Need funding for a creative community project in Acadiana? AcA’s Louisiana Project Grant offers up to $7,500.
Photograph of FY23 Louisiana Project Grant recipients and AcA staff and board members holding giant check.
LAFAYETTE, LA – May 2, 2023 – Submissions are now open for Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA)’s Louisiana Project Grant, which supports creative community projects in Acadiana with up to $7,500 in funding. The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 30th at 5pm, and AcA hosts a public information session on the grant (both in-person and virtual) on Friday, May 12 at 10am. Register online here for the session or visit acadianacenterforthearts.org for more information.
New this year, eligible applicants (which include nonprofit organizations, schools, and public bodies in Acadiana) can apply for two project grants instead of one. Funded by the State of Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, AcA has administered this program since 1995. Since its creation, the Louisiana Project Grant has supported hundreds of creative projects in Acadiana and has promoted and stimulated arts and culture in the region. AcA currently distributes a total of approximately $100,000 to successful projects through this program each year.
“Investing in culture is the one way that our small part of the world punches well above its weight. Through its unique and remarkable culture, Acadiana can compete with any place, anywhere in the world,” says AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver.
One of last year’s funded projects included the creation of a short-form podcast series telling the oral history of the local NPR affiliate radio station KRVS 88.7FM, which celebrates its 60thanniversary on the air this year. The podcast, produced by Rachel Nederveld, will feature one episode a week for 24 weeks and begin airing on May 13, 2023 on KRVS 88.7FM and online at krvs.org. The Louisiana Project Grant supported the cost of recording, editing, and publishing the new podcast.
The arts and culture sector accounts for 47,825 jobs in the State of Louisiana and about $6.1 Billion in economic activity. Read more on those numbers from Americans for the Arts.
According to Lafayette Consolidated Government, the cultural sector in Lafayette alone (defined as activity from live music, festivals, museums, and other arts-oriented businesses) accounts for more than $6.5 million in direct economic impact in Lafayette and $1.5 million in local and state tax revenue.
The Louisiana Project Grant aims to foster diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the arts; to showcase Acadiana’s artistry, creativity, and innovation; and to encourage professional artists to undertake projects that have meaningful community involvement and collaboration.
More details about the program including full guidelines and submission instructions can be found on the AcA website: https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/opportunities-for-organizations/louisiana-project-grants/
