Officials from the Petal Arts Council recently got quite a sizable boost for the Petal Arts Trail – certain sites throughout the city that highlight photography, murals, paintings, pottery and other works of art throughout the city – thanks to a $5,000 donation from the Forrest County Board of Supervisors.
The gift was given at the June 19 board meeting, when District 3 Supervisor Burkett Ross made the motion to pass the measure, at which point it was approved by the rest of the board.
Currently, arts council officials hope to have a ribbon cutting for the trail, or a “grand opening” ceremony, set tentatively for July 1.
“These funds will be used to make the arts trail really nice; it’s an absolute help,” said Libby Everett, president and founding member of the Petal Arts Council. “We have had great participation from other sponsors in Petal – they’ve done everything from offer us facilities at a free or reduced rate, they have donated décor for (events) we’ve held.
“We don’t have a very big budget … but this art trail is a really nice thing for the city, and so this money is going to go specifically for this trail.”
The $5,000 from the board of supervisors consists of the following items:
- Signage for locations: $2,000 for metal-frame outdoor signs, window signs and metal signs for murals;
- Exhibit premier events/meet the artists (hosted quarterly): $1,600 for refreshments, printing, easels and displays;
- Displays for locations: $500 for gallery-style hanging systems and pedestals;
- Printing: Brochures, maps, program inserts and prizes; and
- Advertising: $400 for a strategic social media campaign.
“We already have some art up, but we’ll have an actual start date on (that day), Everett said. “We have several businesses lined up already, and we have several artists lined up already who are anxious to have their art seen.
“And the businesses are anxious to have the art in their business.”
Rotating exhibits on the trail include South Miss Hotdogs and Handpies, Savvy Sisters – Beyond Blessed Gifts, Grand Central Outfitters and the Petal Libray. Featured artists will include, but not be limited to professional photographer Cayla Camp Burns and Jodie Brickson, who serves as vice president and project coordinator for the arts council.
Current projects for the Petal Arts Council include, but are not limited to:
- Monthly gatherings that began in August 2022.These offer network and engagement opportunities for artists and community members and are open for public attendance;
- The Festival of Trees, which every December displays Christmas trees at Hinton Park behind Petal Civic Center. That initiative has raised $1,000 through donations and by renting trees to local businesses; and
- Petal FAM Jam, a local food, arts and music festival held in downtown Petal twice a year.
Current goals of the arts council include offering educational opportunities for children and adults to enhance understanding and appreciation of the arts; creating an environment for artists to network and thrive; providing scholarships for outstanding artists; and securing a permanent location for a gallery, office and performance theater.
Current fundraising and sponsorships for the council include $4,000 from the City of Petal for the use of the Magnolia Room at the civic center; $2,000 from private donors at a silent auction fundraiser; $2,000 from Blackbird Creations for sound equipment and a sound engineer for all four of the organization’s quarterly premier events; and $1,240 for summer art class fees.
“It’s very exciting that this ($5,000 donation) from the board of supervisors is a way to visibly reflect their support of the arts in the community,” Brickson said. “One of the things that I’m most excited about the (arts trail) project is the impact it’ll have in Petal for local artists, as well as local businesses.
“We’ve actually already seen that trickle-down effect, with having something new in a business that’s already increased the traffic to the businesses that we have exhibits in. It’s increased the community feel and the partnerships that we have with local businesses, because several of them are wanting to host art classes now. So I think it’s going to grow into something really special.”
