The Mississippi Arts Commission has awarded a $21,750 operating grant to the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation, one of a total of $1.5 million the commission will award this fiscal year.

SCHF routinely applies for the two-year operating grant to help fund its various programs and activities, said Annette Kirklin, director. The $21,750 will cover the first of the two years — next year’s amount will be determined after SCHF submits a progress report.

In years past, MAC, a state agency funded by the Mississippi Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, has awarded $17,000 and $18,000 to the SCHF.

“For it to increase as much as it did, we’re really thrilled,” Kirklin said. “We submitted all the events and programs that we did last year and we actually surpassed our record as far as people coming through the building. I think that was really reflected to them and, in turn, they rewarded us.”

SCHF’s programs include dance classes, concerts and workshops, but the grant will most benefit the River Kids art program. The money will cover the instructors, assistants and supplies for the once-a-week program that takes 60 children each spring and fall semester. Kirklin said the art program is important “for the low-income people who can’t afford for their kids to get these things.”

“There are kids that have grown up doing this,” she said, “and now they’re doing other programs, too.”

Besides the grant, SCHF gets money from its about 460 members, tours, building rentals, the City of Vicksburg — which gave $37,500 last fiscal year, Kirklin said — and corporate sponsors such as Ergon, Ameristar and DiamondJacks.

Kirklin said the foundation has been growing and plans to continue — there is even talk of a Southern Irish dance club, inspired by the SCHF-hosted Irish dance classes.

“We’re just hopping and popping,” she said. “Our main goal right now is the diversity.”

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Contact Andrea Vasquez at avasquez@vicksburgpost.com