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Arts Commission News

Mississippi Arts Commission Announces Partnership in Gulf Coast Business Recovery Program

DATE:              July 10, 2006

CONTACT:     Susan Dobbs, Public Relations Director                                       601-359-6031 or sdobbs@arts.state.ms.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The United States Department of Labor is generously providing funds to be administered through a Business Recovery Program for Mississippi Gulf Coast self-employed artists (visual, literary, performing) and craftsmen.  A partnership with the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Twin Districts Workforce Area will facilitate the grant process.  “This unique partnership between the arts and government represents an ambitious collaboration that sets the tone for creative regional revitalization.  The Mississippi Arts Commission is committed to the task of assisting our Gulf Coast arts community in the rebuilding process, while establishing the importance of investing in the creative economy” stated Malcolm White, Executive Director of MAC. 

The Business Recovery Program includes the Business Recovery Grant and a series of workshops and seminars customized to the art profession.  The Business Recovery Grant, administered by MAC, will provide $5,000 for the purchase of tangible tools, equipment and supplies necessary for the creation and/or sale of arts or crafts. The series of workshops will be available to all qualifying applicants and will include business plan development, accounting practices, insurance needs, and other pertinent information tailored to fit “art as business”. 

To be eligible for the Business Recovery Program, artists and craftsmen must have been self-employed and in business in the lower six counties of Mississippi (Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, George and Stone) prior to August 29, 2005.  Applicants will be required to attend one orientation session at their local WIN Job Center and federal eligibility will be determined at this time.  Following this assessment process, qualified candidates may apply to the Mississippi Arts Commission for the Business Recovery Grant.  The application form, including detailed instructions, is available on the MAC website at http://www.arts.state.ms.us/.  The deadline for submission has been extended to September 1, 2006.

Required orientation sessions will be offered at the following WIN Job Centers:

  • July 20               Bay St. Louis – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Library in Bay St. Louis)
  • July 26               Gulfport – 10:00 am to 12 noon
  • August 4             Pascagoula – 10:00 am to 12 noon
  • August 16           Biloxi – 10:00 am to 12 noon
  • August 26           Bay St. Louis – 10:00 am to 12 noon

If the applicant has previously met with a WIN Job Center representative, attendance to one of the sessions listed above is still required. To learn more about this opportunity, contact Sallye Killebrew at the Mississippi Arts Commission at 601/359-6030, stormrelief@arts.state.ms.us or by visiting the agency’s website.

The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency, funded by the Mississippi legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wallace Foundation and other private sources.  MAC is the official grants making and service agency for the arts in

Mississippi. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.

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