Celebrating Mississippi’s artists, musicians, and writers
Each year the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters honors creative individuals with an award in their specific field.
The prestigious awards, first made in 1980, are presented in nine categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, Life Writing, Youth Literature, Visual Art, Music Composition (Classical), Music Composition (Contemporary), 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 and members, MIAL is privately funded, self-perpetuating, and non-profit.
In 1978, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters (MIAL) 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 Dockery 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. To see a list of Charter Members, click here.
Shown above are the 2023 award winners: (top, left to right): Johnny Rawls, Coulter Fussell, Berkley Hudson, Linda Williams Jackson, Robert S. McElvaine, and Sarah Adlakha; (bottom, left to right): Tupelo Reads, David Rae Morris, Panny Flautt Mayfield, Steve Rouse, and Melissa Ginsburg.
For a list of all past presidents click here.
The prestigious awards, first made in 1980, are presented in nine categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, Life Writing, Youth Literature, Visual Art, Music Composition (Classical), Music Composition (Contemporary), 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 and members, MIAL is privately funded, self-perpetuating, and non-profit.
In 1978, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters (MIAL) 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 Dockery 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. To see a list of Charter Members, click here.
Shown above are the 2023 award winners: (top, left to right): Johnny Rawls, Coulter Fussell, Berkley Hudson, Linda Williams Jackson, Robert S. McElvaine, and Sarah Adlakha; (bottom, left to right): Tupelo Reads, David Rae Morris, Panny Flautt Mayfield, Steve Rouse, and Melissa Ginsburg.
For a list of all past presidents click here.
Pictured are members of the 2022–2023 MIAL Board of Governors: (front row, L to R): Jan Taylor, Jackson; Jean Medley, Jackson, JoAnne Morris, Jackson; Laura Howell, Leland: (2nd row, L to R) Ann Abadie, Oxford; Mary Thompson, Clarksdale; Margaret Anne Robbins, Pontotoc; Marion Barnwell, Jackson; Traci Stover, Hattiesburg; (3rd row, L to R); Bridgett Pieschel, Columbus; Sarah Frances Hardy, Oxford; Kim Rushing, Cleveland; Lawrence Deas, Jackson; Ted Atkinson, Starkville; and David Beckley, Holly Springs. Not pictured: George Bassi, Laurel; Talamieka Brice, Ridgeland; Nancy Guice, Laurel; Donzell
Lee, Alcorn; Ebony Lumumba, Jackson; Scott Naugle, Pass Christian; Julian Rankin, Ocean Springs; James. G. Thomas, Jr., Oxford; Mark Wiggs, Jackson; Aubrey Lucas, (Emeritus); Hattiesburg; Sandra Shellnut (Emerita), Pass Christian; and Swan Yerger (Emeritus), Fairhope. Several joined the meeting virtually, making this our first "hybrid" meeting.
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Officers for 2022-2023: (top, L to R): Margaret Robbins, Executive Secretary; Jan Taylor, Treasurer; Nancy Guice, Archivist; Sarah Frances Hardy, Immediate Past President; Traci Stover, President.
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Virtual Board of Governors meeting September 15, 2021.
2019 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. All rights reserved.