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In the summer of 2007, the Mississippi Museum of Art celebrated the opening of its new home—a $14 million dollar, state-of-the-art facility created for the community and made possible by the community.  Flanked by the Jackson Convention Complex and several of the city’s most active cultural organizations, the Museum is now the cornerstone of an arts district that—once unified by a vast, outdoor public space—will become the thriving epicenter of downtown Jackson.  To achieve this vision, the Museum has developed The Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art—a 1.2 acre park where community and culture convene. 

Our Neighbors

The Art Garden is surrounded by Jackson’s foremost cultural organizations, all of which contributed invaluably to its development.  Thus, The Art Garden’s myriad features are designed to engage visitors not only in the visual arts, but in all the arts.  Versatile performance spaces will accommodate productions of all kinds—from an elaborate staging of the full Mississippi Symphony Orchestra to a spontaneous rehearsal for Ballet Mississippi.  Outdoor terrace dining, native garden beds, and soothing fountains will attract Thalia Mara Hall ticket-holders before and after shows, thereby enhancing the theater-going experience.  And intimate outdoor galleries and “classrooms” will host music and dance lessons, as well as festivals, art fairs, and other community events.
 
Like the Museum itself, The Art Garden is designed to be an inviting space in which everyone—from the longtime Museum member to the out-of-town tourist—can engage comfortably with art.  Given our proximity to the Jackson Convention Complex, we anticipate introducing thousands of first-time visitors to the city.  While on break between meetings or events, they’ll have the opportunity to sample Mississippi’s rich artistic heritage, while strolling, sitting, or sunning in The Art Garden. 

Our Downtown Community

Downtown Jackson employees and residents have long lamented the lack of a public outdoor space in which they can enjoy their lunch breaks, meet up with friends, or relax after hours.  The Art Garden, with its lush plantings and portable seating, will offer just that: a central social space suitable for gathering with friends or relaxing alone.  Along with the Museum’s own Palette Café by Viking and The Walker West Garden, downtown employees and residents will at long last have access to a safe, multi-use public space that can accommodate both the weekday worker and the relaxing weekender. 

Our Museum Visitors

Since opening our new home three years ago, the number of unique visitors to the Museum has doubled, affirming our continuous efforts to engage people of all ages and interests in the arts.  Those who frequent the Museum’s monthly offerings—whether an Unburied Treasures lecture presentation, an exhibition-based workshop, or a concert in The Walker West Garden—are inevitably drawn back by both the programmatic content and the vital artistic setting in which it is explored.  The Art Garden will only enhance the Museum’s ability to deliver such programming, as we anticipate virtually continuous use of the outdoor space for a variety of cultural events.  Proposed programming includes outdoor art instruction for all ages, semi-annual art bazaars for local artists, temporary and permanent installations of sculpture and outdoor photography, and a variety of multi-disciplinary community events such as radio broadcasts, gospel brunches, and cooking classes.  Constant, high-quality programming of The Art Garden will attract a flux of families year-round, while the Museum’s commitment to its physical maintenance and security will ensure that visitors will want to return again and again. 

A Space for All

Over the past three years, the Museum has distinguished itself as one of Jackson’s preeminent venues for hosting private events of all scopes and sizes—from the largest gala to the smallest gathering.  With construction complete, we now expand our facility rental options to include The Art Garden, which promises to be as versatile an outdoor venue as any. 

Outdoor Installations

View the art installations that are currently on display in The Art Garden: 

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Project Budget and Naming Opportunities

The total project budget for The Art Garden is $5 million, which includes an endowment to be housed at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson for garden maintenance.  The Museum has successfully raised 90% of the required funds and is now seeking the additional funds necessary to complete the project through its newly launched Grassroots Campaign.

Naming opportunities are still available in The Art Garden including the naming of the garden itself, the native plant garden, and several garden rooms.  If you are interested in more information about these opportunities, please contact Betsy Bradley, director of the Museum, at 601-950-1515.

The Art Garden and its programming are supported in part by an award
from the National Endowment for the Arts.