The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the diverse cultural heritage of Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Mississippi Delta, and the American South. The Foundation works to achieve its goals by creating and hosting cultural activities at the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex.

 Our upcoming activities suit many interests, and our past activities are a testimony of the rich cultural heritage of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Our 20th Anniversary! In 1994, the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation was formed to preserve these historic buildings and to direct their transformation into a cultural center. Twenty years of carrying on our mission: emphasizing the humanities and the arts, providing unique and quality programming for free or at low cost to the Vicksburg community.

• July 2019 newsletter (1.8 MB Adobe Reader file)

• SCHF Event Calendar

• Facebook Events Page (must sign into Facebook to view)

• More! Activities Log of all current and past years' activities.

• 2nd Annual “Star Spangled Night Run in Vicksburg”, Saturday, June 29, 2019, beginning and ending at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center. The run has acquired some very generous financial sponsors. They are: Shell Oil, Ergon, Scott Robbins Physical Therapy, International Paper, May & Company, WaterView Casino, Curb Appeals Real Estate/Mary Jane Wooten, Gumbo Pot, BancorpSouth, People’s Drug Store, Ed Hampton Air & Heat LLC, Hennessey, Thames & Leavitt Insurance Agency, Servpro of Vicksburg & Yazoo, and Big River Shipbuilders. For more information, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997 or email info@southernculture.org. More.
  Event Photos

• “Southern Exposure,” An All-Day Summer Camp. The camp will be held during eight weeks of the summer, through July 22-26, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open to kids ages 4-13. Early drop-off starts at 7:30 a.m. and pick-up is available through 5:15 p.m. The registration fee is $100 per child for each week, $90 per child special rate when you sign up for multiple weeks or for multiple children. This fee includes a $25 non-refundable fee. The fee includes all supplies and a daily snack. Kids are asked to bring their own lunch. During this camp, children will be “exercising mind, body, and soul” as they utilize the gymnasium, art classrooms, auditorium, gardens, and media room of the SCHC to investigate southern music, gardening, art, manners, and other camp-like activities. Experienced and accredited educator Karen Biedenharn will plan and oversee all aspects of the camp. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please make reservations two weeks prior to each week attending. Click here to download application form. For more information or to register, call the Southern Cultural Heritage Center business office at 601-631-2997, email info@southernculture.org. Press release. More.

• Princess Camp, “Making Memories to Last a Lifetime,” July 22-26, 2019 (Facebook event page) from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., presented by Lana Hand for ages 4-9. The camp will include crafts, dress-up, dance, music, Pajama Day, Spa Day, Water Day, outdoor activities and games. Snacks will be provided. The registration fee is $140 per child, and an all-day option is available for $180 per child for the week. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to register, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997 or email info@southernculture.org. A second session will be held July 22-26, 2019. Press release.

• Kids in the Kitchen Summer Camps, July 8-12, 2019. There will be two different sessions, both led by Margie Heltzel at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center:
  “Kids Can Cook”- July 8th- 12th from 8:30am- 11:30am- ages 4-8 Facebook event page
  “Baking Bootcamp”- July 8th- 12th from 12:30pm- 3:30pm- ages 8-12 Facebook event page
  The registration fee for each session is $125 per child and includes all supplies as well as lots of tasty treats. A full day option is also available. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to register, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997 or email info@southernculture.org.
  Press release.

• Summer Photography Classes with Dr. David Rorick, Tuesdays, July 9, 16, 23, & 30, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Registration is $150 for all four classes. Designed with beginner to intermediate photographers in mind, this four-part class uses hands-on experience, shooting lots of pictures, to share the principles of great photography. Anyone with a digital camera and some practice can learn to make great shots instead of snapshots. The four, two-hour class sessions include a photo walk in the neighborhood around the Southern Cultural Heritage Center (weather permitting) to shoot local points of interest. Students will share their work with each other during class sessions as we build our skills and fine-tune how we look at the world around us. At the conclusion of the class, students will receive a large-format print of their favorite photo created during the class, at no additional charge. Students need to have access to a digital camera with manual controls to get the most out of this class. DSLRs from Canon, Nikon, Sony, or Pentax are ideal, as well as mirrorless system cameras such as the Sony NEX and Alpha series. Bridge cameras like the Canon S and G series and similar Canon and Sony models also work well. If in doubt, contact the instructor to learn if your camera is appropriate for the class. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information, please contact the SCHF office at 601.631.2997 or email info@southernculture.org. Press release. Facebook event page.

