The Mississippi Arts Commission Announces Six 2025 Governor's Arts Awards Recipients

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC)has announced the recipients of the 2025 Governor's Arts Awards. For 37 years, MAC has hosted the Governor's Arts Awards in partnership with the Governor's Office. The Governor's Arts Awards are given to both individuals and organizations that have contributed to the arts in Mississippi or produced exceptional work.

According to a press release from the Mississippi Arts Commission, the 2025 Lifetime Achivement Award recipient is Walt Grayson. Tate Taylor received the Excellence in Motion Picture Award, while Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band received the Excelleve in Traditional Arts Award. Robert Poore received the Excellence in Visual Arts and Landscape Architecture Award. The Excellence in Music Award recipient is Eddie Cotton, Jr., and Jane C. Hiatt received the Stephen C. Edds Patron of the Arts Award.

2025 Governor's Arts Awards RecipientsPhoto byMississippi Arts Commission

The 2025 recipients of the Govenor's Arts Awards will be recognized on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The 37th Governor's Arts Awards Ceremony will take place at the Two Mississippi Musuem in downtown Jackson, with a public reception at 4:30 p.m. prior to the ceremony.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting and MAC will partner to record and broadcast the award ceremony, which will air later in February 2025, according to the press release.

The public is given the opportunity to nominate award recipients, who are tehn chosen by a committee. The committee consists of arts leaders in the community, as well as industry peers. Though recipients do not have to reside in the state, they are required to have substantial ties to Mississippi through some years of residency.

For more information, please visit www.arts.ms.gov.