10 Feb 2023

Student Arts Expo

2023-07-21T12:10:06-05:00

Acadiana Center for the Arts announces its latest expansion of programming with an all-new St. Landry Parish Student Arts and STEAM festival on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 10am-3pm, at the Courthouse Square in Downtown Opelousas.

The free festival is a celebration of student-artists in all artistic disciplines from every corner of St. Landry Parish. The event features outdoor performances from school bands, choirs, and performance classes, art exhibitions in businesses and outdoors, hands-on art activities for families, and a student artist market where you can purchase original artwork and crafts directly from the artist.

A live spoken word competition Poetry Out Loud will take place at the Delta Grand Theatre, featuring a juried panel and competing student poets from across the state. The winner of the competition will go on to participate in the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, DC in May.

"AcA fills an important gap in St. Landry Parish schools by ensuring that every student has access to elevating and eye-opening experiences in the arts throughout their time in school," said AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver. "This event is a celebration of AcA's partnership with the St. Landry Parish School Board, which has flourished over the past 5 years and benefitted every student and school in the parish."

"It is well documented that key factors in education are significantly impacted by arts programs like ours: social and emotional development, building important skills like creativity and communication, and simple reductions in truancy because young people are much more eager to engage in positive
learning experiences in the arts," said St. Landry Parish Superintendent Patrick Jenkins.

Student Arts Expo in Opelousas is a partnership between Acadiana Center for the Arts and St Landry Parish School Board with support from Opelousas Main Street, Opelousas Downtown Development District and St. Landry Parish Tourism.

Find more information and a detailed schedule and map of the activities at AcA's website.

About AcA

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.

Student Arts Expo2023-07-21T12:10:06-05:00
1 Feb 2023

Meander Mindset Reception & Book Release

2023-02-01T11:58:38-06:00

In partnership with The Acadiana Center for the Arts, the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center located just outside Opelousas opens its doors for ArtSpark grant recipients to display their work in dynamic exhibits.

On display throughout the month of February is Kristie Cornell and Marla Kristicevich's project Meander Mindset: Bayou Teche. The project is the culmination of these two artists' efforts to create a conversation between people and the environment through the exploration of waterways. Together they meandered the Teche collecting organic samples, and making photographs, textural rubbings, audio recordings, and eco sculptures along the waterway. These collected materials and works create a visual narrative of the artists' findings and encourage the viewer to reevaluate their connection to the natural world and to take the time to observe and appreciate their surroundings.

February 25th at 1 pm, is your chance to meet Kristie Cornell and Marla Kristicevich right here at the center. The reception will also serve as their book release party for the publication printed in conjunction with their exhibit.

Meander Mindset, Opelousas, Louisiana
Meander Mindset, Opelousas, Louisiana
Meander Mindset, Opelousas, Louisiana
Meander Mindset Reception & Book Release2023-02-01T11:58:38-06:00
1 Feb 2023

“Eat Your Yard!” A Wild Edibles Foraging Walk and Cooking Demo

2023-02-01T09:36:48-06:00

Atelier de la Nature in Arnaudville and Slow Hike Company's John Nettles join together to host an educational foraging walk. Learn about wild edibles, medicinal plants, and tasty mushrooms. Afterward, Atelier's Aurore Ballengée will lead a cooking demonstration with the wild edibles for a tasting.

The event is free but registration is required. Multilingual accessibility (French/Spanish/English). Please contact Atelier de la Nature for other accessibility requests.

It's suggested that you bring:

  • Water
  • Insect Repellent
  • Sunscreen
  • Boots
“Eat Your Yard!” A Wild Edibles Foraging Walk and Cooking Demo2023-02-01T09:36:48-06:00
5 Jan 2023

Life Drawing at NUNU

2023-10-03T14:06:58-05:00

NUNU's Arts & Culture Collective in Arnaudville is the go-to destination for creatives in the area. They have plenty of workshops and cultural tables throughout the month. Every Tuesday, they offer Life Drawing Sessions from 6pm-8:30pm where you can study the anatomy of the human form from live models, a subject that has inspired artists for millennia.

NUNU members get to use the space for free, but non-members are required to pay a $10 facility usage fee. Members and Non-members must pay a $10 fee directly to the model.

Life Drawing at NUNU2023-10-03T14:06:58-05:00
29 Dec 2022

Cyanotype Workshop

2022-12-29T16:15:10-06:00

NUNU's Art & Culture Collective in Arnaudville is hosting a Cyanotype Workshop on January 7 from 10am-3pm.

Cyanotypes are one of the earliest photographic processes dating back to the 1840s. In this workshop on Saturday, you'll create an 11″ x 14″ print using 3D objects, namely plant material, placed upon a chemically treated photo-sensitive substrate. This is your chance to bring botanicals, book pages, jewelry, or any other 3-D object to create amazing deep blue images.

The completed frame pieced will be included in a group show that will hang in Le Coin Coin Gallery throughout the month of January with an artist reception on January 14th, 11 AM-4 PM, during the monthly Deuxime Samedi Open House.

