Wayne Andrews and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Are Putting Art at the Center of Community
Wayne Andrews and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Are Putting Art at the Center of Community
By MacKenna Sherer — October 31, 2025
Putting art at the center of the community is the mission that the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council (YAC) leads with every day. Founded in 1972 by a collective of visionary artists, YAC has dedicated its energy to integrating creativity throughout the community of Oxford, using art as a foundation for growth, connection, and self-expression.
For Executive Director Wayne Andrews, art’s purpose extends far beyond a canvas: it’s about cultivating an environment where art thrives amongst entrepreneurship, continually seeking to strengthen the artistic spirit of Oxford.
Andrews joined the council 17 years ago with the vision to ensure creativity remained a cornerstone of Oxford’s community. Throughout his time with YAC, Andrews has guided the organization with a simple yet transformative strategy: provide spaces, places, and tools that allow artists and their art to sustain themselves while shaping a town where people want to live and continuously invest in.
“As a university town, our population is inquisitive,” Andrews said. “People come from other places, they’ve had other experiences, and they’re looking for a place where they can pursue their passions. If they find that here, [in] not just an activity, but a real opportunity, they stay.”
Rather than focusing solely on hosting exhibitions and festivals, Andrews and the YAC board have produced their vision of recurring, sustainable events that create an ongoing impact in countless ways.
Once supported by YAC, standalone events like the Oxford Film Festival now flourish independently, drawing in filmmakers, authors, and audiences from across Mississippi. Through YAC’s commitment to fostering programs, the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival has transformed from a local gathering into the region’s oldest and largest celebration of fashion and fabric design.
Andrews highlights the inspiration in individual success stories that YAC has helped nurture, like “Art to Go,” founded by artist and instructor Andi Bedsworth. YAC’s support in developing her business model and providing rental space allowed her to turn her university teaching background into an independent organization.
The term “Arts Council” is often aligned with the public perception of the fine arts, many picturing painting, ballet, or classical theater. However, Andrews passionately stated, “...the arts cover so much more than that.”
In reality, the mission of YAC celebrates creativity in functional and expressive forms, from writing and fashion to cooking and architecture.
He emphasized the importance of a lack of limitation to art: it’s not just about what hangs on a wall, but rather what it brings to make the community feel vibrant and alive.
With the broad diversity that art encapsulates, Andrews finds consistent fulfillment in his role. His drive to build Oxford’s creative scene comes from both opportunity and his deeply personal connection to the people and projects he works with.
“It is invaluable to think that what you do and the people you work with are having an impact on the community,” Andrews said. “We all want to do that, [and] we can actually see good things happen [from that impact].”
Looking ahead, Andrews discussed his major passion project in the works: constructing a multi-use center to provide affordable studios, craft spaces, and equipment for local creatives and small businesses. The multi-use center will be located next to YAC’s current facility at the Powerhouse. The building has already been approved by the city, with architectural plans underway and early funding secured.
Through his role as executive director, Andrews hopes people continue to see YAC as the connector between resources, artists, ideas, and even students to have the opportunity to pursue creative entrepreneurship. His vision is to foster a community in Oxford where art is not separated from life, but rather, central to it.
To learn more about Wayne Andrews and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, visit www.oxfordarts.com or their social media page @yacartscouncil.
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