Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey: America 250 Initiatives

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Semiquincentennial activities across the country will commemorate that anniversary, celebrating our nation’s cultural heritage and using the arts to tell America’s stories. Governors and state legislatures have established America 250 commissions, and numerous state and jurisdictional arts agencies serve on those planning bodies. Most state arts agencies also are planning to provide grant funding for projects that spark learning about history and celebrate democracy through the arts. In addition to their leadership and funding roles, many state arts agencies are developing creative programs and partnerships to put their distinctive state spin on this national celebration. Read on for examples from Mississippi, Nevada and New Jersey.

Mississippi

America 250 Mississippi commissioners celebrate a kickoff event. Photo courtesy of the Mississippi Arts Commission and America 250 Mississippi

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is actively consulting with theatres, museums and other cultural organizations to encourage local programming around the America 250 theme. The agency is facilitating access to grant funding and helping to integrate arts events into the state’s America 250 activity calendar. MAC is building a partnership with Visit Mississippi, the state tourism agency, to promote Mississippi as an America 250 destination. They’ll highlight a variety of artful travel itineraries featuring the blues, museums, literature, craft studios and other cultural attractions. MAC also is playing a leading role in hosting the National Folk Festival as a prominent part of the state’s America 250 celebration. From 2025-2027, the festival will offer a multitude of free public events in Jackson to celebrate the roots, richness and variety of American culture. The event, which is projected to attract 300,000 attendees over three years, is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts. MAC’s executive director is vice chair of the event executive committee, and the arts council will curate the Mississippi Folklife Area. Exhibits and performances will share the traditions of tribes based in Mississippi, the cultural legacies of families who have called the state home for generations and the expressions of new Mississippi residents whose cultural roots reach around the globe.

Nevada

A mural illustrates the mining and industry history of Eureka, Nevada. Photo courtesy of the Nevada Arts Council

The Nevada Arts Council (NAC) is a key agency in the state’s America 250 Nevada initiative, working alongside more than 20 planning partners to promote activities that celebrate modern democracy and Nevada’s heritage as the nation’s 36th state. NAC and the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs each secured a $250,000 appropriation of one-time funds from the state to provide grant opportunities to get local communities involved in Nevada’s America 250 projects. NAC’s grant program will support community based arts activities that honor U.S. history and showcase how the arts and creativity benefit Nevada communities. NAC is meeting with municipalities, community organizations, residents and tribes to support local planning and promote funding opportunities. Consultations are underway with the state’s Department of Native American Affairs to determine community interest and locations of potential projects. The Arts Council also is collaborating with the Nevada Division of Museums and History on Our Nevada Stories, an oral history project. A team of historians and folklorists will travel statewide to record interviews with Nevada culture bearers, civic leaders, historians and community residents. As they are produced, the interviews will be shared with the public via podcast and radio. The project will create a searchable online archive to make the stories accessible to future generations. New public art projects will be commissioned based on inspiration drawn from Our Nevada Stories.

New Jersey

A still from The Stories We Tell, RevolutionNJ’s 2020 artistic research residency and film series collaboration with Monument Lab

2026 marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Jersey to explore the experiences of people who lived in the state 250 years ago while also highlighting modern-day revolutionaries who are shaping New Jersey’s future. To make the most of this moment, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts has been infusing the arts into the state’s America 250 planning since 2019. The arts council currently is collaborating with the New Jersey Historical Commission and Monument Lab on a Revolutionary Acts project. Under New Jersey’s larger RevolutionNJ banner, Revolutionary Acts will commission an original performance series that animates the histories and living legacies of the American Revolution in New Jersey. The partners have published a detailed project dossier and issued an open call for artists to propose ideas for innovative, immersive and participatory experiences that explore the revolution and its ongoing impacts. The selected project will receive a total production budget of $150,000 to cover materials, fabrication, implementation and artistic personnel costs. In addition, the lead artist will receive an honorarium of $30,000. Revolutionary Acts complements the RevolutionNJ Artistic Research Residency (a multisite public art and public history initiative) and The Stories We Tell (a documentary film series illuminating untold histories of the American Revolution).

For more information about state arts agencies’ America 250 roles, contact NASAA.