Fostering art and culture in Acadiana.
About Us
How We Serve Our Community
Arts in Education
The AcA’s Arts in Education programs provide arts experiences to students as well as tools to teachers for integrating the arts into the education experience.
Community Development
AcA administers state, local, and privately funded arts and culture re-grant programs, supports the creation of new works of art, exhibits, performances, workshops, public art, and audience services.
Visual Arts
AcA serves thousands of patrons each year through more than 20 exhibitions and 6,000 square feet of world-class galleries.
The department actively seeks out new regional artists, as well as showcases leading professionals in the global arts community.
Performing Arts
AcA’s Performing Arts Program includes a wide variety of elevating performing arts experiences that continue to attract support, participation, & public attention from all corners of the community. These programs put money into the local arts community & engage new audiences year-round.
students reached
by AcA Teaching Artists annually
public schools
receive AcA’s Arts in Education services annually
YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP
with Lafayette Parish School System
teaching artists
employed annually
invested in Acadiana artists and cultural organizations annually
in Acadiana artists and cultural organizations, through fair compensation and grant support
people
served annually by AcA
artists
fairly compensated annually
parishes served by AcA's mission
(Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, & Vermilion Parishes)
Our Mission and History
Our mission is fostering art and culture in Acadiana.
Founded in 1975, Acadiana Center for the Arts (“AcA”) is a community-supported nonprofit organization that fosters art and culture in Acadiana. Since its founding, AcA has developed as a major force, shaping the future of public education and community development in South Louisiana. Located in the heart of Downtown Lafayette, AcA also serves a vibrant hub of the city’s arts and music scene.
AcA supports the creation of new works of art, exhibits, festivals, performances, and public art across an eight-parish region that includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.
AcA aims to bring equitable access to the arts and supports fair compensation of artists. On average, AcA serves over 300,000 people annually and provides fair compensation to 2,700 artists.
In 2013, the AcA merged with the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (“PASA”), whose mission was to educate, inspire, entertain, and culturally enrich the people of south Louisiana by providing local access to a diverse range of the performing arts. This merger supported the vision of both organizations and provided much-needed support to PASA’s programs. Founded in 1989, PASA served as a leading voice in the performing arts in South Louisiana for close to three decades.
Plans & Reports
AcA Staff
Executive Team
Samuel Oliver
(He/Him)
Executive Director
Fawn Hernandez
(She/Her)
Deputy Director
Lex R. Thomas
(They/Them)
Executive Assistant
Front of House Team
Ana Huval
(She/Her)
Guest Services Associate
Audrey de Mahy
(She/Her)
General Manager
Christine Langlois
(She/Her)
Barista
Christopher Isaac
(He/Him)
Guest Services Associate
Eliza Hinrichs
(She/Her)
Front of House Coordinator
Hope Simpson
(She/Her)
Guest Services Associate
Kay Blanchard
(She/Her)
Café and Bar Manager
Kylie Foster
(She/Her)
Barista
Fundraising & Marketing Staff
Allison Doucet
(She/Her)
Development Manager
Brewster Durbin
(He/Him)
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Corinne Sprague
(She/Her)
Development Director
Mandy McGee
(She/Her)
Creative Designer & Marketing Coordinator
Rachel Adams
(She/Her)
Marketing Manager
Operations Staff
Connie Petro
(She/Her)
Office Manager
Kayla Guidry
(She/Her)
Facilities Manager
Kent Altman
(He/Him)
Production Assistant
Tim Benoit
(He/Him)
Facilities Coordinator
Vicki Chrisman
(She/Her)
Bookkeeper
Programs Staff
Anna Kojevnikov
(She/Her)
Community Development Manager
Brandon Motz
(He/Him)
Performing Arts Director
Bree Sargent
(She/Her)
Education Director
Catherine Bricelj
(She/Her)
Education Manager
David Boudreaux
(He/Him)
Studio Program Manager
Emma Sonnier
(She/Her)
Visual Arts Assistant
Erin Gray
(She/Her)
Education Coordinator
Gwen Richard
(She/Her)
Community Development Director
Jaik Faulk
(He/Him)
Visual Arts Director
Jane Vidrine
(She/Her)
Louisiana Music Museum Director
Leah Graeff
(She/Her)
Education Coordinator
Zyria Guillory
(She/Her)
Performing Arts Coordinator
Send Us a Message
Join the team!
