Building Minds with Chess Wins at Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase

BayouWear Clothing Featured in The New York Times

BayouWear® is a clothing brand known for its vibrant New Orleans-centric designs that have become a staple at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The “little-known brand with Big Easy style” was recently featured in an article written by Shannon Sims for The New York Times Style section. The article highlights BayouWear at this year’s Jazz Fest and the brand’s founder Bud Brimberg, whose company Art4Now is the publisher and exclusive source for all Jazz Fest collectibles. 

The festive brand was introduced in 1981 with the iconic HowAhYa® Hawaiian shirts as an accompaniment to the commemorative Jazz Fest poster. Since then, the brand has expanded its collection to include skirts, shorts, camisoles, and other items like aprons and sunbrellas. Attendees and performers alike can be seen donning BayouWear across the Fairgrounds. Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, is known for gracing the stage with a custom dress during her performances.

Lisa Alexis, Director of the Office of Cultural Economy, said the BayouWear clothes have taken on a larger meaning for the city. “Everyone looks forward to the design each year,” she said. “It just seems to give a very comprehensive representation and feel of our New Orleans culture.”

Read the full article at www.nytimes.com.  

2023 New Orleans Greek Festival

The community of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral will host its 48th Annual Greek Festival Friday, May 26, - Sunday, May 28. This Memorial Day weekend tradition is an opportunity for you to experience Greece along the banks of Bayou St. John. 

Come enjoy all of these specialties amidst displays of Greek culture, highlighted by traditional dances and the sounds of a live Greek band. And, don’t forget to bring your family and friends for a memorable experience of Greece on the Bayou. OPA!

To purchase tickets or find additional information, please visit gfno.com.

Storm Aware & Prepare

This free, family-friendly event will provide hurricane preparedness information and cleanup supplies head of the most active part of the 2023 hurricane season on Saturday, May, 27 beginning at 9 a.m.

In addition to hurricane prep resources, and cleanup information, this family-friendly event will include coastal educational activities for adults and children provided by Pontchartrain Conservancy.

To find additional information, please visit scienceforourcoast.org.

Annual Sensory Friendly Day

Children with autism and developmental disabilities and their families are invited to a sensory-friendly morning at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. 

On Saturday, May 27, 9:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m., the Museum will open early to minimize crowds and exhibit noises. Trained educators and volunteers will lead exploration of museum exhibitions and drop-in art activities highlighting New Orleans culture and music.

The program is FREE for the entire family, but registration is required.

To register for Sensory Friendly Day or to find more information, please visit nolajazzmuseum.org.

Majek Fingers Playgroup

Music Box Village sonic-sculpture garden offers hands-on playtime with our 'musical architecture' installations designed and fabricated by various local, regional and visiting artists.

Register for the early childhood (ages 2-6) music-making playgroup with Orlando Primo, master drummer and founder of Majek Fingers School of Music. Register in advance now!

The playgroup takes place on Saturday, May 27 beginning at 1 p.m.

To register for this event, please visit tixr.com.

Memorial Day Commemoration

Join The National WWII Museum on Monday, May 29, for a solemn remembrance of military personnel who lost their lives in service to their country at our Memorial Day Commemoration.

Medal of Honor Recipient Michael Thornton and Gold Star Daughter Dolores Milhous, whose father, James Robinson Jr., was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor following his service in World War II, will be featured as speakers. The event will also include performances by the Victory Belles and the American Legion Post 377 band.

Current US servicemembers and their families can enjoy free admission to the Museum thanks to the ongoing Blue Star Museums program.

To register for this event please visit nationalww2museum.org. If you are unable to attend in person, you can find a link to watch virtually on Vimeo.

Something Like: The Lion King

Join Fat Squirrel at the Ty Tracy Theatre for the triumphant return of Something Like... A Sing-a-Long Show! The musical cast leads the audience in a singalong with onscreen lyrics, then our improve cast creates an all-new narrative based on the hit songs!

Come dressed in costume based on The Lion King (or in a vaguely Lion King-themed outfit, we're not picky) for a chance to win free drinks! The event takes place on Tuesday, May 30 beginning at 7:30 p.m. 

To purchase tickets or find more information, please visit fatsquirrelnola.square.site

Broadway Dance Intensive

Come dance with Ms. Watson -- You'll learn choreography from 9 Broadway shows across 3 weeks! This program is intended for young adults ages 14 -19.

Intensive classes will be held at Dancing Grounds. Classes are every week in June, Monday - Friday, beginning on Monday, Jun. 5. Showcase rehearsal takes place on Friday, Jun. 23. 

To participate in the showcase, students must attend rehearsal on Friday 6/23 from 10am-2pm at the Ty Tracy Theatre.

To register for this intensive or find additional information, please visit fatsquirrelnola.square.site

Planning an International Tour Webinar

Louisiana music has a global audience, but how do you connect with your fans thousands of miles away? On Thursday, Jun. 1 at 2:00 p.m., join Ron Rona, Artistic Director of Preservation Hall in a conversation with recording artist, DJ, producer and organizer Cole Williams as they discuss: 

• Knowing when you’re ready to tour overseas.
• Identifying destinations.
• Logistics, Unexpected issues, and partnerships.
• Budgeting, booking agents, and tour managers.
• Band dynamics and building a positive dynamic on a tour.
• Plus your questions!

The Planning an International Tour webinar will take place on Zoom. To RSVP and receive a link, please email gene@ellanola.org and ask for a link.

National Trust Preservation Funds Due June 1

Funding from the National Trust is awarded to nonprofit organizations and public agencies, and the majority of our funding is awarded for planning and education projects through our National Trust Preservation Funds grant program.

