Creativity and Mississippi go together like sweet tea and the front porch. The state is responsible for the Blues, the King, and William Faulkner, after all (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to incredibly talented Mississippians). The state’s distinct geographic regions and rich history have resulted in some amazing creations. So, whether you’re looking for creative inspiration or just want to immerse yourself in the world of the arts, these 10 places are worth checking out.
- The Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, Ridgeland
Craftsmen’s Guild of MS/Facebook
Craftsmen’s Guild of MS/Facebook Since its inception in 1973, the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi has grown exponentially – so much so that it now takes up a 20,000 square foot building, which is filled with a retail gallery, museum, education center, art referral agency, community gathering place, and a visitor’s center.
- The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Gulfport
lmdc.org
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center/Facebook Voted one of the top 50 children’s museums in the entire country, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center educates children through interactive exhibits, unique classes, and art-related activities.
- Oxford
Ken Lund/Flickr This creative melting pot of a city has so much going on that selecting one particular place was practically impossible! From its robust literary history to its thriving and diverse music scene to the small shops, museums, and galleries that fill the town, Oxford is a creative person’s dream come true.
- Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson
Mississippi Museum of Art/Facebook The award-winning museum offers a wide range of exhibitions, educational programs, and a continuously growing permanent collection. And since the museum encourages the merging of artistic disciplines, such as visual art, literature, and music, through a variety of events, visitors can experience the arts in an entirely new way.
- Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi
Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art/Facebook Designed by architect Frank Gehry and named after the self-proclaimed “Mad Potter of Biloxi,” George Ohr, this museum has become synonymous with combining art, architecture, history, and landscape, even being acknowledged by TIME magazine as one of the top five architectural designs in the world.
- Holly Springs
Visit Mississippi/Flickr Included in GardenandGun.com’s list of the most creative southern towns, Holly Springs has a lot to offer when it comes to the arts. In addition to numerous music-inspired events, such as weekly Blues concerts, the town is also home to the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum and Cultural Center of African American History, which offers exhibits, membership lectures, multi-cultural, family, and community programs, and dramatic theater.
- Columbus
Visit Columbus/Facebook Visitors to this historic small town can enjoy classic southern architecture, a vibrant downtown, and the annual Decorative Arts and Preservation Forum and Antiques Show and Sale. The yearly event brings together historians, authors, floral designers, educators, and antique dealers for three days of programs that celebrate “the arts, culture, and rich heritage of Columbus.”
- Arts in the Alley, Olive Branch
obarts.com Sponsored by Olive Branch Arts Council, Arts in the Alley is held in the city’s Old Towne area. Free to attend, the outdoor art gallery is open year-round.
- Mississippi International Film Festival, Jackson
msfilm.org For the past six years, the Mississippi International Film Festival has brought together both international and domestic Indie films and filmmakers. The annual event not only brings the art of film to Mississippi but has also attracts a number of special guests, which, over the years, have included Lance Bass, Danny Glover, James Meredith, The Freedom Riders, Captain Clegg, and the Night Creatures.
- The Caron Gallery, Tupelo
The Caron Gallery/Tupelo Located in downtown Tupelo, the Caron Gallery’s showroom is filled with incredible works of art - which are all the products of talented Mississippi natives. In addition to artwork in a variety of mediums, the gallery also offers services such as a bridal registry, custom framing, and in-home art consulting.
So, do you feel inspired? Visited any of the places listed? What are some other places in Mississippi perfect for all those creative people out there? Tell us in the comments section below.
Craftsmen’s Guild of MS/Facebook
Since its inception in 1973, the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi has grown exponentially – so much so that it now takes up a 20,000 square foot building, which is filled with a retail gallery, museum, education center, art referral agency, community gathering place, and a visitor’s center.
lmdc.org
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center/Facebook
Voted one of the top 50 children’s museums in the entire country, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center educates children through interactive exhibits, unique classes, and art-related activities.
Ken Lund/Flickr
This creative melting pot of a city has so much going on that selecting one particular place was practically impossible! From its robust literary history to its thriving and diverse music scene to the small shops, museums, and galleries that fill the town, Oxford is a creative person’s dream come true.
Mississippi Museum of Art/Facebook
The award-winning museum offers a wide range of exhibitions, educational programs, and a continuously growing permanent collection. And since the museum encourages the merging of artistic disciplines, such as visual art, literature, and music, through a variety of events, visitors can experience the arts in an entirely new way.
Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art/Facebook
Designed by architect Frank Gehry and named after the self-proclaimed “Mad Potter of Biloxi,” George Ohr, this museum has become synonymous with combining art, architecture, history, and landscape, even being acknowledged by TIME magazine as one of the top five architectural designs in the world.
Visit Mississippi/Flickr
Included in GardenandGun.com’s list of the most creative southern towns, Holly Springs has a lot to offer when it comes to the arts. In addition to numerous music-inspired events, such as weekly Blues concerts, the town is also home to the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum and Cultural Center of African American History, which offers exhibits, membership lectures, multi-cultural, family, and community programs, and dramatic theater.
Visit Columbus/Facebook
Visitors to this historic small town can enjoy classic southern architecture, a vibrant downtown, and the annual Decorative Arts and Preservation Forum and Antiques Show and Sale. The yearly event brings together historians, authors, floral designers, educators, and antique dealers for three days of programs that celebrate “the arts, culture, and rich heritage of Columbus.”
obarts.com
Sponsored by Olive Branch Arts Council, Arts in the Alley is held in the city’s Old Towne area. Free to attend, the outdoor art gallery is open year-round.
msfilm.org
For the past six years, the Mississippi International Film Festival has brought together both international and domestic Indie films and filmmakers. The annual event not only brings the art of film to Mississippi but has also attracts a number of special guests, which, over the years, have included Lance Bass, Danny Glover, James Meredith, The Freedom Riders, Captain Clegg, and the Night Creatures.
The Caron Gallery/Tupelo
Located in downtown Tupelo, the Caron Gallery’s showroom is filled with incredible works of art - which are all the products of talented Mississippi natives. In addition to artwork in a variety of mediums, the gallery also offers services such as a bridal registry, custom framing, and in-home art consulting.
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