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The Mississippi Art Education Association awarded Malcolm White its Prism Award. File Photo

Malcolm White just won a top honor from the Mississippi Art Education Association for promoting visual arts in the state. White, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, received the Prism Award for supporting arts education programs.

“Being awarded the Prism Award by the members of the Mississippi Art Education Association underscores the value and commitment of the Mississippi Arts Commission to arts education and arts learning in our schools and communities across the state,” White said in a news release. “Our great shared goal is to return and increase arts instruction, art experiences and arts integrated strategies to all schools in Mississippi.”

The Mississippi Arts Commission encourages schools to realize that the arts are the link to meeting the individual learning needs of each child, the statement also said.

White, 53, is a Stone County native and a 1978 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. He moved to Jackson in 1979. The co-owner of Hal and Mal’s started a capital city tradition in 1983 with Mal’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade. In 2004, he received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

In 2005, White became executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission.

Previous Comments

Congratulations, Malcolm! You’re a true champion for the Jackson arts and entertainment community, and I’m glad to know you.