Founded in 1996, the Starkville Area Arts Council is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.
Each year the SAAC sponsors the Cotton District Arts Festival and runs various art and art education outreach programs throughout the calendar year in Starkville and Oktibbeha County to fulfill its mission to build a strong, creative, connected community through the arts.

For its noteworthy celebration, the SAAC is creating a 25th Anniversary Arts & Culture Cookbook that will incorporate the arts, culture, history of Starkville, Forks & Corks, and Cotton District Arts Festival.
SAAC is asking for the community’s help by collecting local recipes, and also stories and photographs to include.

Executive Director John Bateman said, “Proceeds from these books will support art and art education outreach throughout the community.”
In addition to the book sales, Bateman added that SAAC sponsorships defray development costs and help increase net revenue for the organization.
“To date, Magnolia Film Festival and Starkville Community Theatre have signed revenue-sharing agreements, which means that sponsorships will create a direct impact on other arts organizations around the community as well,” said Bateman.

To learn more about the 25th Anniversary Cookbook and sponsorship opportunities, click here.
As always, the SAAC appreciates the ongoing support of the City of Starkville, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Oktibbeha County, National Endowment for the Arts, Mississippi Arts Commission, Mississippi Development Authority, Del Rendon Foundation, 4-County Electric Foundation, ATMOS Energy, and various local businesses and individuals throughout the community.