Hattiesburg artisans are among those from across the state who have been awarded grants from the Mississippi Arts Commission.
The MAC awarded nearly $1.4 million in funding to artists and arts programs across the state for fiscal year 2020, which began July 1.
Awards were made in 80 Mississippi House of Representatives districts and 43 state Senate districts, to 174 organizations and schools and to 82 individual artists. Recipients will benefit in a number of ways, including operating support for museums and community arts centers, arts integration and guest artist presentations in schools and continuing education and supplies for working artists.
Nicholas Ciraldo, Steve Coleman, Marcus Michels and Kevin Vanek, all of Hattiesburg, received Individual Artist Fellowship grant totaling $4,000 each. Ciraldo’s grant is for a performing artist fellowship in classic guitar while Coleman’s is for a visual artist fellowship in photography. Vanek’s is for sculpture while Michels’ fellowship is for painting and will be used to purchase painting materials.
Michels, who received an MFA for painting from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2004, had had his work exhibited in several solo exhibitions and two-person exhibits, as well as numerous international juried, national juried and invitational exhibitions. His work has also been published in international juried annuals of contemporary painting. Michels works from his studio in Hattiesburg.
"I construct original compositions based on direct observation of forms in nature,” Michels said. “Specially, my work involves the figure in an interior/studio environment. My paintings are a response to the formal relationships between the elements of color, light and shape. The gesture of the figure adds a sense of fluidity and ties together the formal elements of the composition in a way that engages our own sense of movement and physicality.”
Hattiesburg’s Rachel Taratoot Ciraldo is the recipient of an Individual Artist Roster Approved grant in flute and guitar.
Receiving organization project grants were Oak Grove Primary School, $4,400 to continue arts integrated instruction and William Carey University Opera and Musical Theatre, $4,400 to support Piazza Arts Days.
The Hattiesburg Arts Council, Inc. received a $20,000 organization operating grant, which was a two-year application.
According to HAC executive director Rebekah Stark-Johnson, this coming year HAC will receive $15,400 for the second year of its two-year grant.
“Unfortunately we received $2,000 less this year than last year,” Johnson said. “It is my understanding that there were fewer funds for MS Art Commission to disburse. “
She said with the continued support from corporate and private funds combined with funds from The City of Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation, and Forrest County, HAC will continue to provide professionally- led arts programming for the Pine Belt area.
“The MS Arts Commission has always been supportive of the Hattiesburg Arts Council’s ability to provide our community with access to the arts,” Johnson said. “The funds from the MAC grant allows the Arts Council to integrate art activities year round into the daily lives of all those they serve.”
This year HAC is exposing the community to a variety of arts disciplines – a professional development workshop with Dr. Mark Malone; fine art exhibit of Heidi Pitre, Traci Stover, Lynn Joddrell and William Baggett; five fabulous Brown Bag Concerts at City Hall-Thursdays in October; Coffee talks with William Baggett and Jennifer Courts; Emerging Artist and High School exhibits; Amateur Photo Competition; Saenger Theater program for schools, and a Teen Music and recording competition, “Put Me in the Mix."
HAC will swing into spring with a Vintage Tea Dance in April and a Cinco de Mayo celebration and photo exhibit of board member and MAC fellowship artist Steve Coleman. HAC smART Space outreach extends to groups at CE Roy Community Center, Earl Travillion, Arc Rise and Shine, and area drug court programs.
The Hattiesburg Concert Association, which put on of FestivalSouth each summer, was awarded a $21,600 operating grant.
“Congratulations to the many deserving individuals and groups who received grants this year,” said Malcolm White, executive director of MAC. “One of the most important ways MAC supports the arts in Mississippi is through awarding grants to artists and organizations. In fact, half of MAC’s annual funding is distributed to communities and individuals across the state each year to directly invest in the state’s arts and culture.”
