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
Justin Este
(He/Him)
Production 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
Artist Round Up Zine | FALL 2023
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Member Spotlight – Jammie Parbhoo
Jammie Parbhoo (right) with her husband Sami Jammie Parbhoo Profession: Realtor How long have you been a member of AcA? I've been a member of the President Circle for 2 years. What books are you reading? I prefer to listen to books on my morning walks. I'm currently...
Member Spotlight – Phyllis Griffard
Phyllis Griffard (right) with her husband Pete Phyllis Griffard Profession: Biologist and educator, retired from UL Lafayette Biology faculty. How long have you been a member of AcA? Since moving back to Lafayette in 2015. What books are you reading? Right now my...
ArtSpark 2021 Recipient Interviews
Learn About the ArtSpark 2021 Recipients & Their Projects
Member Spotlight – Sarah Oliver
Sarah Oliver Profession: Interior Design Assistant How long have you been a member of AcA? 4 years. Do you frequent any Downtown establishments? Which ones and what’s your go-to cocktail or lite bite? The downtown spot I probably frequent the most is Wild Child Wines…...
Member Spotlight – Adrian King
Adrian King Profession: Regional Vice President of Marketing Are you on the AcA Board and/or a Committee? Yes. I am currently on the Board of Directors and serve as Chair of the Community Development Committee. I also serve on the Finance Committee, Visual Arts...
Member Spotlight – Jessica Foreman
Jessica Foreman Profession: Trinity Emergency Services / Trinity Rental Services How long have you been a member of AcA? Approx. 6 months Are you on the AcA Board and/or a Committee? I am lucky enough to be a Board member and participate on the Performing Arts,...
Tips & Tricks | Artist Biography vs Artist Statement by Erin Gray
Writing your Artist Biography versus your Artist Statement By Erin Gray, Education Coordinator, Acadiana Center for the Arts So you’re going to be in an exhibition - congratulations! Or perhaps you’re planning to submit a grant application (ArtSpark, anyone?). You...
2023 ArtSpark Files : Ten Tiny Dances® by Whitney Willis Hebert
Back in April 2023 we packed about 150 people around a stage two nights in a row at the Feed N' Seed downtown and watched ten outstanding dances choreographed by ten local artists. I assume most of Lafayette hears “dance performance” and thinks of studio recitals— big...
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2024 Student Artist Awards Recipients
Acadiana Center For The Arts Announces Scholarships For These Ten Young Creatives From Across Acadiana Pictured (clockwise from top left): Laurel Greenway, Carley Dupré, Reed Patin, Elias Smith, Zhoriel Tapo, Oliver Gallagher, Cathryn Hanks, Ethan Moody, Sylvie Smith,...
2024 Student Arts Expo
42 Lafayette Parish schools to perform and exhibit art at AcA’s Student Arts Expo on Saturday, April 13, 2024 LAFAYETTE, LA - April 3, 2024 - Downtown Lafayette is set to come alive with the Student Arts Expo, a festival of creativity and culture,...
2024 ArtSpark Recipients
Acadiana Center for the Arts awards $50,000 to local artists LAFAYETTE, LA - Friday March 29, 2024 - At an event last night, nine Acadiana artists were announced as the 2024 cohort for Acadiana Center for the Arts individual artist funding program, ArtSpark....
Herman Fuselier takes the mic as new host of Louisiana Crossroads
pictured: Herman Fuselier, host of Louisiana Crossroads LAFAYETTE, LA, March 12, 2024 - This Thursday, Herman Fuselier will take the mic as the new host of the Louisiana Crossroads series. The performance series celebrates its 24th year as a program of Acadiana...
AcA’s 2024 Student Artist Awards Submissions Now Open!
LAFAYETTE, LA, March 6, 2024 - The submission period for Acadiana Center for the Arts’ student artist awards are now open. The Courtney Granger Memorial award and the Jean Breaux Award support highschool and college student artists, musicians, and other...
AcA seeks architects to develop the old Lafayette Hardware store into a new Louisiana Music Museum
LAFAYETTE, LA - Acadiana Center for the Arts has published a Request for Qualifications, the first step in developing the Louisiana Music Museum, which will curate both long term exhibitions and portable exhibitions that may travel to other venues, as well as...
More than 2,000 5th Grade Students will visit local Art Museums through the Arts Experiences for All program
Field trip in AcA’s Main Gallery LAFAYETTE, LA - February 20, 2024 - Thanks to the Arts Experiences for All program, more than 2,000 5th grade students will participate in museum visits at either Acadiana Center for the Arts or Hilliard Art Museum in the...
IN MEDIAS RES: How One Story Becomes Another
Acadiana Center for the Arts Hosts Large Group Exhibition Featuring Artworks from Local & Regional Artists in Dialogue with the Poetry of Former Louisiana Poet Laureate Featured Artwork: Megan Barra, Woman with Guitar | Featured Poem: Megan’s Guitar, Darrell...
AcA Celebrates the Lafayette Parish Bicentennial with a Main Gallery Exhibition Featuring 22 Local Artists
LAFAYETTE, LA - JUNE 5, 2023 - In celebration of the Lafayette Parish Bicentennial, Acadiana Center for the Arts presents a group exhibition of Louisiana artists juried by French-Algerian artist & curator Camille Farrah Lenain. Artists from our AcA...