In 1978, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters was dreamed up by a few discerning individuals, including former Governor William Winter and Dr. Cora Norman both of Jackson, Dr. Aubrey Lucas and Dr. Noel Polk both of Hattiesburg, and Mrs. Keith McLean of Cleveland. These founding members knew that among Mississippi's greatest riches are our artists, writers, and musicians, who must be supported, nurtured, and recognized.

The prestigious awards, first made in 1980, are presented in seven categories, Fiction, Non-fiction, Visual Art, Musical Composition (Concert), Musical Composition (Popular), Photography, and Poetry.

The Institute's juried competition is one of a kind in the state. Our carefully selected judges, chosen from out of state, are prominent in their field. Supported by Mississippi Institutes of Higher Learning, MIAL is privately funded, self-perpetuating and non-profit.

Each annual awards gala, hosted by various cities around the state, is unique. Among past highlights was a 1983 banquet theme based on Aristophanes's The Frogs, a satiric literary competition. Another year, the Muses were the theme, based on the Institute's logo, created by Terry Simmons. In 2002, Walter Anderson's intricate flora and fauna painted on the walls of the Ocean Springs Civic Center were backdrop for violinist Michael Kimber, that year's winner for Musical Composition. In 2003, a festive brunch was held at historic Fairview Inn in Jackson. In honor of the Institute's Silver Anniversary Celebration, along with current winners, all past winners were recognized and feted at palatial Stanton Hall in Natchez.

In accepting her 2003 Poetry award, Natasha Trethewey eloquently expressed the sentiments of many winners. "Today, I am so delighted by this honor," she said, "because I know that it means you have welcomed me back home as daughter. I'm lucky to be from Mississippi, and I write because I want to make sense of and tell a fuller story of our rich and troubled past."