The Entertainment Law Legal Assistance (ELLA) Project, a partnership of the Arts Council, Tipitina's Foundation, and Tulane Law School, has been awarded a 2008 Governor's Arts Award for Cultural Economy Development. The ceremony will take place Tuesday, October 7th at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge.

Created in 2005, the ELLA Project has provided free, personalized legal assistance to over 500 Louisiana artists and cultural organizations. The Arts Council congratulates all the project partners, with special applause going to supervising attorney Ashlye Keaton, and thanks Lt. Governor Landrieu and the staff at Culture, Recreation and Tourism for this exciting honor.  

As more and more customers for your artwork, tickets, CD's, or donations are looking to pay with credit and debit cards, many artists are wondering what's involved. On October 23rd at 4:00 p.m., the Arts Council will present "What to Expect If Accepting Credit Cards", featuring Tony Viloria of First National Merchant Solutions. Items that will be covered include:

• Is your arts business have the volume to accept credit cards?
• How do the fees work?
• What's the right plan for you?
• What about outdoor markets and wireless?
• What you need to know before signing a contract.

What to Expect if Accepting Credit Cards
Thursday, October 23rd at 4:00 p.m.
Arts Council of New Orleans
818 Howard, Suite 300

This workshop is free, but please RSVP to 504-218-8869 or via email 

A service of the Arts Council, The New Orleans Arts & Culture Big List is a combined, multi-level database of mailing lists compiled from participating local arts and culture organizations. In 2008, nineteen organizations combined to create the list, resulting in over 35,000 unique addresses for area arts patrons.

On October 16th all current Big List partners, and any arts based non profits who are interested in becoming a part of the 2009 Big List are invited to a meeting at 2:00 p.m. at the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, 938 Lafayette St in New Orleans.

For more information on the Big List, please visit http://www.artscouncilofneworleans.org/index.php?topic=abp.biglist.

To RSVP for the October 16th meeting, please call or email Gene Meneray 

With arts businesses affected throughout our region, Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) have compiled a summary of the best resources available for impacted businesses. This one-page document outlines recovery resources, such as free business counseling, loan programs, workforce assistance, tax filing extensions and contracting opportunities at the state and federal levels. It also provides contacts and websites on where to find details about each service.

To download a copy of this document, please visit www.LouisianaForward.com/BizHelp. 

If you are a professional craft artist that was affected by Hurricane Gustav, you may be eligible for disaster relief assistance from the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).

CERF's Programs include:

• Grants up to $1,500;
• Loans up to $8,000;
• Booth fee waivers at craft shows;
• Discounts on materials and equipment from craft suppliers;
• Assistance with business development;
• Disaster forums to help connect artists with assistance from the craft art community.

For eligibility requirements and more information go to www.craftemergency.org or contact:
Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF)
PO Box 838
Montpelier, VT 05601
ph: 802-229-2306  

Commerate the Arts Council's trip to the Norfolk Bayou Boogaloo by purchasing a limited edition signed and numbered Bayou Boogaloo poster, created by New Orleans artist Darrin Butler! These posters are 18'x24', and are limiited to an edition of 150. Darrin is generously donating $20 of each poster sold to the Arts Council of New Orleans.

This year's Community Arts Awards Patron Party and Luncheon were a fabulous success. Arts Council patrons joined local and national celebrities in recognizing honorees for their enduring and significant contributions to the arts - the lifeblood of our community. Continued »

The Arts Council was pleased to partner with Synovate, a global market research company with offices in 51 countries, during their 2008 convention held in New Orleans in late April. Known as the most curious company in the world, Synovate’s interest in our local New Orleans artists did not disappoint!  Continued »

The Arts Council of New Orleans is excited to be working with some of the area’s most talented visual artists to create works of art to be placed throughout New Orleans. In collaboration with the Joan Mitchell Foundation ., twenty-one artists will receive $25,000 to create public art and to rebuild their artistic careers. Through the 2008 New Orleans Art in Public Places Commissions, artists from Louisiana and Mississippi who were affected by Katrina or Rita were eligible to apply. The Call to Artists was initially for ten commissions, but due to the extraordinary response, the artistic diversity and the high quality of the proposals, the opportunity was expanded to twenty-one commissions funded by the Joan Mitchell Foundation. Recipients include the following artists: Continued »