The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council provides access to the arts, educational experiences, and cultural programs in rural Mississippi. This ranges from providing program, educational experiences, and hands on workshops for people of all ages. By engaging people in the arts we expand education for the youth of the region, create opportunities for arts that represent the cultural heritage of the region to serve as an economic engine, and enrich lives of all.
Lafayette County, Mississippi is a culturally rich environment sitting on the edge of the Delta and the Hill County. This rural region benefits from the proximity to the University of Mississippi but must secure programs to serve it’s residents. The region is culturally rich and the arts council serves as a focal point to serve the community where 20% of the community is below the poverty level, and the county schools have cut art and music programs from the school budgets.
Create a community arts center that will allow residents access the arts. This may mean providing the opportunity for them to experience the arts, provide the space for artists to create, or work to bring in an element of arts programming that may be missing from the community.
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council is the official arts agency for the City of Oxford and Lafayette County, Mississippi. Established in 1975 the Arts Council is a 501 c 3 organizations that raises funds to support the creative endeavors of local artists, engage the community in programs, and provide experiences the build upon the cultural heritage of the region.
The arts council produces over 315 days of programming each year. In 2006 the Arts Council took over the Powerhouse, a 1928 power generating station, and began the process of repurposing the historic building as a community art space. The building provides space for educational programs, classes, workshops, exhibits and performances. Established with a mission to provide space and support for artist to create and opportunity for the community to be engaged by art of all form the Powerhouse is open to all; and is utilized by all.
The Arts Council produces three arts conferences each year, a nationally recognized art festival, and supports the creative efforts of 20 arts groups covering the visual, performing, film and literary arts.
