Mission – About Us
The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana operates as an umbrella organization supporting over sixty arts and cultural organizations as well as countless individual artists working in a multitude of disciplines, artist co-ops, and cultural groups throughout Southwest Louisiana. Recognizing that Louisiana’s cultural industry employs the second largest workforce in the state, the Arts Council assists in the development of creative industries as a viable sector of Louisiana’s economy. Through a partnership of private and public funding, the Arts Council initiates and coordinates year round grant programs and innovative arts events that provide residents and tourists a rich ecosystem of music, food, art, dance, theatre, and literature which strengthen Southwest Louisiana’s economic and cultural foundations.
The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana strives to be a clearinghouse of information for artists, art organizations and our region. We publish a Cultural Resource Directory full of information about the artists and organizations that contribute to our cultural life. We also keep a Calendar of Events, detailing arts & humanities events happening in the area, and we send event notifications to all our constituents through the Imperial Calcasieu Social Secretary. Our Regional Arts Network meetings, held every other month, provide a wonderful opportunity for those with a lively interest in the arts and culture to meet and network. Artists and organizations are encouraged to form dynamic partnerships to bring arts and arts experiences to the community. Through our Artists’ Opportunity email group, artists in the region are made aware of juried exhibitions, grant availability, residencies and other opportunities to further and enhance an artistic career.
In order to thrive, artists and organizations need financial support for operations, projects and marketing. The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is pleased to administer four vital grants programs for the region. The first, funded through the Louisiana Division of the Arts, is the Decentralized Arts Funding program, which grants on a per-parish, per-capita basis. The second is the Lake Charles Partnership grant program, funded through the City of Lake Charles, which provides another opportunity for constituents within the city limits of Lake Charles. The third is the Tourism Marketing grant program, funded by the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau which funds marketing tools for artists and organizations in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. The fourth and final is the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury grant program which funds fairs, festivals or projects in Calcasieu Parish.
The cultural community must be recognized, respected and supported by our lawmakers in the local arena and nationally. The Arts Council of Southwest Louisiana coordinates arts advocacy efforts such as letter writing campaigns, editorial campaigns and communications with local, state and national lawmakers. Additionally, The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana involvement with the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts and Americans for the Arts guarantees that our voices will be heard by legislators in our community, in our state and in Congress.
Another vital component of our community involvement is arts programming. Along with the City of Lake Charles, and the Calcasieu Parish Schools, The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana sponsors ArtsFest, held on the last Saturday in October, Arts and Humanities Month. This hands-on fest celebrates visual and performing arts, gives artists a chance to demonstrate their discipline, and gives fest goers of all ages a chance to make and take home ART! There are booths with art projects of all kinds.