Proud to Call it Home

One reason we like coming to the Bayou Boogaloo so much is the genuine affection the organizers and attendees have for New Orleans culture. Last night, I talked to people from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Quebec and of course Virginia, all of them absolutely nuts for New Orleans and our culture. Keep in mind this is a relatively small festival. About 15,000 people are expected over the weekend. This isn't Jazz Fest, this isn't French Quarter Fest, and yet for the people who love New Orleans, it's a fantastic time. When you have fans like these, it makes us proud to represent New Orleans, and we're going to give them a great show!

In Norfolk

After a smooth, relatively quick 20 hour bus ride, we arrived in norfolk yesterday around noon. After set up and well deserved shower time, we headed over to the artist welcome reception. The last three year's, this party has been called the Hurricane Relief party, and I think it's worth noting that, without prompting, the Norfolk folks have changed the name to artist welcome. Another milestone passed!

Lovely party featuring Terrence Simien and lots of kegs of Abita beer trucked up from the piney woods. Plus boiled crawfish! Not half bad either. Raised some money for the Arts Council, and met lots of people who love New Orleans. Fest starts in earnest today. Here's the line-up.

Arts Council brings artists to Norfolk Bayou Boogaloo

Linda Lesperance loading her work to head to Norfolk

Once again this year, the Arts Council is bringing 24 local artists to the 20th Annual Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Festival in Norfolk, VA. The Boogaloo runs July 30 to August 2 at Town Point Park in the heart of the city, and along with these top visual artists, features Louisiana musicians such as Dr. John, Bonerama, The Radiators and more.

The result of many months of planning and coordinating between the Arts Council of New Orleans and Norfolk Festevents, this “take-the-show-on-the-road” trip is part of the Arts Council’s aggressive strategy for promoting the cultural economy of New Orleans while providing viable avenues for artists to bring their creative works to the marketplace.

The artists leave by bus on Wednesday July 29th from the Arts Council. Follow our trip via our blog or follow us on Twitter.

Arts Council of New Orleans Recieves National Endowment for the Arts Recovery Grant

Recovery Grant to create new funding opportunities for local arts and cultural organizations.

The Arts Council of New Orleans today announces its selection as a $250,000 grant recipient from the National Endowement for the Arts (NEA) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Arts Council of New Orleans is amoung the 631 nonprofit arts organizations awarded the one-time grant from the NEA to preserve jobs in the nonprofit sector that are in jeopardy due to the recent economic downturn.

The Arts Council of New Orleans applied for NEA funding to regratn to regional arts and cultural organizations. NEA funds will create a one-time grant opportunity to support salaries of positions at risk, or those that have been eliminated as a result of economic challenges, which are critical to the organizations's artistic mission. Grants can also be applied for to expand a period that previously engaged artists or contractual personnel will be employed by arts organizations.

"The Arts Council applied for NEA funds to fill a critical need within the arts community, retaining staff as budgets are tightened," Interim President and CEO of the Arts Council Mary Len Costa said. "We appreciate the opportunity to provide additional financial assistance to arts organizations across the greater New Orleans community. However, the need to support our cultural institutions continues to be great. We need locals to continue investing their time, energy and finances into supporting the arts and cultural organizations as we continue to face economic challenges."

Additional Louisiana arts councils that recieved NEA Recovery Grant Funds to regrant to their respective constituents include the Arts Council of Baton Rouge, Inc. and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. New Orleans area arts organizations that received a NEA Recovery Grant include Friends of A Studio in the Woods, Junebug Productions, Inc., Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, National Performance Network, Inc. New Orleans Ballet Association, Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, Inc. University of New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana and Young Aspirations/ Young Artists, Inc. The Lafayette-based organization Louisiana Folk Roots, Inc. also recieved funding.

In total, the NEA awarded $29.75 million across the country in this second round of grants from the stimulus package. It previously awarded 63 state and regional first round grant submissions in April, totalling $19.8 million. In this third round of grants, thirteen arts organizations in Louisiana were awarded gratns totaling $1,175,000.