CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University’s Fielding Wright Art Center has been awarded a $40,500 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC). This grant is a 60% – 40% match grant with 60% of the funds provided by the Mississippi Arts Commission and a 40% cash match raised through supporters’ generous donations. This project is supported by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in the state of Mississippi.
The MAC grant will support renovating the gallery and installing new exhibition walls. The gallery has not been updated since it was established in the early 1990s. At that time so-called self-healing walls consisting of fabric-covered particle board were installed. Due to decades of use, the walls have begun to show signs of deterioration. The renovation will replace the old wall system with standard gallery walls that will provide more flexibility for installing artwork as well as using the walls as projection screens.
“We are immensely grateful for the support of the Mississippi Arts Commission,” said Dr. Michaela Merryday, director of the center. “Renovating the gallery has been on our wish list for several years. We consider ourselves fortunate for having the generous and loyal support of art patrons who attend our programming, sponsor awards for student exhibitions and contributed to the matching funds for this grant.”
The gallery’s goal is to support the educational mission of the university, enrich the aesthetic environment of the community, and serve as a cultural resource for the Mississippi Delta. With a focus on curating innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions of contemporary art, the gallery seeks to promote the understanding of and extend the audience for contemporary art.
Merryday said, “By obtaining the funds from the MAC grant we are able to support renovation of the Fielding Wright Art Center. The renovation project has begun, and our goal is to complete the project by February 1, 2024.”
The MAC serves the residents of the state by providing grants that support programs to enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote the arts in education, and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. Established in 1968, the MAC is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation for Mississippi and other private sources. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and arts education.
For information about the Fielding Wright Art Center and their exhibition schedule, visit www.deltastate.edu/art/wright-center-art-gallery, or contact Dr. Michaela Merryday, Director, Fielding Wright Art Center Gallery or Cetin Oguz, DSU Art Department Chair.
