MAC Underserved Initiative Grant Program

MAC Underserved Initiative Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Mississippi Arts Commission
Last Updated: July 21, 2025

Summary

The MAC Underserved Initiative Grant Program aims to enhance access to quality arts programming across all 82 counties in Mississippi. By identifying underserved areas that lack recent grants or services, the Mississippi Arts Commission facilitates outreach and support for local arts initiatives. This program not only promotes cultural engagement but also fosters community development and collaboration among various organizations, ensuring that all citizens can participate in diverse artistic experiences.

Overview

Agency Overview The Mississippi Arts Commission was established in 1968 by the Mississippi Legislature as the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in the state. MAC provides financial and technical assistance for arts programming to arts organizations and educational institutions throughout Mississippi. Funded annually by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and private funds, MAC uses this support to carry forth its mission and continues to act as a core and essential function of government. Government support for the arts plays a critical role in the creative sector. This type of support: Provides for the inclusion of all citizens in diverse artistic experiences; Ties arts to economic development through partnerships and collaborations; Offers credibility and insists on accountability; Ensures openness of decision-making; and Provides leadership in cultural policies. MAC is the public agency that serves as a catalyst for private support of the arts. MAC operates both an administrative side and a programmatic side. The administrative side consists of the executive and deputy directors, the fiscal officer, the systems administrator, the communications director and the executive assistant. The programmatic side consists of directors over the following areas: Arts-Based Community Development, Arts Education, Arts Industry, Folk & Traditional Arts, the Whole Schools Initiative and various special initiatives. The role of MAC goes beyond grants-making. To serve as a catalyst for arts development at the local level, MAC seeks to: Foster networks of local leaders, artists of all disciplines, arts volunteers and patrons; Consult on community arts development, performing, visual and literary arts, folk arts, and arts education; Provide training in arts management, arts education planning, arts facilities planning and community-wide cultural planning; and Promote broad-based public awareness of the importance of the arts in education and community life. Through the arts, diverse communities of all sizes can better identify shared values, create vibrant public spaces, and enhance the effectiveness of schools. The arts also attract visitors who leave with a strong, positive image of Mississippi. Fostering excellence in the arts provides the inspiration to generate a higher quality of life for all citizens. Underserved Initiative To ensure more equitable access to the arts throughout the state, the Mississippi Arts Commission identifies counties that have not recently received grants or services from MAC and provides direct outreach to locations in those counties to help facilitate arts programming and/or funding. MAC considers these counties “underserved.” The purpose of this special initiative is to provide access to quality arts programming in all 82 Mississippi counties and encourage potential grantees in underserved counties to take advantage of opportunities offered through the agency.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. If you represent a school, university, library, chamber of commerce, main street organization, local arts council, community organization, or other nonprofit organization in an underserved county, you can contact MAC for more information about projects which may be eligible for grant support. MAC program directors are also available to come to your community and educate individual artists and non-profit organizations about grants and services available through the Mississippi Arts Commission.Underserved Counties = 6 years or more since last MAC grantAmiteClarkeItawambaJefferson DavisTishomingoWinston