Artistic excellence and a relevance to community traditions, customs and needs are key to the success of MCC’s artistic programs. MCC’s programming is based upon a recognition of the talents, needs, realities and visions of the people of Claiborne County. At this time, maintaining and sustaining programs mandates a balance between the pursuit of excellence, the ability to provide the artists and resources needed for program implementation, and the continuance of programs of proven value to the community.
MCC prides itself on prudent budget planning, budgetary discipline, and closing each year in the black. Over the years, it has enjoyed growth in building earned and contributed income. It has received grants from public sources at federal, state and local levels and has competed increasingly well for funding from private sources. Staff and board members have nurtured a modest but steady donor base. Earned income from quilt sales, children’s arts products, publications, workshops, space rentals, raffles, program registrations, and event admissions have slowly but steadily increased over the past ten plus years.
The anticipated retirement of executive director Patty Crosby presents many concerns for MCC. Since founding the organization in 1978, she has provided dynamic leadership and vision for the artistic and administrative work of the organization. Patty worked hard before the organization had funds to pay her, worked to raise required funding over the years, and as funding developed, worked far beyond the salary she was paid. Over the course of much of this strategic plan, considerable time and thought will be devoted to the search for a skilled person with insights who is a “fit” for this organization.
An active and informed board and a cadre of capable volunteers are important to MCC’s ability to maintain the quality of its programs and operations. Board members and other volunteers are able to undertake large and small tasks that make programs work and help the organization maintain its commitment to the community. In turn, they gain a sense of ownership and belonging through their personal investment in the work. This is never more essential than during periods of cutbacks and retrenchment when people resources help to make up for other shortfalls. The importance of strengthening this infrastructure for the short term as well as the long term translates into intentional training and experience for community volunteers.
In 2002-03, MCC undertook a project of capital improvements on the two adjacent buildings MCC owns on Market Street in historic downtown Port Gibson. The major construction and renovation effectively joined the buildings providing office space and workspace on one side and a permanent gallery with rehearsal, performance, and family programming space on the other. Construction also included handicapped accessible bathrooms, additional storage area, and a new kitchen area.
Mississippi Cultural Crossroads seeks to play a conscious and assertive role in helping the community celebrate and appreciate its diversity and in providing opportunities that encourage dialogue between and within communities. MCC strives to be a place where opportunities for cross-cultural, cross-class, interracial and intergenerational interactions exist around art, art education, and cultural experience.
Marketing opportunities serve two purposes: they provide income and recognition for local artists and cultural workers, and they generate earned income for the organization to allow it to continue its work. Earned income venues for MCC have included cultural materials and services – a student-produced magazine celebrating local history and culture, note cards and post cards of children’s art, CDs documenting the work of students in conserving local culture, and the products and services of the quilting program.