Starkville Area Arts Council

Description

Zines are a kind of hand-made text/art booklet meant for local circulation. They generally take up focused topics that are of relevance to a particular community. As self-published texts, they are generally short and were initially photocopied for circulation. While most zines combine image and text, they can be produced in different ways. Some zines are creative and feature original writing, poetry, and artwork. Others offer critical commentary and resources for marginalized communities. While some makers still prefer to hand-write/draw their zines, newer digital platforms like Canva and Issuu offer possibilities for digital making and publishing. At its heart, the zine is about making knowledge accessible, particularly in marginalized communities that are not represented well in mainstream publishing.

Theme

The theme for the Mississippi Zine Fest is all things Mississippi. Whether inspired by current or past events, places, or people, it should be evident that the zine is inspired by Mississippi. Fictional as well as non-fictional depictions will be accepted.

Guidelines

• Applicants must submit at least one example of their zine.
• Applicants must be residents of Mississippi or have some connection to Mississippi (i.e. family lives in Mississippi, have past history in Mississippi, etc).

Starkville Area Arts Council is looking for Interns for our revamped Internship Program. We are now offering our regular Communications Internship, as well as an Artist Internship and Office and Gallery Assistant Internship. 

These roles may be adjusted as needed, and each internship will have the opportunity to write one or more blog articles on arts-related topics. Preference is given to current MSU undergraduates. This position is currently unpaid, but may be eligible for academic credit. Responsibilities and duties are listed below under each internship type. 

General Requirements -

• Excellent verbal/writing skills.
• Efficient problem-solving skills.
• Enthusiasm for the role as well as the mission of SAAC.
• 10 hours/week for an academic term, but flexible with student’s schedule.

For 2022-2023, there are 1-3 positions available.

SAAC Internship Job Descriptions for 2022-2023

Communications Internship

Communications interns will be responsible for helping draft, schedule, and manage social media and email communications on Network for Good as well as assist with basic office duties.

1. Responsibilities:
   1. Communications Duties
      1. Draft social media posts for the Starkville Area Arts Council and Cotton District Arts Festival (as needed)
         1. Note: All posts must be approved before scheduling
      2. Draft Newsletter and other emailed communications for events and activities as needed in Network for Good
      3. Assist with Annual Report
   2. SAAC Office Duties
      1. Be able to be present during SAAC hours ( M-F, 9-5) to greet visitors and customers and answer questions about SAAC and our programming.
      2. Answer phone
      3. Take payments for SAAC Artist Store, AiPP purchases, Donations (NFG)

Artist Internship

Artist Interns will be responsible for some basic office and retail duties as needed with the incentive of having a space to produce their art during SAAC hours.

1. Responsibilities
   1. Assist with strategizing workshops and programming for The Workshop
   2. Help recruit additional artists
   3. SAAC Office Duties
      1. Be able to be present during SAAC hours ( M-F, 9-5) to greet visitors and customers and answer questions about SAAC and our programming when SAAC staff/other interns are not present.
      2. Answer phone when SAAC staff/other interns are not present
      3. Take payments for SAAC Artist Store, AiPP purchases, Donations (NFG) when SAAC staff/other interns are not present.
2. Artist Perks:
   1. Space in the Workshop area to set up a small artist space to work on projects during SAAC hours.

Office and Gallery Assistant Intern

The Office and Gallery Assistant will be responsible for basic office duties as well as assisting SAAC arrange exhibits, pop-up shops/exhibits and helping curate, arrange, hang shows and other works.

1. SAAC Office Duties
   1. Be able to be present during SAAC hours ( M-F, 9-5) to greet visitors and customers and answer questions about SAAC and our programming.
   2. Answer phone
   3. Take payments for SAAC Artist Store, AiPP purchases, Donations (NFG)
2. Gallery Duties
   1. Assist SAAC Staff and AiPP Volunteers with curating and arranging AiPP, Artist Store, and other Gallery works at SAAC office (and Partnership Lobby?)
   2. Assist with strategizing pop-up exhibits and other gallery programming for the Gallery space

This application is for consideration for SAAC's new SAAC Artist Store. 

About the SAAC Artist Store: 

SAAC has moved to a new space on Main Street in Downtown Starkville! With a greater Main Street presence, we'd like to share this opportunity with artists in town who would like to sell their unique artwork in our space.  Our space is limited to 6 artisans at a time, so reserve your spot today! 

The SAAC Artist Store will be open during SAAC business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm, excluding Holidays). SAAC handles all sales, taxes, and payments to artists. Specific rules and information can be found below.

Rules and Important Notes: PLEASE READ THOSE BEFORE APPLYING. 

