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Arts Commission News

Mississippi Arts Commission's Arts-based Radio Program Now on MPB Music Radio

DATE:          August 4, 2008 

CONTACT:    Susan Dobbs, MAC Public Relations Director

601/359-6031, sdobbs@arts.state.ms.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

JACKSON— The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is proud to announce its weekly radio program, “The Mississippi Arts Hour,” is now being broadcast on Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s new digital radio service, MPB Music Radio. The show is heard on the network on Saturdays at 11:00am. MPB Music Radio is available statewide, but a digital radio receiver is needed to tune in the broadcast.   It can also be streamed live from the radio section of MPB’s website at www.mpbonline.org.  MAC’s Executive Director, Malcolm White, Director of Grants, Larry Morrisey, and Arts Industry Director, Diane Williams serve as rotating hosts along with MPB’s arts reporter, Ron Brown.

Malcolm White, who began the series on WLEZ community radio in Jackson in 2005 says, “The Mississippi Arts Hour was designed to tell the rich and historic story of Mississippi’s creative spirit through in-depth interviews and performances with a wide range of artists, craftsmen, musicians, policy makers and arts supporters.”  White added, “Today the program is heard statewide and represents the context of forty years of work the Mississippi Arts Commission has undertaken to serve the artists and arts community across the state.  This collaboration with MPB is symbolic of the strategic vision of MAC to better serve the citizens of Mississippi through the arts, education and our cultural heritage.” 

Jason Klein, MPB’s Director of Radio is enthused about the partnership.  "The Mississippi Arts Hour provides both Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Mississippi Arts Commission a showcase for their unique expertise.  The Arts Commission works with and documents Mississippi’s artistic culture, and MPB provides the broadcasting experience to put it together.  By combining our efforts, we can offer Mississippians a well produced program that is both educating and entertaining."

The show will continue to be aired in Jackson on WLEZ-FM 103.7 on Thursdays at 5:00pm.  Edited versions of the show are available for download from the MAC website or listeners can subscribe to the podcast feed for the show on Apple’s iTunes.

The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency, established by the Mississippi Legislature in 1968. Its mission is to be the catalyst for the arts in Mississippi. The Agency upholds this mission through grant programs, professional development opportunities and other services to schools, communities, arts organizations and individual artists across the state. The Commission is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wallace Foundation, Donna and Jim Barksdale, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, The Phil Hardin Foundation and other private sources.

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