Jackson Arts Council celebrates local artists while beginning transition to next director View Comments Jackson Arts Council’s main objective is to promote the work of local artists, and they did that this past week with its second annual The Arts Backstage event. The event is held on the stage at The Ned, and local artists were lined up throughout the stage area and to the side where backstage would be during a production with their work on display. “We spread it out some this year because last year’s inaugural event happened in February right before the pandemic,” said Melinda Reid, who finished up more than eight years as executive director for JAC on Friday. “But this allows for the artists to have more room to mingle and for visitors to come in and have a more relaxed experience.”