Join us for our third annual State of the Arts Symposium.
State of the Arts is a 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.
Schedule
Registration Begins
1:00pm
Plenary: Updating the Economic Impact of Arts & Culture in Acadiana
2– 2:50pm| James Devin Moncus Theater
LEDA CEO, Mandi Mitchell, and Director of Economic Competitiveness, Brittany Deal, will present LEDA’s 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. LEED Center Program and Operations Manager Jonathan Shirley will join the panel to discuss the findings and implications.
Moderator: Jonathan Shirley
Speakers: Mandi Mitchell, Brittany Deal, Sam Oliver
Panel: Give Them What They Want! Creating and Meeting Demand for the Arts
3 – 3:50pm| 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.
Moderator: Leigha Porter (Parc Village)
Speakers: Dr. Mark Rabalais (Assistant Superintendent), Carly Viator Courville (Festival International)
Panel: A Reason to Show Up – Culture as an Excuse to Develop Our Community
3 – 3:50pm|James Devin 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.
Moderator: George Marks (NUNU Arts and Culture Collective)
Speakers: Tina Bingham (Lafayette Habitat for Humanity), Anna Kojevnikov (Acadiana Center for the Arts), & Jamie Boudreaux (Lafayette Consolidated Government)
Panel: Invest in Place – How Lafayette’s Culture Attracts and Grows Its Businesses
4 – 4:50pm| 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.
Moderator: Molly Rowe (Hilliard Art Museum)
Speakers: Michael Soileau (LFT Fiber), Andrèe Gonsoulin (Tides Medical), Will LaBar (CGI)
Panel: Where Do Artists Come From? Artists and their Parents Discuss the Challenges of Making the Creative Leap
4 – 4:50pm|James Devin 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.
Moderator: Clare Cook (Basin Arts) and Nanette Cook
Speakers: Noa Jamir (Artist) and Curtis Hollinger, Ben Eble (Artist) and Michael Eble (ULL)
Keynote: What Creativity Does to Your Brain
5:10 – 6pm|James Devin 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.
Closing Reception
6 – 8pm| Atrium
Music by DJ Curtis Hollinger
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.
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.
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