MISSION & HISTORY
MISSION
The mission of Starkville Area Arts Council is to build a strong, creative, connected community through art.
We accomplish this mission through 2 primary program areas: Art Education & Outreach and The Creative Economy. Each program area includes several initiatives that take different approaches to build a community through art by creating inclusive access to the arts and art education, and by promoting art-related economic development and tourism. In addition, SAAC has a small discretionary grant pool to support community projects, teachers, and art organizations.
We accomplish this mission through 2 primary program areas: Art Education & Outreach and The Creative Economy. Each program area includes several initiatives that take different approaches to build a community through art by creating inclusive access to the arts and art education, and by promoting art-related economic development and tourism. In addition, SAAC has a small discretionary grant pool to support community projects, teachers, and art organizations.
HISTORY
The Starkville Area Arts Council was formed in 1996 after a group of art-loving citizens got together and held a small arts festival near downtown Starkville. That small festival evolved into the Cotton District Arts Festival: one of the largest public art festivals in the South. Now, more than 20 years later, SAAC sponsors the Cotton District Arts Festival, runs various art and art education outreach programs in Starkville and Oktibbeha County to fulfill its mission to build a strong, creative, connected community through the arts.
PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
The Starkville Area Arts Council sponsors a number of programs and events to help us achieve our mission. For detail on each of these, click on "Programs & Events" in the navigation menu. Here is a quick look at our current, and a few past, activities.
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Programs:
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Gone, but not forgotten:
Not everything remains viable as an ongoing, permanent program. This might be the end of a project, or simply a shift of interest and focus. Regardless of the reason, here are a few places where we’ve been and what’s gotten us here today.
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