MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Horhn, Blount, Butler, Frazier, Norwood, Blackmon, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jordan, Simmons (12th), Thomas, Turner-Ford, Witherspoon, Simmons (13th)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 534

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO THE TOUGALOO COLLEGE ART COLLECTIONS AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2020 GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARD FOR PRESERVATION OF THE ARTS.

     WHEREAS, the Governor's Arts Awards Program has announced its 2020 recipients, which includes the Tougaloo College Art Collections for Preservation of the Arts.  Established in 1988, Governor's Arts Awards are given to individuals and organizations to recognize outstanding work in the artistic disciplines, as well as arts-based community development and arts patronage in Mississippi.  The awards are presented in partnership with the Governor's Office and signify the important relationship between government and the arts; and

     WHEREAS, Tougaloo College Art Collections is a fine art collection on the campus of Tougaloo College in Jackson; and

     WHEREAS, the collection was started in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement when a group of activists, curators and critics formed the New York Art Committee for Tougaloo College.  The committee envisioned the collection serving the teaching needs of Tougaloo College and the cultural needs of the broader community; and

     WHEREAS, Ronald Schnell, Art Professor and the first Curator of the collection, is credited with acquiring the majority of its works while artist and scholar David Driskell championed its importance nationally.  Today the collection has 1,500 works, including works on paper, sculpture, paintings, decorative arts and textiles; and

     WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we pay tribute and express appreciation for the talent of a world-class Mississippi art collection that has made Mississippi a better place and exemplifies the artistic traditions of our great state:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the Mississippi Legislature to the Tougaloo College Art Collections, the recipient of the 2020 Governor's Arts Award for Preservation of the Arts, and extend our congratulations to a world-class art program on this auspicious occasion.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Executive Director of the Tougaloo College Art Collections as part of the Governor's Arts Awards presentation, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.