210th National Council on the Arts Meeting: Celebrating Louisiana Artists 

Tomorrow and Friday, the National Council on the Arts will gather in New Orleans for its summer meeting. It will be only the third time the advisory body has gathered outside of Washington, DC in more than 30 years!

National Endowment for the Arts leadership, including our Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, will also travel to New Orleans for the meeting and to visit with state and local arts leaders and visit arts organizations. “Louisiana has a rich arts ecosystem that contributes to both its strong cultural identity as well as its community resilience,” Chair Jackson said ahead of the trip.

At Friday’s public session, there will be presentations which you can watch live at arts.gov, or if you’re in the area, in-person at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Check out our video playlist below where you can learn more about Louisiana culture, some of the featured presenters, and other NEA honorees from the state!

2005 NEA National Heritage Fellow Michael Doucet

In 2015, in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism, the Arts Endowment created this video about arts and culture of Louisiana as part of its celebration of the 50th anniversary of the agency's establishment.

At the 2:25 mark, you'll hear from Cajun fiddler, composer, band leader Michael Doucet, a 2005 NEA National Heritage Fellow. During the public session Friday, Doucet will be in conversation with 2022 NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison Jr. (below) moderated by 2023 NEA National Heritage Fellow Nick Spitzer!

2022 NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison, Jr.

Get to know cultural activist, saxophonist, composer, and educator Donald Harrison, Jr. in this tribute video. Harrison is from New Orleans and actually studied at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts with Ellis Marsalis, Jr. (more about him below)! Harrison received the 2022 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy.

2021 NEA National Heritage Fellows Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble

Located in Winnsboro, Louisiana, and led by Hattie Addison Burkhalter, this group maintains a rare women-led African American traditional spiritual ritual, rooted in both Christian worship and West African ring shout tradition.

2022 NEA National Heritage Fellow Shaka Zulu

In this video, Black Masking craftsman, stilt dancer, and musician Shaka Zulu will introduce you to this uniquely New Orleans tradition as you experience the sights and sounds of his hometown.

2011 NEA Jazz Masters: The Marsalis Family

The formidable Marsalis family (Ellis, Wynton, Delfeayo, Jason, Branford) are the first group award of the NEA Jazz Masters. Their story begins with Ellis Marsalis, the patriarch, who was born in New Orleans in 1934. You'll get a glimpse into the history of this remarkable family in their tribute video. 

We hope to see you virtually or in-person this Friday!