Hi! I’m Simone Cottrell, a cultural strategist, community storyteller, and Southern creative. I just landed my dream job as Mississippi Arts Commission's Special Initiatives Director. I’ll be helping make arts experiences, relationships, and resources more accessible for creatives across Mississippi and beyond. In short, a dream job is ready for me right now!

This milestone comes right as I approach my 40th birthday (gasp! scream! faint!), but to step fully into this new chapter, I need your help.

I’m seeking $5,500 by October 4th to cover essential moving expenses:

Loans can also be discussed. Send a message if you'd like to help by giving a loan!

Why I need support:

For the last 1.5 years, I’ve been without stable employment or contracts. My largest artistic contract ($50k with the City of Bentonville) was withdrawn after my partner fell ill. Two major health episodes, a failed move, and even surviving a tornado left me emotionally and financially drained (and I've only highlighted a few of the obstacles experienced). Since 2024, I’ve applied to literally hundreds of jobs with only nine interviews and countless rejections.

And then I received the phone call that will usher in my 40th decade. As the newly restructured Special Initiatives Director, I will help lead the Mississippi Arts Commission into its new era by working alongside the Executive Director and Director of Grants to develop new projects and strengthen existing programs that are needed in the state.

The Special Initiatives Director role is a chance to use my skills, passion, and lived experience to work alongside artists to thrive in one of the most complex political and culturally geographic landscapes in the US. Mississippi is the birthplace of much of America's music and literary culture, and it feels like the right time to help spread Mississippi's artistic heritage. I know I am the right person to meet this moment, but I can't get there without a community lift.

If you can give, thank you. If you can share, thank you. Your support means a lot.

In solidarity for a more creative and democratic tomorrow,

Simone Cottrell