Cultural Affairs
Phone: (601) 485-1944
culturalaffairs@meridianms.org
The City of Meridian Cultural Affairs Coordinator has a variety of duties. The purpose of the division is to serve as a resource to the community to encourage/promote development of festivals, special events, and cultural resources, to work with local art organizations and artists, and to promote and establish awareness of cultural activities in the city.
Click here to view the calendar of events.
City of Meridian Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
The City of Meridian Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is held at the beginning of the Meridian Main Street Merry Meridian Holiday Season promotional presentations. These events are held the last week of November or the first week in December, starting with the Official Tree Lighting Ceremony and finished by the Meridian Downtown Christmas Parade. Due to renovations being made at the City Hall Building, the Official Tree Lighting Ceremony has taken place at Dumont Plaza the last several years with a tree that was selected especially for the Plaza. In 2011, the Official Tree Lighting Ceremony was brought back to City Hall for the lighting of a new 34-foot Animated Christmas tree. This tree was purchased through a Choctaw Tribal Grant for Tourism. The Holiday Season is full of plays, a symphony concert, and events at the MSU Riley Center and various other sites throughout the City. Check the calendar of events for specific details.
Threefoot Art Festival
The mission of the Threefoot Art Festival is to showcase work of exceptional quality and creativity by artists in a variety of mediums. It is our goal to nurture artistic expression by providing an opportunity for artists to share and sell their work; to educate the public about the creative efforts of artists; and to add to the cultural climate and quality of life in the community, state and region.
Main Event
Main Event is a business and industry expo that showcases businesses and industry. Cultural Affairs is on the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation’s Main Event committee. Each year in April the event is held and the entire main stage entertainment is organized and provided by Cultural Affairs/Meridian Council for the Arts. The stage is filled with free local talent from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Meridian Day
Meridian Day at the Neshoba County Fair, billed as the Nation's Giant House Party, is coordinated by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and is held each year on the last Wednesday during the Neshoba County Fair. Politicians and local Meridian residents gather at the fair to partake in a political forum, win door prizes, and in general have a good time. Cultural Affairs is in charge of the City’s participation in Meridian Day. We provide a tent and display that features local Cultural Affairs events that are held throughout the year in Meridian. Cultural Affairs and other City of Meridian Departments also provide various items with the city logo on them to give away to everyone attending Meridian Day.
Around Town Carousels Abound
Cultural Affairs has also helped in the coordination of the fun outdoor public arts project Around Town Carousels Abound. The project is intended to promote community pride and spirit throughout the county, region and state. It excites the creative thought-process of many seasoned and aspiring artists. It encompasses the hard work and association of many volunteers and generous contributions of many carousel horse sponsors.
July 4th Celebration
The day features good food supplied by food vendors, and plenty of fun for children at Bonita Lakes Park, and the evening features the annual fireworks show that is both beautiful and exciting! This event is free to the public and has grown into a fun-filled family day you don’t want to miss.
The Cultural Affairs Division keeps an up to date local calendar of events that is listed on this website as well as distributed to local media and publications. If you have an event that you would like to have submitted, please go to Submit an Event.
Art for Meridian Auction and Dinner
The third annual Art for Meridian Auction and Dinner sponsored by Meridian Council for the Arts Inc. was held on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at Northwood Country Club. The event started at 6:00 p.m. with a Champagne Reception and Art Preview with live entertainment featuring Zena Limerick. The Art Silent Auction was held from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. featuring art work and gifts donated by over 30 local artists and 10 local merchants. Patrons enjoyed dinner together at 8:00 p.m. featuring the presentation of Meridian Council for the Arts Art Patron Awards for 2011. This year’s awards were given to A&B Electric, Inc. and Industrial Electric, Inc. for their dedication to and support of the arts in Meridian/Lauderdale County.
When dinner was finished the Live Art Auction began. The auctioneer this year was based out of Jackson, Mississippi. Ten Mississippi artists’ works were auctioned off representing ten pieces of work. Pieces were donated by Greg Cartmell, Bob Tompkins, Mike French, Maralyn Wilson, Jerry Glasper, Scott Gavin, Offie Oaks, Cindy McDaniel, Peyton Long-Hutchinson, and Ed Snodgrass.
Artwork, music, food, and fun was enjoyed by over ninety art patrons and art enthusiasts during the third annual Art for Meridian Auction and Dinner. This event was a successful fund raiser for the Meridian Council for the Arts and showcased over forty-five Mississippi artists' works. The ten live auction artists also received a percentage of the money received from the auction of their work. The ten artists donated half of the money raised by the live auction to the Meridian Council for the Arts. All of the money raised by the donated silent auction art and merchandise goes to the Meridian Council for the Arts. Money raised from this event will be used by the Meridian Council for the Arts to help fund their Community Arts Grant program and other programs of work of the council. The Community Arts Grant Program makes art projects possible by offering matching grants to non-profit organizations, schools, and individual artists in Meridian/Lauderdale County.
Plan to take part in the fourth annual Art for Meridian Auction and Dinner. It is already in the planning stage and will be an event that you do not want to miss.