• New! By popular demand: To kick off our 25th-Anniversary year, the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation is extremely proud to present Classics in the Courtyard’s “Happy Hour.” SCHF and our community always look forward to our original Classics in the Courtyard concert series in the fall. Now you can enjoy our courtyard concerts in the summer, too! This series will include a concert, food, and drinks one Thursday night each month for the months of June, July, August and September. The concerts will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on those Thursdays. There is no cover charge! Food and drink will be available for purchase. The line-up is as follows:
  Thursday, July 11th – Lee H. Abraham & the Boone Brothers; food provided by Billy’s Italian Restaurant Facebook event page
  Thursday, August 1 – Topher Brown Band; food provided by Squealin’ Pig Facebook event page
  Thursday, September 5 – Music TBD; food provided by FitChef Facebook event page
  For more information, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997 or email info@southernculture.org.
  Press release
  June 6, 2019 Photos

• Fort St. Pierre Tercentennial Lecture Series, Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the SCHC Convent Chapel, presented by Gail Buzhardt, retired French teacher and author. Gail will highlight the social, political and economic factors of the Fort St. Pierre story. The Fort Saint Pierre Tercentennial Commission is presenting a year of events commemorating the founding of Fort Saint Pierre in 1719, the earliest European settlement in the Mississippi Delta. For more information, please call 601-618-3972.

• Southern Book Club, July 17, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. The Southern Book Club meets the third Wednesday of each month. There is no fee to attend and it is open to the public. In July, the monthly book is The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity. For more information or meeting location, please call 601.631.2997 or email info@southernculture.org.

• SCHF Receives Mississippi Arts Commission Grant. The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation has been awarded a $17,400 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC). This grant is a portion of the $1.4 million in grants the Commission will award in 2018-2019 and will be used to continue the mission of the SCHF and bring exceptional events and quality programming to the community through artistic excellence. The grants are made possible by continued funding from the Mississippi State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. These funds are vital in supporting the River Kids free after school art program, the huge variety of concerts, workshops, lectures, exhibits and the many other events and programs that are instrumental in growing the awareness of the arts to the Vicksburg community and surrounding areas. Press release. For information from the Mississippi Arts Commission, contact Anna Ehrgott, Communications Director, 601.359.6546 or aehrgott@arts.ms.gov.

• More activities...

• WLBT article, Going back in time with the Sisters of Mercy, February 20, 2009.

• Guitar & Ukulele Lessons. Richard McComas, SCHF guitar instructor, has some openings for guitar lessons. If you are interested or would like more information, please call 601-529-6505. (Inquire about special discounts for SCHF Members.)

• Violin Lessons. The SCHF is now offering violin lessons for all ages. Mrs. Ruthanne Schnell has taught for over 25 years. She has trained and studied under many master instructors. She is also able to teach the viola and cello. If you are interested or would like more information, please call 601-383-0796.

• A memorial fund in honor of Mother Clementine Phelan and the Sisters of Mercy has been established by Mrs. Edna Henry Hosemann, Mrs. Elizabeth Henry Nelson and Mr. George Nelson, and Pat and Lance Dichter in honor of their aunt. Press release.

• Looking for that unique gift for that special someone? Consider the special Cultural Center Crosses created by Misty Clendenin. All proceeds go to support the buildings and all programs at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center. The crosses are only $10 each, plus tax.

• The SCHF is an ideal place to hold weddings, receptions, performances, reunions, lectures, and business meetings. Space available for rent include the classrooms in the 1930s Academy Building and the 1880s Auditorium featuring a stage, 24-foot ceilings, and hardwood floors.

• Check out the musical montage of past programs and events held here at the Center, The Southern Cultural Experience at the bottom of this page.

Important Community links...
Vicksburg/Warren Chamber of Commerce
Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
Vicksburg Main Street
Vicksburg Theatre Guild and Gold in the Hills