JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Excellence in Mississippi’s art world from creators of music, film, broadcast news, and landscaping are recognized at the capitol.

The 2025 Governor’s Arts Award winners appeared before the senate to receive accolades for their contributions to the state and around the world.

From the big screen to blues and the Magnolia state’s natural tapestry, homegrown artists are honored for their gifts, which make Mississippi great.

On Thursday, the senate presented the 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards to six recipients from broadcast journals to fife and drum musicians.

Filmmaker and Jackson native Tate Taylor won for Excellence in Motion Picture. He produced “Get on Up” the James Brown Story and “The Help.”

“I’ve been really blessed to be working here in Mississippi with Mississippians helping me,” said Tate. “So to get this award on behalf of the governor of the State of Mississippi my home state it means a lot.”

The awards celebrate their influence in educating and influencing Mississippi culture.

“Landscape architecture has never won it before,” said award recipient Robert Poore.

The 34-year landscaper and ecologist from Flora created landscapes for the Mississippi Natural Science Museum and more.

“It means a lot to me, but it also means a lot to my profession in the State of Mississippi,” said Poore. “We’re finally recognized as an art form”.

Jackson native and musician Eddie Cotton Jr. takes the blues from Paris to Germany and Belgium and beyond.

“It’s a legacy that Black America gave to the world, but I saw that they were being excluded in what they gave. So I wanted to become a soldier for this art form to keep it alive with us,” said Cotton.

A reception and ceremony were held for the award winners Thursday evening at the Two Mississippi Museums.

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