STARKVILLE — While Starkville Area Arts Council’s mission to encourage the art scene in the city hasn’t changed, the nonprofit has a new space and a new face to lead it.
Former Executive Director Mary Switzer’s last day was Friday. Switzer served on the SAAC Board of Directors for almost six years before taking the position in December 2021.
Switzer said she is leaving the position to pursue her own artwork and to spend more time with her family. She thanked everyone who supported her during her tenure and said she has enjoyed getting to see the arts community grow throughout her time in the role.
“I have absolutely loved the opportunity to serve the community in this position for the time that I’ve been there, and I hope to continue volunteering time to help them out as much as they need me,” Switzer said. “It’s taught me a lot of things, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the artists in our community and to help grow the arts community.”
With Switzer stepping away, Interim Executive Director Juliette Reid has taken the helm at the arts council. Reid has worked for the arts council since 2019, starting as an intern before becoming the nonprofit’s first AmeriCorps VISTA and first program coordinator.
Reid said taking on the interim role feels like a natural progression after the past five years of encouraging arts in the area, and she is excited to bring “organized creativity” to the role while growing the arts council.
“My goals are just to build up our reputation and make people aware that we’re here, fighting the fight and doing the work, working with other people like Starkville Strong and J.L. King Center and the Partnership and all of these people who are doing great things in the community,” Reid said. “We’re also doing great things, and we’re all working to connect the community together.”
Reid said she is also hoping to expand arts programming in the area, along with pushing for new, fresh faces to get involved with the arts.
SAAC Board Treasurer Jim “Nubbin” Herring said the board is excited for Reid to take the role from Switzer and move the arts council forward with the same mission it’s had since it formed in 1996.
“We felt like Juliette would be the perfect person to pass the baton to right now, and keep the momentum going of what we were doing and making changes and some things we were trying to do to look at how we can make the arts council better,” Herring said.
Herring said the board plans to reevaluate the permanent role for Reid, along with other potential candidates, after the arts council is done moving to its new location.
New space, same mission
In July, the arts council announced it was moving from its previous location to start sharing a space with Proof Bakery at 109 W. Main St. By moving into the front of the bakery, Reid said, the arts council was able to reduce costs while staying downtown.
Though this is a temporary location, Reid said the arts council is refreshing the space with a coat of paint this week to prepare to once again host events and a gallery in the front of the bakery.
A ribbon cutting is in the works for the new space, Reid said, though the date is still in the works. But the gallery will be hosting its first reception on Sept. 28 for a show featuring the work of Mississippi State University student Zoe Ishee.
Even with the smaller space, Reid said the arts council is still hoping to continue all of the programs art enthusiasts in the city have come to know and love, like Art in the Park, Forks and Corks and others.
“We’re still going to be a gallery, and we still provide all of the programs we’ve been providing regardless of whether we’ve had a space or not,” Reid said. “Art Partners still happens every week. The (Cotton District Arts) Festival still happens every – now – spring.”
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