Arts Institute of Mississippi
Our Mission
Funding
Increase funding for both arts education and public arts.
Collaboration
Encourage collaboration and public outreach among the Southern Miss arts programs.
Special Projects
Create statewide arts initiatives and special projects.
Arts Education
Celebrate excellence in arts education through annual awards.
The AIM Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Arts Education
The AIM Awards seek to recognize and honor high school level arts teachers, schools, and organizations that are making an impact through exemplary achievements in arts education throughout the state of Mississippi.
When you think Arts, think Southern Miss
With over 300+ arts events, there’s always something going on at USM. Here are some of our renowned performing arts series and festivals that are bringing the arts to the community.
About the Arts Institute
AIM was founded in 2015 as a special initiative of the College of Arts and Letters at USM to promote the arts statewide.
Dr. Jay Dean, Executive Director
Dr. Jay Dean, DMA, was the Music Director and conductor of the Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra from 1988-2018. During his tenure the orchestra has grown into a university ensemble that has earned a distinguished national reputation. Founded in 1920, the Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra is the oldest operating symphony orchestra in the state of Mississippi. It presents a umber of annual subscription concerts per season in Hattiesburg, as well as many concerts throughout Mississippi. In addition to its regular symphonic concerts, the Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performs as the orchestra for all opera and musical theatre productions.
Dr. Dean received his DMA in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to The University of Southern Mississippi, he was Music Director of Dekalb Youth Symphony Orchestra in Atlanta, the Mercer University/Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, the Columbus State University Orchestra, the Atlanta Festival Orchestra and Chorus, the Austin Civic Orchestra, and the Southwest Chamber Orchestra.
Support the Arts
Partners for the Arts underwrites the arts programs at Southern Miss that are woven into our community’s vibrant core. By becoming a member, you can directly impact the success of Southern Miss performance ensembles and the talented students and faculty who participate in them. From departmental activities and exhibits to once-in-a-lifetime educational experiences for students, your contributions allows Partners to continue the tradition of excellence in the arts at Southern Miss and assisting in taking these programs to the next level.