The workshop is $160. You can find ticket information and more event details here.

Cyanotype Workshop2022-12-29T16:15:10-06:00
29 Dec 2022

Martinique Mask-Making Workshop

2023-01-25T16:24:00-06:00

From February 10-13 at NUNU Arts and Culture Collective in Arnaudville, Louisiana, you can attend a Martinique-style mask-making workshop. Jean-Luc Toussaint and Vanessa Guy are your guides as they compare and contrast practices found around the world including styles from Martinique and Acadiana.

Students will learn the beginning skills of modeling, constructing, and painting and will be encouraged to create masks that celebrate their true identity so that participants can say, "this, is who I am."

Students will have access to sewing machines, a laser cutter, a 3D printer, and more. Finally, the workshop will be peppered with French and Creole languages.

NUNU Members will pay $150 + tax and processing fees while non-members will be billed an additional $300 on the day of arrival or provided with an opportunity to become a NUNU member.

You can find more event and ticket information here.

Martinique Mask-Making Workshop2023-01-25T16:24:00-06:00
22 Dec 2022

Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week

2025-08-06T11:06:51-05:00

The 23rd Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week will take place April 12-17, in Eunice, Louisiana at Lakeview Park & Beach with a Louisiana French Immersion experience at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center that Monday.  Highlights include top-notch Louisiana-style entertainment, education, and hospitality with public and enrollment-based activities.  The schedule, Camp registration, and lodging information are found at LAfolkroots.org.

WHY BALFA WEEK?

Balfa Week classes are immersive, multi-day lessons and workshops that have you studying face-to-face with master musicians, cooks, and craftspeople in a nature-based setting. Spontaneous jams, lakeside campfires, new friends from around the world.

Schedule a one-to-one lesson with Louisiana master musicians to conquer a tune that's stuck in your head. Discuss the creative process with Louisiana folk craft artisans. Learn some tricks for Louisiana cooking during sessions with regional chefs. Imagine yourself peeling and eating a pile of crawfish. Wander into the nightly barn dances with friends to test out moves you practiced in dance class.

Housing options are available. Bring your RV, rent or share a deluxe cabin, pitch a tent, or stay at a local B&B or hotel. Visit Evangeline Parish Tourism and St. Landry Parish Tourism for more ideas.

Tuition rates range from a Full-Time 5-day rate to a Daily rate.

Friends of Folk Roots membership discounts are offered on Registrations.

Play. Dance Eat. Repeat. That's Balfa Week! Get details at: balfaweek@gmail.com 

Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week2025-08-06T11:06:51-05:00
1 Nov 2022

Drawn to Grow Exhibit Reception

2022-11-01T10:36:23-05:00

Join us at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center at Exit 23 right off of I-49 to view Kelli Foret Richard's most recent work, Drawn to Grow. This exhibit of 57 illustrations is a statement on the 57 years left of farming the region has until it reaches desertification. The exhibit is both emphasizes the importance of agriculture to Louisiana and a call to action for better farming practices. Hear from the artist herself at the reception on Saturday, November 5 from 1pm-4pm at the visitor center right outside of Opelousas.

Drawn to Grow Exhibit Reception2022-11-01T10:36:23-05:00
31 Oct 2022

Indigenous Cultural Heritage Table

2022-10-31T16:28:30-05:00

Clovis "Joe" Billiot, Biloxi-Chitimacha Tribal Member, and his wife Debra Cooper Billiot, host an Indigenous Cultural Heritage Table at NUNU Arts and Culture Collective from noon to 2pm on January 28 in Arnaudville.

The Billiot's intent is to develop this table as a means to share, inform and connect with other indigenous peoples and share that knowledge with all people.

The Indigenous Cultural Heritage Table is part of the DICI initiative.

Indigenous Cultural Heritage Table2022-10-31T16:28:30-05:00
19 Sep 2022

Fête de Saint-Luc

2022-09-19T16:48:53-05:00

Celebrate at Saint-Luc French Immersion School in Arnaudville, Louisiana. This former hospital turned educational and cultural organization that seeks to revive and sustain the French language tradition in Louisiana. They are hosting a celebration and learning experience on October 9th from 1:30pm to 6pm with great food, music, and plenty of art vendors and craftsmen.

There will be a ton to eat and drink including plate lunches from Pepper's homestyle catering, croissants, cookies, and pastries from Paradiso Cake, fruit and veggie drinks from Jolly Moon, and sandwiches from Bib Belly Sandwiches.

Enjoy informational demos and vendors including spinning arts, cotton products, art displays, basketweaving, chair caning, writing, and more. There will even be live music by La Patente, a traditional band out of New Brunswick, Canada, and the Potluck Band.

Fête de Saint-Luc2022-09-19T16:48:53-05:00

St. Landry Parish Visitor Center
Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm

337.948.8004
978 Kennerson Road (I-49 exit 23)
P.O. Box 1415 • Opelousas, LA 70570

Visitor Guide (En)
Visitor Guide (Fr)

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