While William Faulkner and Ole Miss Football draw many visitors to Oxford, the city’s creative identity extends far beyond its most notable attractions. Concerts, exhibitions, author talks and community events give students plenty of opportunities to experience the arts that have been a staple of the city since its beginning. Luckily, Oxford has no shortage of bookstores, galleries, museums and music venues to host these events.
Here’s a look at some of the places and events that make Oxford’s arts scene one of the most vibrant in the South.
Square Books
Few places have played a larger role in Oxford’s artistic identity than Square Books.
Founded in 1979 by Richard and Lisa Howorth, the independent bookstore has become one of the city’s go-to spots for natives and visitors alike. Located on the historic Oxford Square, Square Books and its second location, Off Square Books, have hosted hundreds of writers over the past four decades, including Pulitzer Prize-winning authors such as Adam Johnson and debut authors like Maria Zoccola.
The bookstore’s reach has extended beyond authors, as former President Barack Obama visited virtually during Independent Bookstore Day in 2021.
Square Books’ multiple locations remain some of the busiest arts venues in Oxford Throughout the fall and spring, Square Books hosts regular author readings, book signings and in-conversation events for authors to discuss their work. Several events take place each month, oftentimes free to the public, with the occasional paid event.
The bookstore’s calendar is already filling up for the semester, with weekly book clubs and author signings taking place at Square Books, alongside its partner locations: Off Square Books, Rare Square Books and Square Books Jr.
The Powerhouse
Located just off the Square, the Powerhouse Community Arts Center has become a hub for all things Oxford since it transformed from a power plant into a community space in 2008.
Today, the historic building houses gallery space and performance areas where visitors can attend art exhibitions, workshops, Theatre Oxford productions, youth programming and author meet-and-greets.
The venue is also a frequent home to the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour during its fall and spring seasons. The live public radio show combines interviews with acclaimed authors and performances by regional and national musicians, drawing audiences from both the University of Mississippi and the Oxford community.
The season premiere, showcasing authors Timothy B. Tyson and Mary D. Williams with musical acts from Laurelyn Dossett, a singer-songwriter, and Blue Velvet, an Oxford blues collective, will be hosted at The Powerhouse on Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
The Lyric Oxford
Music has long been an essential part of Oxford’s arts culture, with The Lyric Oxford serving as one of its defining venues.
The building first opened as a stable before eventually transforming into Oxford’s first movie theater. After several renovations and a period of abandonment, it reopened in 2008 as a live entertainment venue and has since welcomed artists from nearly every genre.
Today, the venue hosts concerts throughout the year, bringing nationally touring musicians, comedians and special performers to Oxford.
The Lyric Oxford is partnering with Oxford’s independent record store, End of All Music, for a film screening of “Summer Tour”on Aug. 26 at 7:00 p.m. The film is about two young fans following Dead and Company’s final tour in 2023, organizing their lives around the music. The Lyric will also host its first musical act this semester on September 9 at 8:00 p.m. with a performance by The Bends, a rock band from Louisiana.
University of Mississippi Museum and Rowan Oak
Oxford’s connection to the physical arts extends onto the university campus.
The University of Mississippi Museum, founded in 1939 as the Mary Buie Museum, houses collections of American fine art, Greek and Roman antiquities, Southern folk art and rotating exhibitions featuring regional artists. Admission is free, making it one of the easiest and most accessible cultural destinations for students throughout the school year.
Less than a mile away sits Rowan Oak, the former home of the late author William Faulkner. The historic property preserves the house where the Nobel Prize-winning author wrote many of his most influential works. It remains one of Oxford’s most visited literary landmarks.
The house is open for paid tours to visitors but offers free admission to all university students. Rowan Oak can be accessed on foot from the museum using the Bailey Woods Trail.
Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts
Also located on the university campus is the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, serving as one of North Mississippi’s premier performance venues since opening in 2003.
The 1,200-seat theater was established to bring world-class performing arts to Oxford while providing a home for university productions and community events. Over the past two decades, it has hosted theater tours, acclaimed musicians, dance companies, orchestras and student performances, making it a cultural centerpiece for both the university and the surrounding community.
The Ford Center will host Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Larry Gatlin won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1976.
Southside Gallery
For students interested in contemporary Southern art, Southside Gallery has been a fixture of Oxford’s creative community since 1996.
Located on the Square, the gallery represents artists from across the globe while showcasing paintings, photography, sculpture and mixed-media works. New exhibitions rotate throughout the year, with opening receptions providing opportunities to meet artists and learn more about their work.
Oxford’s reputation as an arts destination was built over generations, but its creative community continues to evolve through the venues and organizations that keep their calendars full year-round.