AcA Board of Directors
Ed Abell
Member Emeritus
Jessica Allain
Partner, Jones Walker LLP
Jamie Baldridge
Artist and Professor and head of Digital Art and New Media concentration at at ULL
Janet Begneaud
Charles Boudreaux
Partner, Kean Miller LLP
Robbie Bush
President, Associated Travel LLC
Aleisha Cook
AJC Business Solutions
Ronnie Daigle, MD
Physician
Taylor Davis
Northwestern Mutual
Karen deClouet
Artist
Jon Downs
Principal, J. Wallace James Elementary
Jessica Foreman
Trinity Emergency Services
Erica Fox
Maison Freetown
Kiki Frayard
Tracy Frentz
RN
Sarah Gauthier
Talented Teacher, Lafayette Parish School System; Director, Theatre Acadie
William Dan Hare
Member Emeritus
Nanette Soileau Heggie
Principal, Heggie Investment Partners
Ethan Jordan
Head of Product, Sootchy, Inc.
Brandon Journet
Brand Manager, Townsquare Media
Adrian King
Boyd Gaming Corporation
Daphne Krampe
Administrator, MacLaff Inc.
Burnell Lemoine
Retired Superintendent, Lafayette Parish School System
Melissa Maeker
Representative of Junior League of Lafayette
Hannah Smith Mason
Artist; Community Outreach and Business Development, Smith Mason & Co.
Forest Montgomery
Jerome H. Moroux
Partner, Broussard, David, & Moroux
Michael Munzing
Residential and Commercial Agent, BBCO Insurance
Carly Meyers
Mary Neiheisel
Member Emeritus
Lucy Osborn
Carolyn Schumacher
Chairman/Managing Director, Provisions Energy & Marine Support
Lawrence Simon, MD
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Olatunde Soyombo
OSoy Communications
AcA Board Officers
Taylor Davis
President
Ronnie Daigle, MD
Immediate Past President
Michael Munzing
Treasurer
Ethan Jordan
Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Sarah Gauthier
President-Elect
Tracy Frentz
Secretary
Aleisha Cook
Executive Committee Member-at-Large
What’s New
Pelican Ball Honoree: Sharon Moss
Hosted in the James Devin Moncus Theater, the Pelican Ball annual gala celebrates the leading supporters of arts and culture in Acadiana on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Ticket Includes: food + drinks + live music + live art + Pelicans on Parade auction Ticket Purchase...
Pelican Ball Honoree: Janet Begneaud
Hosted in the James Devin Moncus Theater, the Pelican Ball annual gala celebrates the leading supporters of arts and culture in Acadiana on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Ticket Includes: food + drinks + live music + live art + Pelicans on Parade auction Ticket Purchase...
Member Spotlight – Anna Kojevnikov
Anna Kojevnikov Title or profession: Community Development Manager, Acadiana Center for the Arts. How long have you worked for the AcA? 3 years Any other community involvement? Boards, memberships, etc.? Co-founder and Board President of Lafayette Tool Library What is...
Pelican Ball Honoree: Cathy Webre & Jody Nederveld
Hosted in the James Devin Moncus Theater, the Pelican Ball annual gala celebrates the leading supporters of arts and culture in Acadiana on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Ticket Includes: food + drinks + live music + live art + Pelicans on Parade auction Ticket Purchase...
Member Spotlight – John Zant
John Zant What inspired you to start volunteering with Gulf Brew, and what keeps you coming back each year? Why do I do it? Originally, I couldn't afford the ticket, honestly, but I liked the beer. Then I saw the volunteer opportunity and I took it. It is work, but...
Pelican Ball Honoree: Todd Mouton
Hosted in the James Devin Moncus Theater, the Pelican Ball annual gala celebrates the leading supporters of arts and culture in Acadiana on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Ticket Includes: food + drinks + live music + live art + Pelicans on Parade auction Ticket Purchase...
