From press and staff reports
Kosciusko and Attala County will see significant investment in their arts infrastructure thanks to new funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC). The agency announced this week that it has awarded $4 million to 17 arts organizations in 14 counties through its Building Fund for the Arts (BFA) grant program for fiscal year 2026.
Among the recipients are two Attala County organizations: the Arts Foundation of Kosciusko, which received $415,530 to complete the final phase of renovations at the L.V. Hull Legacy Center, and the Kosciusko Foundation for Excellence in Education, awarded $324,000 to rebuild accessible restrooms at the Skipworth Performing Arts Center.
The grants are part of MAC’s ongoing effort to support repair, renovation, expansion, and construction of facilities that serve as year-round sites for arts programming in communities across the state.
“MAC and our grantees are grateful to the Mississippi Legislature for prioritizing funding for the Building Fund for the Arts grant each year,” said David Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. “Mississippi communities continue to demonstrate a strong need for this type of support, while maintaining the ability to execute projects at a high level and with high impact. We are excited to see these grant dollars put to good use through the investment in Mississippi’s creative communities.”
The L.V. Hull Legacy Center, located near downtown Kosciusko, celebrates the life and work of the late folk artist L.V. Hull, whose vibrant, found-object art gained national recognition. Renovations to the center have been ongoing, transforming Hull’s home into a community arts and cultural destination.
The Skipworth Performing Arts Center, located on the Kosciusko School campus, has become a hub for local performances, school productions, and regional arts events. The improvements funded by this grant will enhance accessibility and comfort for patrons and performers alike.
Other recipients across Mississippi include the University of Mississippi Research Foundation and Yoknapatawpha Arts Council in Lafayette County, the Foundation for Mississippi History in Hinds County, and the Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art in Forrest County, among others.
MAC received 40 letters of intent this year, totaling $8.8 million in funding requests. Awards were determined by a panel of arts, design, architecture, and nonprofit management experts, who evaluated submissions on artistic quality, project planning, professional involvement, organizational capacity, and community impact.
Grant recipients have two years to complete their projects. MAC officials said they hope to continue offering the Building Fund for the Arts grant program in future years, contingent on funding from the Mississippi Legislature.
For more information about the Building Fund for the Arts and other grant opportunities, visit arts.ms.gov/build.
