SAAC
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    • Art Education & Outreach
    • Creative Economy >
      • Betty Jane Chatham Retrospective
    • Discretionary Grants & Awards
    • Fundraising >
      • Forks & Corks
      • 25th Anniversary Cookbook and Celebration
    • Other Projects (Current & Past) >
      • Arts in Excellence Awards
      • Barn Quilt Trail
      • Join Hands
      • Music Trail
      • Untitled!
  • Blog & News
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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.

​HISTORY

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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.

​Programs:
  • Art Education & Outreach
    • Art in the Park
    • Art Partners
    • Summer Scholarships
    • Community Events
  • The Creative Economy
    • Art in Public Places (exhibit series)
    • Business Skills Workshops
    • The Cotton District Arts Festival
  • ​Discretionary Grant Pool
    • Community & Art Education Grant
    • Public Art  
Fundraising Events:
  • Annual Drive
  • ​Forks & Corks​
  • TBD
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.
  • Annual Gala
  • Art Walk
  • Home & Garden Expo
  • ​​Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail
  • Untitled!
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Our newsletter
Keep up with area arts news and events with our semi-monthly newsletter.
Click to Volunteer!
We need you - whether or not you're an artist! Our biggest 2 events (Art in the Park and Cotton District Arts Festival) require dozens of helping hands, so jump right in!
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101 South Lafayette Street, Suite 18
Starkville, Mississippi 39759
arts@starkvillearts.org
director@starkvillearts.org
662.324.3080
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©2020 Starkville Area Arts Council. All Rights Reserved.
​#starkvillearts #starkvilleartscouncil #starkvilleareaartscouncil
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: SAAC is an equal opportunity organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, operation of programs, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for the public, all members of our staff, volunteers, vendors, and artist communities.
  • Home
    • Board & Staff
    • SAAC Mission & History
    • Public Disclosure
    • COVID-19 Update Page
  • Programs & Events
    • Art Education & Outreach
    • Creative Economy >
      • Betty Jane Chatham Retrospective
    • Discretionary Grants & Awards
    • Fundraising >
      • Forks & Corks
      • 25th Anniversary Cookbook and Celebration
    • Other Projects (Current & Past) >
      • Arts in Excellence Awards
      • Barn Quilt Trail
      • Join Hands
      • Music Trail
      • Untitled!
  • Blog & News
  • Donate & Help
  • Resources