• All forms of work are eligible for acceptance, including but not  limited to: Ceramics, Graphics, Jewelry, Literary Materials, Painting, Sculpture, and Traditional Crafts (including but not =limited to woodworking, candle-making, fiber arts, etc.)
• 1 shelf per artisan. Space is Limited to 6 artisans total. Shelf dimensions are H 21.5 in x W 57 in x D 26 in. Larger works may be accepted (Please notify SAAC). All works must be for sale. All works must be original by the artist contracted with SAAC.
• Artists will receive 60% commission of sales for works sold on their shelf. A 40% sales commission will be assessed against the retail price provided by the ARTIST. The ARTIST will be paid the gross, less commission and sales tax, on or about the 10th of the month following the month of sale. 
• SAAC only provides space to the ARTIST. The ARTIST will need to supply any and all decorations, business cards, signage, etc. for their booth. 
• Artists may change inventory at any time (by appointment with SAAC) to reflect new work, holidays, seasons, etc. Artist must provide SAAC with an updated Inventory Sheet upon any changes made to inventory.
• Space occupancy is first come first serve. Terms may be for 6 or 12 months, which may be reassessed at the end of the term. 
• All accepted artists must follow our Community Engagment Policy (available on our website). 
• A blank Letter of Agreement and Terms and Conditions can be found on our website (www.starkvillearts.net). 

If you still have questions after reading the instructions, please send an email to Juliette at arts@starkvillearts.org. If you have technical issues with the application form itself, contact Submittable by clicking the "?" in the upper right or lower left of the form.

Acceptance Notes
All applications will be reviewed for acceptance by SAAC Staff and our current Board President.  IF ADMITTED,  you will receive a Letter of Agreement and Terms and Conditions. No admitted vendor will be allowed to set up until the Letter of Agreement is signed by the participating Artist and returned to SAAC. 

The first round of applications will be reviewed and accepted before September 3, 2022. 

Are you a potter, painter, photographer... or any other artist? Interested in a reading or a one-person show or submitting a mural?

SHARE YOUR WORK WITH SAAC!

Send us your best work (images you provide must represent the work you wish to submit). We'll take a look at what you've got and follow up with you if we see potential fit with one of our programs!

Each year, Starkville Area Arts Council has a small pool of discretionary funds that are awarded to support art projects or art organizations in Oktibbeha County, MS. Awards may be used for anything that aligns with one of our two program areas (Art Education & Outreach or Creative Economy) and that fits our mission to build a strong, creative, connected community through art.

Funds must be used within SAAC's current fiscal year. The Board has the ultimate discretion to deviate from its own guidelines in order to satisfy its mission or comply with legal requirements. Please answer questions as fully as possible. We welcome questions in advance of completing the application form.

Applications will be accepted until all funds have been allocated OR until the application deadline posted on the website, whichever comes first. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED. Decisions will be made quarterly, so please plan your needs accordingly. 

Juneteenth is a 155-year-old holiday celebrating the emancipation of African-Americans from slavery in the U.S. It is celebrated on June 19 (the name is a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth”) because on that date in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas and informed slaves that the Civil War had ended and slavery had been abolished.

Theme: What Juneteenth Means to Me

Rules
SAAC and the JL King Center and the Jurors reserve the right to remove any piece from the Juneteenth Celebration Art Contest that, in their judgment, fails to adhere to the rules. This ensures equitable treatment of all submissions while also maintaining the integrity of the Juneteenth Celebration Art Contest.
1. Participants MUST be located in Mississippi. 

2. Submissions for this competition must fall into one of the following categories: Visual Art (including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, etc.) Essay, and Poetry 

3. One work/piece per submission. Participants are allowed to submit one piece per category, not exceeding 3 total submissions per person. 

4. Artwork must be an original piece, completed solely by the participant. 

5. Accepted artwork must be related to the theme of what Juneteenth means to you.

6. Accepted works must NOT extend more than 24" on any one side, and no piece may weigh more than 75 lbs.

7. Accepted artwork must have a description tag attached to the back of the piece that includes 1) Artist Name, and 2) Title of the piece.

8. Submitted artwork us subject for use by the JL King Center and the Starkville Area Arts Council. 

9. WORKS WILL NOT BE FOR SALE.

Deadline to submit works is May 15, 2023

A celebration event for the Competition will be held at the JL King Center on Monday, June 19, 2023 from 12 to 2 pm. More info will be provided after acceptance. 

Works MUST be submitted online through www.starkvillearts.net

Categories
Submissions will be judged in 4 groups:
● K- 3rd Grades
● 4th-8th Grades
● 9th-12th Grades
● College - Adults


Prizes
Each age group and category will have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
● 1st Place $100 Gift Card
● 2nd Place $75 Gift Card
● 3rd Place $50 Gift Card


The first 30 individuals to submit to the Juneteenth Celebration Art Contest will receive a $25 gift card. Limited to 1 per person. Subject to submissions that meet the eligibility requirements outlined above.

Starkville Area Arts Council awards summer scholarships to Oktibbeha County youth for extracurricular enrichment and youth development programs in the arts (performing arts, music, applied arts, visual arts, creative writing, etc).
Please visit https://www.starkvillearts.net/artseducation.html  for rules.

DEADLINE: April 10, 2023, at MIDNIGHT.