Membership Spotlight – Gerald Guilbeaux
Gerald Guilbeaux Profession: Conductor, Lafayette Concert Band and the Acadian Wind Symphony How long have you been a member of AcA? Three years. What music are you listening to? As a music conductor, I am always listening to new musical works that I might perform for...
Membership Spotlight – Sonja Solomon
Sonja Solomon Profession: Proud Westside Elementary 1st grade teacher. Gooooo Wildcats! How long have you been a member of AcA? Since 2017. What books are you reading? "A Rat Is a Pig Is a Dog Is a Boy: The Human Cost of the Animal Rights Movement." Interesting title,...
Artist Round Up Zine | SPRING 2024
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‘Black Paintings’: Native New Orleanian explores Black experience through artwork
The Acadiana Advocate By JOANNA BROWN | Contributing Writer FEB 10, 2023 - 2:29 PM New Orleans artist John Isiah Walton has created 100 paintings that explore the Black experience — and his personal journey — through a comprehensively contemporary lens that touches on...
AcA Launches Fall 2024 Programming for Creatives Seeking Professional Development Opportunities
LAFAYETTE, LA - August 12, 2024 - Acadiana Center for the Arts’ creative entrepreneurship and professional development series, Creative Acadiana, is launching their Fall season on August 13 with a session which will appeal to the abundance of talented musicians in the...
Jane Vidrine Appointed as Inaugural Director of the Louisiana Music Museum
Acadiana Center for the Arts is proud to announce the appointment of Jane Vidrine, a Grammy-nominated musician, arts administrator, music educator, and folklorist, as the inaugural director of the Louisiana Music Museum. With a long and diverse career in teaching,...
Music, film, and dance come together for Sediment, an immersive experience at Acadiana Center for the Arts
LAFAYETTE, LA - The Acadiana Center for the Arts’ Spotlight Theatre and Dance series, proudly presented by Standard Title, is thrilled to unveil "Sediment," a captivating performance that fuses music, dance, and multimedia art. Renowned Lafayette choreographer Whitney...
Acadiana Center for the Arts announces campaign to expand access to arts education in 190 schools across Acadiana
LAFAYETTE, LA - September 8, 2024 - Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) kicks off a campaign to expand access to the arts in more than 190 schools across Acadiana during National Arts in Education week with a teacher night on September 10, 2024. AcA has partnered with...
AcA Awards Nearly $100K to 20 Arts Projects Through Louisiana Project Grant Program
LAFAYETTE, LA — September 20, 2024 — Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) is excited to announce the awarding of nearly $100,000 to 20 arts projects through the Louisiana Project Grant (LPG) program, administered by AcA for Region 4. Funding for these grants is provided...
Lafayette-based architects and NYC and Australian-based exhibition design firm selected to build Louisiana Music Museum in Lafayette
Photo: Home of the future Louisiana Music Museum, the Old Lafayette Hardware Store at the corner of S. Buchanan St. and W. Vermilion St. in Downtown Lafayette. LAFAYETTE, LA - Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) announces selection of global experiential design and...
CuriousArt: The Fascinating Assemblage of George Graham
Acadiana Center for the Arts hosts intriguing mixed-media exhibition: CuriousArt CuriousArt: The Fascinating Assemblage of George Graham August 10, 2024 - September 21, 2024 Acadiana Center for the Arts - ArtHouse, Circle Gallery, & Mallia Galleria...
Non-Profit Arts & Culture Organizations Eligible for up to $7,500 in Operational Support
LAFAYETTE, LA - Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) is again committing support to assist non-profit Arts & Culture organizations in Lafayette Parish with up to $7,500 in funding for operational support. Funded by LCG and administered by Acadiana Center...
Ceramics Now: Contemporary and Traditional Practices in Acadiana
Acadiana Center For The Arts Hosts the Most Comprehensive Ceramic Exhibition in the Region to Date Ceramics Now: Contemporary and Traditional Practices in Acadiana June 8, 2024 - August 10, 2024 Acadiana Center for the Arts Main Gallery LAFAYETTE, LA - June 2,...