Cultural Economy Visit Helis Foundation John Scott Center

Earlier in the week, OCE visited The Helis Foundation John Scott Center, where they were joined by Ayo Scott for a guided tour. This visit highlighted the office’s ongoing commitment to supporting cultural institutions.

Additionally, OCE recently provided a grant to the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) to support their upcoming Family Fun Day. This event will engage local families with activities that explore visual and performance art, artmaking, and the unique traditions of New Orleans.

Stay updated and connected by visiting their website: LEH.org

Satchmo Summerfest

This past weekend, OCE played a pivotal role in the Satchmo Summerfest, held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Led by Deputy Director, Alana Harris, the office joined many others in honoring the legendary Louis Armstrong, celebrating his legacy, and fostering a sense of community around New Orleans' rich jazz culture. It was a weekend filled with music, fellowship, and a deep appreciation for the enduring influence of jazz on our city.

SALON Artist Studios Opening Reception at Canal Place

Join SALON Artist Studios for an exciting opening reception and studio unveiling featuring our new fashion designers in residence: Denisio Truitt, Nicholas Linson, and Jehlani Nasira. This Friday, these talented artists will showcase their current work, reveal the transformed studios, and discuss their upcoming projects. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with fellow fashion designer residents VanShawn Branch and Renee Johnson, as well as fragrance designer WyShonda Elise. Enjoy cocktails, refreshments, and music by DJ Cruella De Trill.

Date: Aug.9
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Canal Place (333 Canal St.), 2nd Floor next to Anthropology

For more information, visit: artsneworleans.org.

Arts Market in City Park

Visit Arts Market New Orleans on Aug. 10, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in City Park. Our summer markets are located under the oak trees directly across from Café Du Monde. Bring your little ones for a free drum class with Majek Fingers Drumming School from 10:30 am – 11:30 am, and then enjoy the famous Stanley playground.

For more information, visit: artsneworleans.org.

NOJO-YJC Free Show and Fundraiser: Supporting Youth Jazz Education

The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) and the Youth Jazz Collective (YJC) invite the community to a Free Show and Fundraiser this Saturday. This event supports NOJO's Youth Jazz Collective as it expands its programming to include transformative education and performance opportunities for high school and middle school students from across Greater New Orleans.

The concert will feature an opening set by members of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, special guest sit-ins, a silent auction, food, drinks, and more. The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Madame Vic's, located at 1500 Elysian Fields Ave. It is free to the public, with all proceeds supporting the NOJO Youth Jazz Collective.

For more information, visit: thenojo.com.

Eternal Seeds Showcase 2024

Join for an evening of celebration with presentations from our Summer Session Arts Intensive, BElite Collective, and StudioBE Crew! The 2024 Eternal Seeds Showcase, taking place Saturday, Aug. 10 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Market will be an evening of celebration featuring culminating presentations from our Summer Session Arts Intensive, BElite Collective, and StudioBE Crew. This year, we are upfliting the legacies of Black Visual Artists John T. Scott and Sister Gertrude Morgan.

For more information, click here.

Screenwriting: Stories on Grief and Memory

NOVAC invites participants to join them in person on Sunday, Aug. 11, from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. for "Screenwriting: Stories on Grief and Memory" with Justice Singleton. This intimate lecture and writing workshop will review screenwriting and storytelling principles related to plot, character, and the unexpected circumstances of grief. Participants will explore how stages of grief and memories can create a narrative lens to help make peace with loss.

The workshop will cover:

• A discussion on loss, death, and grief in film history.
• Practice in writing through scenes of memory and loss.
• The creation of a personal grief guide through story and memory using words, pictures, and imagination.
• A communal writing session and workshop.
• A sermon on how death in the industry influences storytelling and how to create new narratives through loss.

For more information, visit: learn.novacvideo.org.

Film Financing Masterclass

NOVAC invites participants to join them on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for their virtual "Film Financing Masterclass" with Thomas Lim. This virtual masterclass will explore the essential factors to consider beyond merely crafting a compelling story, aiming to maximize the chances of securing financing for a film project. Even if the narrative is strong, obtaining funding requires more than just a great story—it demands a strategic mindset and a well-planned approach to navigating the funding landscape.

For more information, visit: learn.novacvideo.org.

Small Biz Marketing Demystified Workshop Series

AEDF and Crescent City Social invite small business owners to join them for a workshop series designed to teach participants how to use free and low-cost tools to effectively promote their businesses. This educational workshop will simplify marketing strategies and demonstrate tools for small businesses to utilize in day-to-day operations.

This session will cover:

• Ideas for creating promotions to increase visibility and interaction
• Using Canva to create graphics, flyers, and logos
• Website creation and platforms
• Meta Business Suite for posting easily across social media

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet for hands-on learning and support. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use instructions, accessible resources, and practical tools to maximize marketing efforts for their small businesses.

Event Details:

• When: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Where: 2401 Westbend Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70114 - First-floor conference room. Parking available on-site.

Limited space is available—sign up below to reserve a spot for this free workshop!

For more information, visit: algiers-economic-development-foundation.springly.org

Gallery Talk on John Scott: Blues Poem for the Urban Landscape

NOMA invites visitors to join them in the galleries each Wednesday for weekly talks with artists, curators, and other special guests. During these casual conversations, attendees will take a close look at different works currently on view at the museum.

This week, on Wednesday, Aug. 14, Brian Piper, Freeman Family Curator of Photographs, Prints, and Drawings at NOMA, will discuss the newly installed John Scott: Blues Poem for the Urban Landscape. The talk will be offered at 12:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall. Admission is free with museum entry. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Wednesdays, courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.

