About Us
Our mission is fostering art and culture in Acadiana.
“Our organization grows with the region, and our mission continually unfolds as we strive to foster arts and culture in Acadiana.” —Samuel Oliver, AcA Executive Director
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.
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 2015, 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 had served as a leading voice in the performing arts in South Louisiana for close to three decades under the leadership of Artistic Director Jackie Lyle.
Staff
Bree Sargent, Education Director
Clayton Shelvin, Performing Arts Director
Connie Petro, Office Manager
Essie King, Digital Marketing
Gwen Richard, Community Development Director
Jaik Faulk, Visual Arts Director
Julia Barry, Education Coordinator
Justin Hunter, Technical Director
Kali Lewis, Marketing Intern
Kierra Kemper, CD Assistant
Maggie Martin, Assistant Technical Director
Mark Ackal, Bar Manager
Michelle Accurso, General Manager
Mike Drennan, Facility Engineer
Natasha Hymel, Café Manager
Paige Krause, Outreach Director
Samuel Oliver, Executive Director
Savannah Tassin, Development Coordinator
Vicki Chrisman, Bookkeeper
BOARD of Directors
Officers
Dan Hare, President
Lyle Girouard, President Elect
Olivia Regard, Immediate Past President
Matt Dugas, Treasurer
Sarah Roy, Secretary
Board of Directors
Austin M. Shumaker
Owner/CEO, Louisiana Home Lending
Burnell Lemoine
Former Superintendent, Lafayette Parish School System
Charles Boudreaux
Partner, Jones Walker, LLP
Cliff LaCour
Partner, NeunerPate
Dan Hare
Senior Director of Facilities and Special Events, University of Louisiana Lafayette
Danny Domingue, DDS
Drs. Smith and Domingue
Daphne Krampe
Administrator, MacLaff Inc.
Dr. Annie Wingate Spell
Partner, Tides Medical; Psychologist
J’annine Sullivan
Partner, Senior Helpers
John N. Chappuis
Attorney, Voorhies & Labbé
John Mouton
Attorney
Johnathan Williams
Owner, Quality of Life Services; Executive Director, Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation
Karen deClouet
Artist
Katie Bernhardt
Lyle Girouard
Mary B. Neiheisel, Ed.D.
Chair & Professor of Nursing, University of Louisiana Lafayette
Matt Dugas
Director of Finance, Lafayette Parish School System
Michael Munzing
Residential and Commercial Agent, SUNUP Insurance Services
Olivia Regard Division
Assistant Vice President, Compliance Counsel; Arthur J. Gallagher
Philip Gould
Photographer
Richard Brauns
Senior Partner, JKR Advertising & Marketing
Ronnie Daigle, MD
Physician
Sadie Shamsie
President/Owner, Standard Title
Sarah Roy
Talented Teacher, Lafayette Parish School System; Director, Theatre Acadie
Taylor Davis
Northwestern Mutual
