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The Creative Student's Guide to Jackson Art Education and Careers

...for students of art, design, fashion design, photography, film/video, advertising, interior design and other creative field

Visit our Complete Directory of
Jackson Art Schools and Art Colleges!

by C.J. Gustafson
ArtSchools.com Contributing Writer

art schools in Jackson The center of Mississippi government, Jackson is named for Andrew Jackson and was founded in 1821 on the site of a trading post on LeFleur's Bluff. A committee of three chose the bluff over the Pearl River for its "beautiful and healthful surroundings, good water, abundant timber, navigable waters, and its close proximity to the Natchez Trace" (a 440-mile path connecting the Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers).

An exciting mix of history and modernness, Jackson has a population of 184,256 and covers 104.9 sq. miles. Its cultural and ethnic diversity supports a wide range of entertainment activities such as the Scottish Highland Games, the Pioneer and Indian Festival, the Delta Blues Museum, and a feast of Baroque art (as well as a few priceless Old Masters paintings) hosted by the Mississippi Art Pavilion, as part of more than 300 exhibits from eight national museums.

Jackson is a city steeped in culture and arts heritage. It is the home of 30-year music industry veteran, Malaco Records, which calls itself the last soul company. The city was home to Medgar Evans and played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement. Several statues, museums and cultural centers pay tribute to this important part of American history, and the influence of these events are often reflected in the work of local artists.

Arts museums and galleries in Jackson include the Mississippi Museum of Art. The museum's permanent collection includes more than 3,000 pieces spanning thousands of years and is the largest in the state. The Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center is a comprehensive collection of history, art, music and literature of the Black Mississippian experience. Brown's Fine Art and Framing, a family-run business, features the artwork of 30 local artists in its gallery, and the Southern Breeze Gallery is one of the larger galleries in the state with both emerging and established artists from Mississippi. Other local galleries include Bryant Galleries, Gallery 119, Hawkins Art Gallery, Municipal Art Gallery, Nunnery's Gallery, the Artery of Fondren, and over 15 others.

art programs in Jackson There are also many buildings and structures in Jackson that appeal to tourists and architecture students and enthusiasts. The Old Capitol building is a wonderful example of Greek Revival architecture. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Governor's Mansion is the second-oldest residence of its type in the nation. And each year thousands of tourists and photographers flock to Jackson's City Hall to view the distinguished building with its massive columns and graceful lines. The city of Jackson was designed following Thomas Jefferson's "checkerboard" layout with alternating squares for business, residential, and "green space." This results in a pleasant living environment and ensures locations for parks and outdoor activities.

Jackson has several organizations and associations dedicated to supporting the city's arts including the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Mississippi Museums Association. Businesses and groups throughout the city are committed to ensuring the community has artistic and cultural opportunities. They actively promote a wide variety of arts activities including workshops, festivals and exhibits. "Jackson, Mississippi is now associated with some of the most beautiful and educational art exhibitions in the country," said Wanda Collier-Wilson, executive director of the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau in a June 2002 press release.

Art Schools and Programs

art student in Jackson Seven colleges and universities are located within 15 miles of Jackson. Several of them offer arts education programming. Antonelli College - Jackson Branch Campus, Belhaven College, Jackson State University Art Department, and Millsaps College Department of Art are some of the options available to students pursuing Art degrees, Graphic Design degrees, Interior Design degrees, photography careers, advertising careers, and work in the fields of animation and web design.

The Covenant School For The Arts and the Pennebaker Gallery & School of Drawing are two more Jackson schools that offer workshops and classes in the arts, such as drawing, painting, and sculpture.

Jackson is home to numerous graphic design, advertising, architecture and arts businesses that offer employment opportunities for visual arts students. It is filled with sites, events, and historical aspects that serve to inspire and entertain the numerous art students and professionals in the field who have chosen to call the city home.