The Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University invites proposals for papers, presentations and panels from Mississippi State students and others for its ninth-annual Creative Arts Festival, which will be held April 10-11 at the JSU Student Center.

While the theme of the conference is “Margaret Walker: This Is My Century,” the organizers welcome proposals from high school, undergraduate and graduate students on any topic. The submission deadline is March 13. Proposal submissions should be 250-500 words and should fit in one of the following four categories:

-- Poetry/Spoken Word: 5- to 7-minute presentations in original storytelling and poetry.

-- Visual Arts: up to three pieces of artwork in any media with 5- to 7-minute presentations.

-- Written: 8- to 10-page essays with 15- to 20-minute presentations.

-- Performing Arts: 5- to 7-minute dance, musical and theatrical presentations.

In the case of panel proposals, please submit the names of the participants and the moderator and a brief synopsis of the panel’s topic and of the individual paper proposals.

To submit a proposal, please send a document in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF to mwa@jsums.edu.

For more information, please contact the Margaret Walker Center at mwa@jsums.edu or 601-979-2055, or the conference coordinators, Helen Crump at helen.j.crump@jsums.edu or Robert Luckett at robert.luckett@jsums.edu.

Additionally, this year’s festival will feature a keynote address from award-winning poet activist/activist poet Nikky Finney and the installation of a Toni Morrison Society Bench by the Road.