The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) awarded $5.2 million to 34 arts organizations in 23 counties in Mississippi through the Building Fund for the Arts (BFA) grant for FY2024. The funding opportunity provided through the BFA grant supports the much-needed repair, renovation, expansion, or construction of Mississippi facilities that serve as sites for year-round arts programming in their communities.
“The BFA program is an important part of enhancing and supporting the creative economy in Mississippi,” said David Lewis, Executive Director of MAC. “The grants from this program reach well beyond the receiving organization – impacting and uplifting the deserving communities that these facilities will serve.”
Receiving funding from MAC through the BFA grant:
New Albany Middle School (Union County) – awarded $42,000 to create an ADA/fire code-compliant pottery studio.
A panel of experts within the arts and economic development communities ranked the submissions based on artistic quality, project plan, project professionals, organizational capacity, and project impact.”
The Mississippi Legislature approved $5 million for the BFA program for FY2024, $2.2 Million more than in FY2023. In FY 2024, MAC received 63 letters of intent with a total amount of $12.8 Million requested for the BFA grant.
“Last year, we heard from our grantees about their need for more support through this type of grant,” said Lewis. “We are grateful to the members of the Mississippi Legislature who heard from their constituents. This year, MAC was able to fund projects in 23 counties, and our state leaders helped make this happen.”
“Grants like the Building Fund for the Arts are vital to our local communities in Mississippi,” said State Senator Nicole Boyd. “Art organizations serve as a community hub and often bring performances, shows, and events that boost our local economies.”
The Mississippi Arts Commission hopes to offer the Building Fund for the Arts grant in the future as funding through the Mississippi Legislature allows.
For more information about the BFA grant and other grant opportunities through the Mississippi Arts Commission, visit arts.ms.gov.
