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 Lafayette Parish School System since 1979 to bring cultural performances into schools and to provide arts-based lessons in Science, Math, English, and Social Studies.
Through a partnership with philanthropists and donors through Community Foundation of Acadiana, a fund has been established to help support AcA’s “Vision for Education” with the creation of a group of donors called the “Visionaries.” The Visionaries will help fund the expansion of AcA’s innovative arts in education programs to serve more than 80,000 students across the region.
“We have found eager support from the philanthropic community who see the opportunity to make an impact across Acadiana and expand the horizons of young people for generations to come,” says AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver.
“These programs aren’t just about learning to make art—they are about building skills in creative problem solving, improving test scores, and helping schools to serve their students better. It’s just a no-brainer, when you look at the impact,” says donor Rodney Savoy, who has supported AcA’s arts
education programs for more than a decade.
“Acadiana’s creative culture is the beating heart of our community, enriching our lives and fostering a sense of place,” said Missy B. Andrade, President & CEO of Community Foundation of Acadiana.
“Donors across Acadiana come to CFA to make a meaningful impact through their philanthropy, so we are thrilled to be a part of this new fund dedicated specifically to arts education, as it represents a significant investment in building the arts infrastructure of our region. By providing accessible arts experiences, we’re building a more engaged, equitable, and thriving community.”
“We want to see communities invest in education by partnering with local innovators like AcA. The matching fund at CFA gives leaders in places like Opelousas, Abbeville, Crowley, New Iberia, Franklin, St. Martinville, or Ville Platte, even more reason to participate,” said donor Kip Schumacher, who has supported community-driven education initiatives through the William C. Schumacher Family Foundation, which is affiliated with CFA.
AcA envisions Acadiana as a place where the next generation will always have art and culture embedded in their education, serving as a national example of innovation and success.
Learn more about AcA’s Arts in Education expansion initiative at https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/let-culture-lead/#Teach and watch a touching 3-minute video about the current program:
Educators and interested community members are encouraged to learn about AcA’s existing offerings in arts education by attending Treat Yourself to the Arts, a teacher-focused event at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on September 10, 2024 from 4pm-6pm.
At Treat Yourself to the Arts, educators enjoy an evening out to socialize and learn how to bring the arts into their schools. They can meet local arts and culture organizations, select performances to bring into their school, get a tour of AcA’s galleries, sign up for professional development workshops, and participate in hands-on demonstrations from AcA’s team of teaching artists.
As the community leader in arts and culture, the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) serves to bring elevating arts experiences to the people of Acadiana through many approaches including holding public concerts, presenting art exhibitions, providing grants to artists and cultural organizations, and bringing artists into schools across the region.
AcA brings equitable access to the arts through year-round education and outreach activities and aims to build a more sustainable cultural ecosystem for future generations in Acadiana.
