Annette Kirklin Begins as SCHF Director

Annette Kirklin has been hired as the Executive Director of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation. She will begin January 2008.

Annette was the Assistant to the Bishop and Canons for the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. Prior to joining the diocesan staff, she served as the Special Projects Coordinator/Executive Assistant of the Vicksburg Convention Center and Vicksburg Auditorium.

She has a wide-range of experience in marketing, graphic design, show management/production, box office management, communications and public relations.

She is a past member of the Vicksburg Association of Marketing Professionals. She received the Readers’ Choice Award from the Vicksburg Post as “Best Assistant in Vicksburg” in 2004. She is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Vicksburg and past board member of the Keep Vicksburg-Warren County Beautiful (2002 and 2003).

Raised in Brandon, Mississippi, Annette lives in Vicksburg with her husband, Mike, Engineering Technician with the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers (ERDC), with two children, Dusty and Blake. She has been a fitness instructor for over 15 years. The family is members of Christ Episcopal Church in Vicksburg.

The Board of the SCHF invites the public to meet Annette at a Welcoming Reception on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the SCHF Academy Building.

Southern Book Club

The Southern Book Club meets the third Wednesday of each month.

There is no fee to attend and it is open to the public. The group focuses on Southern authors and subjects, but is open to any good read. Book and author suggestions are welcomed.

For January, the Southern Book Club will discuss Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

Please call the SCHF office for meeting location or for more information.

River Kids After School Art Program

Registration is open for the spring semester of SCHF’s free after school art program, River Kids. Open to any child in 1st grade through 6th grade, the program accepts 60 students for the art class on Thursdays from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. The program will begin on Thursday, January 17, 2008.

The River Kids Program is designed to encourage children to discover and develop their creative talents. The program is free, but will require a full semester commitment from the parents.

River Kids Art will expose creativity through drawing, painting, crafts, collage, ceramics, sculpture and many more exciting techniques.

The free after-school program is partially funded through an operating grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the generous support of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation members and corporate sponsors, the City of Vicksburg, and various appropriations.

Experienced, accredited educators plan and teach each class.

The program will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations are required. For more information or to register, call the Southern Cultural Heritage Center office at (601) 631-2997.

Hand Forming Clay Workshop

The SCHF will offer clay classes in hand building slab pottery with Daisy Anderson. The 2 session class will meet on Mondays, January 28 and February 5 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Students will begin making slabs and receive an introduction into designing and making fruit bowls and wall pockets.

Hand building slab pottery is a technique where artists use rolled out sheets of clay. Sheets are joined and shaped into the desired item.

Cost of the workshop is $60 for SCHF members and $65 for nonmembers. This includes all supplies. Reservations are required. Call the SCHF office at 601.631.2997 for reservations.

SCHF Receives Money for Repairs to Historic Auditorium

The SCHF has been awarded a $150,000 Community Heritage Preservation Grant to renovate the historic 1886 Italinate Auditorium. The Community Heritage Preservation Grant program in administered by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Additional matching funds in the amount of $30,000 will bring the project to $180,000.

These funds will be used to rehab the exterior of the building which has suffered damages from water over the years. The 2007 Mississippi Legislature authorized the issuance of $1,500,000 in bonds to continue the popular program that helps with preservation of historic schools and courthouses as well as other historic buildings in Certified Local Governments. All buildings must have been designated Mississippi Landmarks to be eligible for the grants.

In addition to the MDAH grant, $196,000 has been approved as part of Senator Thad Chochran’s HUD Economic Development Initiatives portion of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. This program provides funds to local governments for revitalization projects and will be used to renovate the interior of the building. Work will include restoration of both floors, permanent gallery space, and eventually a lift to make the building handicapped accessible.

For more information about activities, membership, or rentals, please call or stop by the SCHF office, 1302 Adams Street, Vicksburg, MS  39180, 601-631-2997.

1302 Adams Street
Vicksburg, MS 39180
Phone: 601-631-2997
Fax: 601-631-3734
E-mail: info@southernculture.org

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