National Trust grants are primarily for planning preservation projects, though some special programs focus on preservation planning in particular fields or geographic regions or allow for the funding of physical preservation (“bricks and mortar”) work.

Grant requirements vary and applications are due at various times of the year, depending on the program. Visit the links below to access the most up-to-date information, as well as for application guidelines and deadlines.

The deadline to apply for a grant is Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023.

To apply or find more information, please visit savingplaces.org.

Lessons Learned from the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival Shooting

Kelly Hubbard was attending day 3 of the Route 91 Country Music Festival with her daughter and a few friends when someone opened fire on the crowd of 22,000 attendees. Kelly speaks as a survivor, but also as an emergency manager on the events of that evening to help others in her profession and in the entertainment and hospitality industry to improve large event planning and mass casualty response.

This session will reflect on lessons for all parties involved in large pop-up location event planning and mass casualty response. Learning outcomes will include: considerations for security and safety in pop-up venues, coordination concepts with local government partners, understanding the response and recovery process, considerations for integration of non-traditional response partners and trauma care for survivors and staff. 

This session will take place on Thursday, Jun. 1 beginning at 1 p.m. 

To register for this session, please visit performingartsreadiness.org.

New Emergency Preparedness Audits for Festivals and Outdoor Events

The Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) project provides free emergency preparedness audits for festivals and outdoor events featuring performing arts. A maximum of four of these audits are available between May 2023 and October 2025 at no cost to the recipient.

These consultations are a part of the national PAR team’s work to raise awareness, increase resources, and provide training that addresses the unique needs of the performing arts community.

To discover which audits of festival topics are covered or additional information, please visit performingartsreadiness.org.

O First Friday!

On the first Friday of every month, college students can explore the world's largest collection of Southern Art free of charge. 

The discount is redeemable on-site. Just present your college ID at the Museum's visitor services desk to See the South! 

The next Frist Friday takes place on Friday, Jun. 2, 2023. 

For more information, please visit ogdenmuseum.org.

Blue Star Museums to Begin in May

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.

Ogden Museum is once again offering free admission to the nation's active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve starting on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20 through Labor Day, Monday, Sep. 4, 2023.

To find a list of other museums in New Orleans honoring servicemembers, please visit arts.gov.

Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Concert Series 2023

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation presents the 2023 Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Concert Series, celebrating the rich musical traditions of southwestern Louisiana. This year, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation are presenting Louisiana’s indigenous sounds indoors at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center.

The concert series kicks-off on Friday, Jun. 2 beginning at 8 p.m. with the Lost Bayou Ramblers. The Grammy award-winning band's evolution as a perversely progressive band rooted in Cajun traditions continues to excite, challenge, and redefine both genre expectations as well as cultural preconceptions.

On Saturday, Jun. 3 beginning at 8 p.m., the concert series continues with a performance by T Broussard ft. Mary Broussard. The artist Bryant Keith "T” Broussard’s fate as a Zydeco musician was sealed long before he was born. He is a descendent of Creole and Zydeco music icons.

To purchase tickets or find more information, please visit jazzandheritage.org.

Community Partnership Grants

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is now accepting requests for funding of up to $5,000 to support music and art education programs, cultural events put on by Louisiana arts-based nonprofits, new artistic works that interpret Louisiana culture, and other projects that support the Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s mission.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Jul. 7, 2023. Activities funded by these grants must occur between Friday, Sep. 1, 2023 and Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

To learn more or apply for a grant, please visit jazzandheritage.org.

Applications for 2024 Artists-in-Residence Opens June 5

On Monday, June 5, the Joan Mitchell Center will begin accepting applications for its 2024 visual artist residencies. Eligible artists must either be based in or native to New Orleans, or be a former grant recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation based anywhere in the United States. Former Artists-in-Residence of the Center are not eligible to apply, with the exception of the JMF Early Art Practitioners (EAP).

Selected artists will receive private studio space at the Center for 6 weeks or 14 weeks in either the Spring or Fall 2024 residency session or for 6 weeks during our Summer session. Artists-in-Residence also receive a $150 weekly stipend, weekday communal meals, and opportunities to participate in professional development and community events.

The online application will open on Monday, Jun. 5 at 10 a.m. The deadline to apply will be Monday, Jul. 31 at 12 p.m.

The full list of eligibility requirements and  FAQ's will become available on Monday, Jun. 5, until then, please visit joanmitchellfoundation.org.

June Twilight Dance Program Registration Now Open

The nationally award-winning NORD/NOBA for Dance is holding online registrations for children ages 4 – 18 for its tuition-free June Twilight Dance Program held between Monday, Jun. 5 – Thursday, Jun. 29 at seven locations in Orleans Parish.

As an extension of NOBA's programs during the academic year, the June Twilight Dance Program features evening classes for every level of experience in ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop and West African Dance. Classes vary by location.

To apply for the June Twilight Dance Program or find more information, please complete this Google Doc.

Film New Orleans

Film New Orleans is the official permitting agency for filming in the city. If you plan to film in Orleans Parish, please go to www.filmneworleans.org to learn more and to submit an application. 

If you’re interested in working on film productions as a crew member, Film New Orleans in partnership with IATSE 478 sponsors Workforce Training Programs with NOVAC. Head to novacvideo.org to sign up for remote lectures, seminars, and workshops dedicated to teaching the art of filmmaking.

New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund

The mission of the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) is to support cultural industries and culture bearers of the City of New Orleans through partnerships, grants, and programs to advance sustainable tourism.

Individuals and organizations who align with this mission may be eligible for funding.

Visit notcf.com for more info.