even among our larger state-wide vendors. The lack of consistent quality professional services impedes our ability to be of service to the community. It does not serve our community well, when we are forced to consider vendors outside of Mississippi. Nonprofit does not and should not mean "any level of service is sufficient." Please help us demand better.
2. Although Mississippi is diverse and rich in culture, this is inadequately reflected in boards of cultural institutions. Diversity is, in itself, an asset: it holds organizations accountable to all of the wonderful communities across our state and best ensures that programming meets real needs of those different communities. We want MAC to set an example and lead Mississippi as a state cognizant of and responsive to her people.
   
3. We want outside funders to have a stronger relationship with Mississippi so that it understands and responds to our needs. This would avoid situations, for example, when SouthArts initially excluded Mississippi from its Emerging Leaders of Color program (a program intended to create access and build leaders). Fortunately, SouthArts changed course and Mississippi was represented, and we are grateful. This example, however, reflects a noticeable pattern where external funders miss opportunities to build meaningful relationships in our state. Mississippi often knows what it needs, and we want external funders to actively listen. Mississippi should never be anyone's token philanthropy or investment project.

Thank you for your service and support of the arts, the Mississippi Arts Commission, Mississippi Development Authority, and other cultural programs across the state.


#artsadvocacy #supportMSarts #artsfunding ​