About

A COMMUNITY PASSIONATE ABOUT ART

In an effort to further advance the promotion of arts in the community, the Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art (HAPA) was founded in 2014. An umbrella organization under VisitHattiesburg, HAPA is passionate about making art available to all; a free part of everyday life. Through HAPA, Hattiesburg has renewed its commitment to expand artistic offerings available in the community. In the past five years, HAPA has promoted community engagement for the arts and provided opportunities for art advocacy and education while adding new public art pieces throughout Hattiesburg. Our mission continues to be to purchase and place art in the heart of town – our parks, neighborhoods, public buildings, and businesses – and to raise awareness of the works already in the area while encouraging artists and engaging our community to strengthen support for public art.

HAPA believes in the power of art to vitalize our community for residents and visitors alike, in ways farther-reaching than aesthetics. Public art can enrich our imaginations; beautify our spaces for work, contemplation, and play; and inspire self-discovery, community engagement, and dialogue.

VisitHATTIESBURG DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

At Visit Hattiesburg, one of our core values is to communicate and amplify the HBURG story. Our story would not be complete without the diverse blend of backgrounds, viewpoints, and life experiences of our residents and visitors. We are proud to promote a city that embraces and respects the strength of this diversity. Visit Hattiesburg is dedicated to working with community partners to remove barriers and improve the accessibility of Hattiesburg’s tourism product freely and without limit, as we extend hospitality in all that we do. We are committed to welcoming everyone to enjoy the incredible beauty of our city, regardless of ethnic origin, disability, race, sex, religion, gender identity, age, or beliefs.