Arts New Orleans believes that all people are inherently creative. Our definition of art and artists is broad and inclusive of a wide range of creative practices, both formal and informal.
We believe artistic expression and access to and participation in meaningful cultural experiences are fundamental human rights.
Participation in the arts, enjoyment of meaningful cultural experiences, and an engaging and pleasing environment in which to live, work, and play should be accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or ability.
We operationalize our commitment to advancing equity in our work through our staff recruitment and hiring, board development, purchasing practices, and resource allocation. We strive to create equitable economic development for artists through training and opportunities.
We strive to support the creation of artistic programming that advances a sense of belonging, connection, and recognition for all our local and regional neighbors.
We advocate for and advance the development of a city in which equitable access to arts funding and programs for all arts organizations and artists is expected and delivered.