For more information, visit: noma.org.

Building Community Power: Education

Join the movement to co-create a community-designed policy that addresses Black New Orleanians’ needs for equity and liberation! Building Community Power is a collaborative policy design series that confronts major community concerns with radical imagination. After Katrina, the city's public school system underwent significant changes, including the widespread adoption of charter schools. This shift has led to challenges around accessibility and quality of education for many students, particularly those from Black communities.

Participate in the Education design session to envision a New Orleans where all children have access to high-quality public education. The session will take place at Élan Academy, 6501 Berkley Drive, on Friday, Aug. 16, from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

For more information, visit: ashenola.org.

Film Making Grants

SDF will be accepting Production Grant applications from now through Aug. 16. Project Directors should reside or have deep roots in one of the twelve Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Applicants must have a U.S. social security number or U.S. federal tax ID number, be 18 years of age or older, and must not be enrolled in a film school or seeking funds for a student project.  This grant program is dedicated to Southern makers, with a focus on bringing visibility to individuals and communities that are often overlooked. The fund will support nonfiction documentaries, including shorts, features, docuseries, and experimental works, provided the projects are in production. Proposals for research, development, post-production, distribution, or engagement/impact funding are not eligible.

For more information, visit: southerndocumentaryfund.org.

Fall Open House

At the Open House, attendees can explore a wide range of French language courses designed for all proficiency levels. Whether beginners or advanced learners, participants will be guided by experienced instructors on their language learning journey. From Full Courses for an in-depth study to Partial Courses for quick skill enhancement, there is a class to suit everyone's needs and goals.

Free, in-person placement tests will be available during the Open House to help individuals determine their French level, with trained instructors and staff assisting with course selection. These tests will be held in rooms 202 and 203 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additionally, 30-minute trial French classes will be offered in room 201, allowing attendees to experience the courses firsthand. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate the beauty of the French language and culture at the Alliance Française Open House on Aug.17 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at 1519 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans.

For more information, visit: af-neworleans.org.

Preserving Black Churches

Preserving Black Churches is a project of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Annual grants from the Preserving Black Churches program are intended to preserve historic Black houses of worship—either with active congregations and non-active congregations—and advance ongoing preservation activities while strengthening capacity for historic congregations and preservation and community organizations to steward, manage, and better utilize their historic structures.

Grants range from $50,000 to $500,000. Applicants may apply for one of five Project Categories: Capital Projects, Endowment and Financial Sustainability, Organizational Capacity and Operations, Programming and Interpretation, or Project Planning.

Letter of Intent (LOI) Due: Aug. 19.

For more information, visit: savingplaces.org.

Deadline Approaching: Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants, Jazz Road Tours, and Accessibility Grants

Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants. Artists, apply for up to $2,000 to take advantage of a milestone opportunity in your career. This program is open to artists in our nine-state region of AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, and TN. Projects must take place between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025.

Jazz Road Tours. Jazz artists, take your music to places it's never been. Jazz Road Tours offer grants of up to $15,000 to develop tours into communities across the country. This program is open to jazz artists nationwide and the current cycle support tours occurring January 1 - July 1, 2025.

Accessibility Grants. Grants of up to $2,500 are available for organizations to make arts programs accessible to persons with disabilities. This program is open to organizations in our nine-state region of AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, and TN for projects occurring October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.

Click on the grant that interests you for additional information.

Daughters Beyond Incarceration Opens Recruitment

Daughters Beyond Incarceration has opened registration for Fall 2024. They are accepting girls and femmes ages 8 to 18 who have a parent currently or formerly incarcerated. They are reaching out due to the recipient's connection with young people across a variety of spaces, believing that they can help spread the word!

Attached are the promotional materials to share with families or on social media. This cycle, the program is offering STEM opportunities, dance and theater arts, as well as soft skills training. If the schedules of their program and another program overlap, they are more than willing to share mentees and create flexible schedules to accommodate them.

If there are families who may have a technological barrier, please contact them for their consent, and the team can follow up to support in registration. Registration closes on Aug. 30.

For more information, visit: afterschoolhq.com.

JCLA & MYAC Applications Now Open

The Mayor’s Neighborhood Engagement Office, in partnership with the Office of Youth and Families, would like to invite you to participate in the Junior Civic Leadership Academy (JCLA) and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC). This dual program will provide youth with an in-depth look at city government while offering engaging hands-on demonstrations and presentations that give participants an insider's view of how the City of New Orleans operates. It's designed to allow emerging young leaders to build contacts and organizational insights while refining the tools to architect systems-level change. Students become active in the community by participating in local government and building a greater capacity for civic participation.

The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) also directly advises the Mayor on policies and issues influencing youth wellbeing. Council members develop recommendations through legislative research, constituent data review, and conducting an annual youth town hall to determine priority impact areas.

The application deadline is Sept. 1.

For more information, visit: nola.gov.

LPO 24/25 Single Tickets On Sale Now

Individual tickets for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), the region’s premier and GRAMMY® Award-winning orchestra, are now on sale for the highly anticipated 2024/25 season. The season opens with LPO Music Director Matthew Kraemer leading Hector Berlioz’s revolutionary Symphonie Fantastique on Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Orpheum Theater at 7:30 p.m.

The LPO is pleased to announce the return of the LPO Happy Hour series and Music at the Museum series, in addition to another historic collaboration with Lost Bayou Ramblers and Sweet Crude. Music lovers and symphony enthusiasts are invited to purchase single tickets or select a specially curated package of concerts to enjoy a season filled with captivating performances by extraordinary guest artists.

For more information, visit: lpomusic.com.