2002 Annual Report, School Year 2000-2001
Mississippi School of
the Arts (MSA)
I. History and Purpose | |
Purpose/location | *Scheduled to open
in August 2003.
*Statewide residential school that will provide advanced programs of study in music, theatre, visual arts, dance, literary arts, and media arts for artistically gifted eleventh and twelfth grade students. *Located on the historic Whitworth College Campus in Brookhaven, Mississippi. *Designated as a Mississippi Landmark, the campus is also on the National Register of Historic Places. |
Projected enrollment | *Approximately 300 juniors
and seniors in a residential setting (when in full operation).
*Nonresidential students who live within commuting distance may apply and be admitted if they meet admissions criteria and if space permits. |
Legislation | *House Bill 706 created
MSA during the 1999 regular Legislative Session.
*House Bill 1675 appropriated $11,900,000 for planning, building renovations, and new construction. *During the 2001 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 3158 authorized the issuance of an additional $7 million in bonds to continue restoration and construction. |
II. Community Partnerships | |
City of Brookhaven | *Collaborated with Brookhaven
Trust to renovate Mary Jane Lampton Auditorium, dedicated in Spring 1999.
*Transferred the Whitworth College Campus to the State of Mississippi in Spring 2000. *Donated $3,000,000 in bond proceeds. *$1,500,000 HUD grant for campus improvements. |
Brookhaven School District | Students will take some non-arts courses at Brookhaven High School, located approximately one-half mile from MSA. Shared arts facilities at Brookhaven High School will accommodate dance, music, and theatre performances until a performing arts center is built on the Whitworth Campus. |
III. Campus Restoration and New Construction | |
Administrative offices | Lampton Auditorium is the only functional building on site at this time, and houses the temporary administrative offices of the MSA. |
Restoration and new construction | Albert and Associates Architects, P.A. of Hattiesburg, working with the Department of Archives and History. |
Restoration
and new construction is occurring in three phases.
Phase I
Phase II, Part 1
Phase II, Part 2
Phase III
|
|
IV. Program Implementation | |
Program Implementation | Phased in over four years. |
Programs of study - School year | *2003-2004
Visual arts, vocal music, theatre (juniors only). *2004-2005
*2005-2006
*2006-2007
|
V. Eligibility/Student Selection | |
Requirements | *Students must qualify to
be in the eleventh (11th) grade (10 Carnegie units).
*Any student who is a Mississippi resident will be eligible for attendance at MSA where the focus will be on in-depth studies in the visual, performing, literary, and media arts and humanities. *Admission will be competitive and will involve application, on-site interviews, auditions, and review of portfolios and/or performances as well as other academic requirements. |
Costs | The costs for attendance are supported through legislative appropriations; however, families will be responsible for some incidental expenses such as student activity fees, and laundry. |