This fall, the Mississippi Children’s Museum (MCM) will be
joining in celebrating the state’s 200th birthday with its own series of events, including one specifically aimed at providing an opportunity for children to reflect on, and celebrate the past,
present and future of Mississippi through the arts.
MCM has partnered with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), the Office of Governor Phil Bryant and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to solicit a call for submissions from K-12 students in the areas of visual arts,
music and poetry. MDAH will be providing online historical resources for participating students to use in their research and inspiration. These submissions will be judged by a panel of community
experts and winners will be announced at a celebration on November 11, 2017 at MCM. MCM Director of Education and Programs Jana Perry, who developed the event and facilitated
these partnerships, notes, “Mississippi is known for its artists, and it is only fitting that the Mississippi Children’s Museum and our partners work together to spark the creative ideas of up and
coming artists in our K-12 schools.
The arts help children cultivate their voice at a young age, and
children of all ages should be given the opportunity to share their voice. This arts competition will give us a glimpse into how our children view the past, present, and future of Mississippi.”
Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, said the MDE supports opportunities for students to participate in the arts as part of a well-rounded education.
Wright said on the competition, “Mississippi is fortunate to have such a rich history in the arts and our schools are
filled with talented students who deserve this chance to showcase their immense talents. I encourage students to submit their work for consideration and well-deserved recognition.”
Winners in each category will receive state-wide recognition and a variety of prizes from each partner organization.
This includes dinner at the Governor’s Mansion and a tour of the new Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History. Students, educators or families
interested in the competition can learn more by visiting mschildrensmuseum.org/events/bicentennial where they can find guidelines, prompts and nomination forms.
