State of the Arts Symposium 2025
Join us for our third annual State of the Arts Symposium.
DETAILS
State of the Arts 2025
Friday, June 13, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Acadiana Center for the Arts
Overview
State of the Arts is a new, high-impact civic forum designed to elevate public conversation about the role arts and culture play in Lafayette’s economy, identity, and future. It brings together leaders from across sectors—government, business, education, and the arts—to share ideas, data, and strategies that strengthen our cultural infrastructure and deepen its impact.
With over $1.5 billion in annual revenue generated by the cultural sector in Lafayette Parish, the arts are the largest economic driver in our region. But this sector faces critical challenges as global shifts in technology, engagement, and education isolate people from place and community. State of the Arts is an effort to reframe and reinforce the essential value of arts and culture to our civic life.
Keynote by Dr. Christophe Jackson – Artist, Educator, Neuroscientist
“What Creativity Does to Your Brain”
A highlight of the event, Dr. Christophe Jackson will deliver a powerful keynote on the neurological and social benefits of creativity. A Louisiana native with a unique blend of artistic and academic expertise, Dr. Jackson will present a dynamic, interdisciplinary talk exploring how creativity supports cognitive development, mental health, and social cohesion. His keynote will integrate performance, research, and personal insight, offering an unforgettable case for the essential role of the arts in personal and collective well-being, all delivered from the grand piano on the stage of the James Devin Moncus Theater.
Schedule
Registration Begins
1:00
Plenary: Updating the Economic Impact of Arts & Culture in Acadiana
2:00 PM – 2:50 PM | Moncus Theater
LEDA CEO Mandi Mitchell will present the first update in 8 years to its study of the impact of the cultural economy on Lafayette Parish’s overall economy. In 2017, this report showed a $1.5 Billion impact in the parish alone. The 2025 study will update these numbers. Panelists including LEDA Business Intelligence Director Brittany Deal, and LEED Center Program and Operations Manager Jonathan Shirley, who will discuss the findings and implications.
Panel: Give Them What They Want! Creating and Meeting Demand for the Arts
3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | ArtHouse
Arts and Culture are not a given in our society, but rather they are the product of cultivation and education. We have seen our community grow in its appreciation for arts and culture through the work of various institutions, large and small, that help expose new people to our culture and grow the demand for its ability to elevate our community.
Panel: A Reason to Show Up – Culture as an Excuse to Develop Our Community
3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | Moncus Theater
Arts and Culture have more than intrinsic value, they are a tool for bringing people together and building stronger ties between neighbors at a time when few other public spaces encourage a healthy exchange. These panelists discuss the ways that music, festivals, and community events help make our community a better place to live.
Panel: Invest in Place – How Lafayette’s Culture Attracts and Grows Its Businesses
4:00 PM – 4:50 PM | ArtHouse
Pensacola Philanthropist Quint Studer said, “Capital follows talent, and talent follows place. Today, people will first choose the place they want to live and then look for a job.” This panel discusses how businesses strategically grow their workforce through investing in the cultural opportunities afforded locally.
Panel: Where Do Artists Come From? Artists and their Parents Discuss the Challenges of Making the Creative Leap
4:00 PM – 4:50 PM | Moncus Theater
A unique panel, consisting of local creative entrepreneurs… and their parents. Part group therapy session and part reflection on the challenges of launching a creative career in Lafayette, this discussion unpacks the pivotal moments that unleashed a significant generation of cultural impact in Lafayette.
Keynote: What Creativity Does to Your Brain
5:10 PM – 6:00 PM | Moncus Theater
A highlight of the event, Dr. Christophe Jackson will deliver a powerful keynote on the neurological and social benefits of creativity. A Louisiana native with a unique blend of artistic and academic expertise, Dr. Jackson will present a dynamic, interdisciplinary talk exploring how creativity supports cognitive development, mental health, and social cohesion. His keynote will integrate performance, research, and personal insight, offering an unforgettable case for the essential role of the arts in personal and collective well-being, all delivered from the grand piano on the stage of the James Devin Moncus Theater.
