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Mississippi Arts Commission asks for increased grant funding, staffing and capital support for building fund
Summary
David Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, told the Appropriations Subcommittee the agency seeks greater grant funds, one additional permanent staff position, website upgrades, and $630,000 for the Building Fund for the Arts to support capital projects across the state.
David Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, told the Appropriations Subcommittee the agency’s FY26 requests focus on boosting grant support, adding one permanent staff position, upgrading the agency website to federal accessibility standards and funding the Building Fund for the Arts.
Lewis said the commission’s grants support artists and nonprofit arts organizations statewide through fellowship awards, mini grants, apprenticeships, and a schools program that integrates arts into classroom instruction. He told the committee that the agency’s grant investments yield substantial economic activity — the commission’s analysis showed roughly $32 million in economic activity tied to its grant pool and about 1.9 million people engaged in supported programming.
The commission requested an increase to its grant budget to respond to rising demand and higher costs; Lewis said more grant applications require a larger grant pool to maintain award levels. The agency also sought one additional permanent position by converting a time-limited role and restructuring staff: elevating a grants director to deputy director, converting an executive-assistant/special-programs post into a program director and adding an executive assistant.
On capital, Lewis said the Building Fund for the Arts has invested in museums, theaters and community spaces across the state and requested $630,000 for the fund to support year-round arts venues and leverage additional public and private investment. Lewis also highlighted the Whole Schools program, which he said has produced measurable gains in some participating schools and asked for maintained support for that program.
Ending: Committee members praised the agency’s work and said they would evaluate the requests as revenue projections for the session become clearer; no formal appropriations action was taken at the hearing.
