Our Mission
The mission of the Starkville Area Arts Council is to promote the essential value of the arts - music, dance, theater, literature, and visual arts - for the cultural, educational, social, ethnic, and economic vitality of the Starkville Area.

Our Function
The Starkville Area Arts Council program of work includes:

• Sponsorship of events such as the Cotton District Arts Festival, Art in Public Places, Art in the Garden, the annual Gala, Everything Garden Expo and others;
• Promotion of arts education through scholarships for art students, art education projects, grants to art-related organizations, and others;
• Publication of the quarterly SAAC News.

Accomplishments & Goals
Goals for 2008-2012

• Raise the cultural bar in Starkville
• Enhance Internet Presence
• Increase Membership by 20% annually
• Achieve 25% annual growth of the Cotton District Arts Festival
• Extend Outreach of the Art in Public Places Committee
• Extend Educational Outreach through work in area schools
• Publish The Arts Quarterly
• Provide additional SAAC Grants to Starkville Area Students
• Sponsor Visiting Artists to work in conjunction with MSU, the community, and area schools
• Enhance the vitality of the Culinary and Garden Arts

Estimated Budget Required to Fund Proposed Activities: $175,000

2007-2008 Accomplishments

• Successful initial launch of the Everything Garden Expo
• 40% increase in attendence of Cotton District Arts Festival(28,000+people)
• Completed new website for enhanced internet presence
• Extrememly successful annual events: StarShine, Gala, Magnolia Film Cotton District Arts Festival,  Everything Garden Expo and Art in the Garden
• Record funds received through grants and fundraising
• Provided  scholarships to Starkville area students (elementary thru college bound)
• Supported Starkville Reads,Heritage Museum, SCT, Starkville/MSU Symphony and many others through SAAC Art Grants
• Provided art education grants to area elementary and high schools
• Increased membership
• Increase in Art in Public Places exhibit locations
• Published The Arts Quarterly Newsletter
• 2009 Cotton District Arts Festival recipient of 3 awards