HAI Conducts Research and Image Acquisition for Striking New Museum: Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 25, 2018
Contact: Anne Strong
Telephone: (301) 279-9697

The newly-opened Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience in Meridian invites visitors to explore the state’s rich cultural history and to celebrate the work of some of its most famous artists. HAI served on the creative team, locating the images needed for the interactive exhibits at this innovative new museum, nicknamed “The MAX.”

“Finding the right imagery for an exhibit is an essential part of telling the story,” noted Carlyn Swaim, VP of exhibit services at HAI. “Our research team worked very closely with the designers, making sure that the pictures were not only authentic, but also could be beautifully displayed at the highest resolution possible.” HAI served as the nexus for gathering this media, helping the various designers and content developers working on static panels and interactive kiosks keep track of the images available and licensing required.

Working closely with design firm Gallagher & Associates and the staff at The MAX, HAI researched, acquired, and licensed more than 1200 images for use in the 15 permanent exhibits. In addition to acquiring and clearing copyrights, HAI also provided content development research support to The MAX by identifying potential graphic assets, artifacts, and storylines for inclusion in the physical exhibits.

Historians explored a wide variety of repositories to locate the material, including the U.S. National Archives and the Library of Congress, as well as Mississippi repositories like local historical societies, libraries, universities, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. In addition, they reviewed collections of private estates, local photographers, and art studios, and found some stock photo sources for material.

The museum’s permanent galleries illustrate the relationships between the artist and the geographic and cultural factors of Mississippi that influenced the creative process. In addition to the galleries, the museum has an open, two-story Hall of Fame that features individuals who have made significant contributions in the areas of visual arts, music, writing, acting, and more. Inductees include such legends as Walter Inglis Anderson, William Faulkner, Morgan Freeman, John Grisham, Jim Henson, Robert Johnson, James Earl Jones, B.B. King, George Ohr, Elvis Presley, Leontyne Price, Jimmie Rodgers, Muddy Waters, Sela Ward, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and Richard Wright.

For more information about the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, visit www.msarts.org.