Meridian Public School District students will showcase their artistic talents Tuesday, April 23, during the MPSD Festival of the Arts to be held at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience.

The event will be open to the public from 5-7:30 p.m. at The MAX, located at 2155 Front Street in downtown Meridian. Admission is free to attendees.

“We are elated to partner with The MAX for our District Arts Festival,” MPSD Director of Arts Antonio Altman said in a press release. “The MAX opening up their wonderful facilities to our students, faculty and community for this event speaks volumes to the partnerships and community support of our students in the arts.”

The event, presented by Any Given Child-Meridian and The MAX, will showcase the talents of students from Pre-K through 12th grade with performances taking place throughout the museum at various times.

Elementary and middle school choirs will kick off the evening with performances inside the museum’s Hall of Fame Rotunda. Spoken word monologues from Meridian High students and performances by dance groups from Carver Elementary, Crestwood Elementary, Parkview Elementary and Magnolia Middle will take place in The Power of the Church exhibit on the museum’s second floor.

Elementary percussion groups will give performances on the Rooftop Terrace. Meanwhile, special performances by the Meridian High ninth grade choir, advanced women’s choir, travel group and Meridian High choir will take place in the Hall of Fame Rotunda following the elementary and middle school choirs.

Throughout the museum, parents and guests will be able to view artwork created by students on display in the exhibit spaces. They also will be able to visit the museum’s other exhibits.

Concluding the evening will be performances from the middle school band and the Meridian High concert band in The MAX courtyard.

“We are absolutely thrilled to host this event at The MAX,” Penny Kemp, The MAX president and CEO, said in the release. “In fact, I can’t think of a better use of this facility. Engaging students in the arts is a research-backed method of encouraging lifelong learning and results in better academic performance, higher attendance and decreased disciplinarian issues. We are proud to partner with MPSD in this way.”

For the past several years, MPSD has held a district arts festival at the high school to showcase the talents of its students and spotlight the many different art mediums taught throughout the district, including fine arts, dance, music, ceramics, band and theater.

“The arts play a vital role in helping students find their voice,” said MPSD Superintendent Amy Carter. “Meridian is known throughout the nation for embracing the arts, and we are excited to continue to showcase that with our partnership with The MAX.”