11/16/23

 The Museum of the Mississippi Delta is the recipient of a $200,000.00 grant to repair its roof, acoustic tile ceilings, and build an art storage system. 

 The Mississippi Arts Commission Building Fund for the Arts awarded $120,000 to the Museum after Jimmy Henderson, long-time Greenwood Developer, and former Museum board member, generously donated $80,000.00. Without Henderson’s 40% match, it is unlikely the museum would have secured the grant. His donation showed the grant panel that the museum has the local support it needs to see these repairs and new construction through to fruition.

 “This is an amazing gift from Mr. Henderson, and it is a lot of the reason we received the grant. Without this money in our account, we may have been passed over,” said Lisa Cookston, director of the Museum of the Mississippi Delta. “We are so grateful Mr. Henderson understands the importance of a well-maintained cultural site like our museum.”

 Henderson was a 1974 charter member of the Century Club that gave $1000.00 per person to help move then Cottonlandia from downtown to its current home on Highway 82. Now almost 50 years later, he is dedicated to seeing the Museum of the Mississippi Delta continue to thrive.

 “The BFA program is an important part of enhancing and supporting the creative economy in Mississippi,” said David Lewis, Executive Director of MAC. “The grants from this program reach well beyond the receiving organization – impacting and uplifting the deserving communities that these facilities will serve.

 Repairs and construction will begin in spring 2024.

“Art, archaeology, agriculture, antiques and animals are all focuses at the Museum of the Mississippi Delta in Greenwood.”

– Today in Mississippi

“The Museum now houses one of the largest collection of two- and three-dimensional art in the Delta made by many prominent Mississippi artists including Theora Hamblett, Marie Hull, Maude Schuyler Clay, Jane Rule Burdine, Streater Odom Spencer, Earl Robinson and Saul Hammonds.”

–THE MISSISSIPPI VISUAL ARTS DIRECTORY

For on-going updates on the Museum visit our local newspaper the Greenwood Commonwealth.

-Greenwood Commonwealth