Suzanne Stafford
Suzanne Stafford of Saucier, MS has been awarded a $500 individual artist mini-grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission. This grant is a portion of the more than $1.75 million in grants MAC awarded in Fiscal Year 2024 and will be used to purchase fashion components for Suzanne’s next faery fantasy costume cosplay. The project will explore the juxtaposition of a high fashion feminine formal gown combined with ornate, baroque wrought iron armor.
“With the additional funds provided to MAC this fiscal year, we are able to fund 37 more grants that are providing an economic impact for Mississippi communities, the arts, and education throughout the state,” said David Lewis, executive director for the Mississippi Arts Commission. “We are grateful for the support from the Mississippi Legislature and elected officials who helped prioritize the arts in Mississippi.”
Suzanne Stafford, is the principal of Faery Court Masquerade Ball and Elemental Design. She is an artist, designer (interior design, graphic design, fashion design), event planner, costumer, seamstress and cosplayer. The mission of the Faery Ball events is Costumes, Community, Causes. Suzanne helps people exhausted by adulting to immerse into the magic of costume to ignite passion and creativity in their life. She founded the Faery Court Masquerade Ball fundraiser held in September in Biloxi in 2020. The event’s selected non-profit is Whisper of Hope (wildlife rehabilitation). Other Faery Ball events are the upcoming free all ages Faery Door Scavenger Hunt 8/1-9/15 across the MS Gulf Coast, the 9/2-3 Mystical Market and Costume Consignment in D’Iberville. Suzanne’s Costume Design Studio DIY sewing and no-sew costume classes will be held 9/1/23 with interactive session creating new looks from the Mystical Market consignment finds. She has been an interior designer for 32 years and offers Stunning Unique Design Solutions, when you need something you can’t buy from a catalog. She has lived in Saucier for 13 years. Her son, Apollo, is a homeschooled Senior, Class of 2024. She has been very active in the homeschool community for 10 years and is founder of many groups and clubs. Suzanne is also active in the business and networking community on the coast.
MAC’s annual grant funds come from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mississippi State Legislature. Awards were made in 104 Mississippi House of Representatives districts and 60 state Senate districts.
The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency serving more than two million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote arts education, and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. MAC is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and other private sources. For more information, visit www.arts.ms.gov.
For information about the Mississippi Arts Commission, please contact Ellie Banks, Communications Director, 601-359-6546 or ebanks@arts.ms.gov.