Mississippi Arts Commission

Mississippi Arts Commission The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency created in 1968 to support the arts in Mississippi.

During Tuesday's press conference at the Old Capitol Museum, guests got a first look at “Mississippi Flavor: At the Cros...
09/04/2026

During Tuesday's press conference at the Old Capitol Museum, guests got a first look at “Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story,” featuring performances and demonstrations from Rising Stars Fife & Drum, quilters from Mississippi Cultural Crossroads and Geno Lee of the Big Apple Inn.

These artists and tradition-bearers offered a preview of the music, crafts and foodways coming to downtown Jackson Nov. 13-15.

Learn more at nationalfolkfestival.com.

The Mississippi Arts Commission honors the life and legacy of Cassandra Wilson, a Jackson native whose distinctive voice...
09/03/2026

The Mississippi Arts Commission honors the life and legacy of Cassandra Wilson, a Jackson native whose distinctive voice and artistry made a lasting impact on jazz and American music.

In 2009, Wilson received a Governor’s Arts Award for Artistic Excellence in Music, recognizing her remarkable career and deep Mississippi roots. A two-time Grammy Award winner, she shared her talent with audiences around the world and leaves behind an important musical legacy.

MAC celebrates her life, her work and her lasting contributions to the arts in Mississippi and beyond!

This week on the Mississippi Arts Hour, Larry finishes his recent trip to Oxford by visiting with Bill Perry, a jazz pia...
09/02/2026

This week on the Mississippi Arts Hour, Larry finishes his recent trip to Oxford by visiting with Bill Perry, a jazz pianist and bandleader in the city. Perry tells about his beginnings as a musician, playing in a family band. He then branched out into jazz, leading a number of different groups. Perry also talks about his work creating self-produced movies in Oxford

Listen by subscribing to the Mississippi Arts Hour podcast through your favorite podcast app, or listen online at http://msartshour.mpbonline.org/

MPB - Mississippi Public Broadcasting
Bill Perry

09/01/2026

The program for the 83rd National Folk Festival’s Mississippi Folklife Area & Stage was announced today during a press conference at the Old Capitol Museum!

This year’s theme, “Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story,” will spotlight the music, foodways, crafts and traditions that have shaped Mississippi’s cultural heritage and influenced the nation. Guests also enjoyed a preview of the program featuring Rising Stars Fife & Drum, quilters from Mississippi Cultural Crossroads and Geno Lee of the Big Apple Inn.

The National Folk Festival returns to downtown Jackson Nov. 13-15. Stay tuned for more details about each participating artist and tradition-bearer!

Learn more about the National Folk Festival by visiting https://www.nationalfolkfestival.com/

Video description: Video description: The video features the National Folk Festival’s Mississippi Folklife Area & Stage press conference at the Old Capitol Museum. It includes speakers announcing the program, interviews with folk performers and artists, guests in conversation and highlights from live performances and demonstrations. Rising Stars Fife & Drum performs, while quilters from Mississippi Cultural Crossroads and Geno Lee of the Big Apple Inn provide a preview of the quilting traditions and foodways that will be featured at the National Folk Festival.

Rising Stars Big Apple Inn

Artist Roster Spotlight: Shanina CarmichaelMeet Shanina Carmichael, a teaching and performing artist featured on both MA...
08/31/2026

Artist Roster Spotlight: Shanina Carmichael

Meet Shanina Carmichael, a teaching and performing artist featured on both MAC’s Artist Roster and Teaching Artist Roster.

Shanina specializes in the songs, rhythms and dances of West Africa, Afro-modern dance and modern dance. With more than 20 years of experience, she combines movement with cultural exploration and history, connecting West African traditions to the African-American experience and art forms of today.

She is available for arts integration instruction, trainings, lectures and performances.

🔗 Learn more about Shanina and explore MAC’s artist rosters at arts.ms.gov.

Shanina Carmichael

A few more moments from A Day for Artists!Artists from across Mississippi came together in Meridian for a full day of wo...
08/28/2026

A few more moments from A Day for Artists!

Artists from across Mississippi came together in Meridian for a full day of workshops, demonstrations, conversations and opportunities to learn from one another.

If you joined us, what’s one thing from the day that stuck with you or that you plan to bring into your own work? Let us know in the comments!

Artist Roster Spotlight: Amie ClarkWith more than 25 years of experience as a living historian, Amie Clark brings histor...
08/27/2026

Artist Roster Spotlight: Amie Clark

With more than 25 years of experience as a living historian, Amie Clark brings history to life through first-person portrayals and demonstrations of historical figures.

Amie has traveled across the country sharing stories from the past and currently serves as the lead historical interpreter at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. She is also a published author who writes historical fiction and poetry and has contributed regularly to the Homefront Herald and Mississippi Market Bulletin.

Amie holds undergraduate degrees in art and social work, as well as a Master of Humanities with an emphasis in creative writing.

Learn more about Amie and the Mississippi Artist Roster at arts.ms.gov

This week on the Mississippi Arts Hour, David travels to Hattiesburg to sit down with country artist and NBC's America's...
08/26/2026

This week on the Mississippi Arts Hour, David travels to Hattiesburg to sit down with country artist and NBC's America's Got Talent (AGT) contestant ELSIE. Fresh off her advancement to the Live Shows round of AGT, ELSIE talks about her experience so far in the competition and her creative journey. Cheer her on September 1 during America's Got Talent on NBC.

Listen by subscribing to the Mississippi Arts Hour podcast through your favorite podcast app, or listen online at http://msartshour.mpbonline.org/

Photo credit: Justin Hardiman

ELSIE
MPB - Mississippi Public Broadcasting

Join Mississippi Folklife on September 1 for a press conference celebrating Mississippi’s influence on American culture ...
08/26/2026

Join Mississippi Folklife on September 1 for a press conference celebrating Mississippi’s influence on American culture and announcing plans for the Mississippi Folklife Area at the National Folk Festival!

MAC Executive Director David Lewis will share more about this year’s theme and programming, with live demonstrations and performances highlighting the food, music and craft traditions that continue to shape Mississippi and the nation.

Guests will enjoy a live performance by the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band and meet quilters who will be exhibiting as part of the festival from Mississippi Cultural Crossroads in Port Gibson.

Join us September 1 at 10:00 AM at the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson, Mississippi.

Learn more about the National Folk Festival at nationalfolkfestival.com

National Folk Festival
Rising Stars
Quilters from Mississippi Cultural Crossroads

08/25/2026

What makes Mississippi, Mississippi?

It can be found in the music, food, traditional arts and stories passed from one generation to the next.

Mississippi Folklife documents and shares the state’s living traditions through original stories, photography, films, interviews and documentary work. The Mississippi Arts Commission’s Folk Arts Archive preserves more than three decades of images documenting the artists, culture bearers, communities and traditions that have shaped the state.

Through this work, Mississippi Folklife honors the traditions that have shaped our state while documenting the people and practices carrying Mississippi culture forward. Visit the Mississippi Folklife website to explore more stories from across the state: mississippifolklife.org

Address

455 N. Lamar Street Suite 2A
Jackson, MS
39202

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16013596030

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