The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) was born of a state art association by a group of artists and supporters of the arts who organized an exhibition of local art for the 1911 Mississippi State Fair. Enthusiastic about the outcome of that exhibition, the Mississippi Art Association continued to exhibit artwork, established a permanent collection, and became leaders in arts education. Finally, after a building was dedicated in 1978, the Mississippi Museum of Art began operations as an official, professional museum.
In 2007, after a successful $15M capital campaign, MMA moved to its current location, an inviting and open public space that offers relevant and meaningful cultural experiences to both the Jackson community and the state of Mississippi. The architecture of the Museum is a tangible manifestation of a philosophical mission. The architects, Madge Bemiss of Glavé and Holmes in Richmond, Virginia, and Dale & Associates locally, applied this new philosophical mission to the architecture of the building, creating a sleek, open design for the once-rectangular building. The Museum lobby and entryway is filled with light through the use of a large amount of glass and by raising the roof of the entryway. Visitors plainly see, not only the entrance to the Museum, but other visitors inside the building, breaking down barriers, and creating a transparent front door that makes everyone feel welcome.
In Fall 2011, MMA opened The Art Garden at the Museum, a 1.2-acre public green space complete with outdoor art installations, the sprawling BankPlus Green, a performance stage, and various spaces for visitors to engage with the arts in a variety of forms. Adjacent to the Walker Garden, an extraordinary gift from Mrs. Gloria Walker to honor the memory of her late husband, The Art Garden has, from the beginning, been a public-private partnership with the city of Jackson. Numerous private and individual donors, as well as state and federal agencies, contributed to and helped to realize the grand vision. Architect Madge Bemiss oversaw construction, and Robert Poore, landscape architect, carried the torch passed by the late Ed Blake (1947-2010), whose imagination and forward-thinking laid foundations for The Art Garden.
In 2010, MMA received the National Medal for Museum Service from the Institute of Museum of Library Services, a federal agency. The medal is the highest national honor awarded annually to five museums and five libraries. The Mississippi Museum of Art was the only art museum to be recognized with this distinction in 2010. Support and recognition from local, regional, and federal arts organizations serve as reminders of the Museum’s successes, and motivation for continued excellence and innovation.
Employing platforms we know well—exhibitions, public programs, artist residencies, and art acquisitions—MMA established a new initiative to bring together artists and community members to engage in art making, close looking, and conversation for the purpose of increasing understanding and inspiring new narratives around issues of race and equality in contemporary Mississippi. This initiative, the Center for Art and Public Exchange (CAPE), was launched in 2018 with support from founding funder W. K. Kellogg Foundation and subsequent support from Bradley LLP, Henry Luce Foundation, and Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Museum continues to play a pivotal role in the revitalization of downtown Jackson. Situated between Thalia Mara Hall and the Jackson Convention Complex, the Museum and The Art Garden serve as the anchors of Jackson’s cultural district and Downtown Jackson. Visitors to the Jackson Convention Complex will get a grand impression of Mississippi’s creative heritage. Mississippi has always had an abundant supply of creative energy. The Mississippi Museum of Art strives to be a fountainhead attracting people from all walks to discuss the issues and glories of the past and present, while continuing to inspire progress in the future.
Today, nearly 6,000 artworks comprise the Museum’s collection. These vary greatly in terms of place of origin, date, type, and medium. Slightly more than 25% of the permanent collection is comprised of artworks by artists who were or are native of Mississippi and by visiting artists who created memorable visual images of their experiences in the state. With the new strategic plan, MMA is focused diversifying our collection with artwork by women, people of color, and LGTBQIA+ artists.
Post by:
Jana Brady
Director of Marketing