Artists from across the Mississippi are invited to participate in the Mississippi Museum of Art’s 2019 Mississippi Invitational, a bi-annual survey of recent works created by contemporary visual artists living and working across the state. Initiated in 1997, the 2019 Mississippi Invitational marks the event’s 12th iteration.
Following the submission period that ends June 30, 2018, submitted work is reviewed by guest curator Kimberli Gant — McKinnon Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia — and a selection of artists who will participate in in-studio visits with the guest curator. Gant will make the final selection of artists and works to be included in the exhibition. The 2019 Mississippi Invitational exhibition will be on view in The Donna and Jim Barksdale Galleries for Changing Exhibitions at the Mississippi Museum of Art from June 29 through Sept. 22, 2019.
In addition to having their work included in the Mississippi Invitational exhibition, chosen artists are eligible to apply for The Jane Crater Hiatt Artist Fellowship — a grant of up to $20,000 that is awarded to one artist to pursue projects which further artistic development and support the realization of specific creative ideas over a period of two years.
The funds may be used to purchase supplies and equipment, conduct research, or travel, and may be used for study with an individual artist or in a studio, workshop or residency setting. Following the conclusion of the two-year grant period, the artist is required to donate one original work of art, chosen from at least five works created during the grant period, to the Museum. The fellowship recipient is announced at a reception for exhibiting artists that takes place before the conclusion of the exhibition. The fellowship was created in 2005 by Jane Crater Hiatt and her late husband Wood (1930-2010) in response to the need to nurture and invigorate the arts within the state.
To submit artwork for review
Only artists who are residents of the state of Mississippi are eligible to submit images. Original works in all media will be considered. Artists must submit PC-formatted JPG images or media files (film, video, performance, installation, etc.), of five works of art (only one image or media file per work) representative of their art style on CD or through msmuseumart.org.
When submitting via CD, full credit information noting the title, date, medium and size of each piece must be (1) included on the CD as a Microsoft Word-compatible file, and (2) included as a printed hard copy with the mailed CD. Do not include artist’s name in the image file names. There is a $20 administrative processing fee. Checks should be made payable to Mississippi Museum of Art. Send all materials (postmarked no later than June 30, 2018) to: 2019 Mississippi Invitational, Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 S. Lamar St., Jackson, MS 39201.
The bi-annual Mississippi Invitational exhibition and catalog are supported in part by the Hiatt-Ingram Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson/Jane Hiatt. Artists with questions may visit msmuseumart.org or contact Museum Curator of Exhibitions Kathleen Varnell at kvarnell@msmuseumart.org or 601-960-1515.