Inside The Arts

Musaica Chamber Ensemble opens its 15th season, streaming live from the UNO Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 25th @7:30 pm. We catch up with Musaica violist and president Bruce Owen. You'll find a link to the stream at musaica.org .

A host of artists are gearing up for a two-day commemoration honoring Latin American contributions to the Post-Katrina Rebirth of New Orleans on the heels of the 15th Anniversary of the storm. Award winning multi-disciplinary artist José Torres-Tama and Arte Futuro Productions will present a virtual festival of Teatro Sin Fronteras/Theater without Borders with poets, performers, musical acts and immigrant stories. José Torres-Tama joins us by phone. The 2-day featival is free and will be live

A unique pop-up arts experience, some ten years in the making is now a reality. JAMNOLA, is an immersive experience in New Orleans culture. Jonny Liss is co-founder of JAMNOLA. He joins us by phone.

Members of Louisiana’s music industry are joining forces with the National Independent Talent Organization, known as NITO. They are appealing to Congress for financial relief in the form of a bill known as the RESTART Act, a new loan program. The COVID pandemic has shuttered the industry, leaving the future of live music across the country uncertain. Local NITO spokeswoman, Ami Spishock joins us by phone.

White Linen Night is reimagined. The popular Arts District gallery stroll is now called, White Linen Light, as it occurs in the galleries during business hours, Monday through Saturday, all month long. Arts District New Orleans Association vice president Matthew Showman chats with us by phone.

Four highly acclaimed local artists are transforming ordinary materials into surprising works as they headline a new exhibit at Octavia Art Gallery. The group exhibition is called Conceptual Creations: Collage and Assemblage. We talk with gallery owner Pamela Bryan.

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is among several arts venues reopening following temporary closure due to the pandemic. We talk with executive director William Pittman Andrews.

Dancing Grounds annual Dance for Social Change Festival kicks off this week, virtually via ZOOM. It will focus on issues of gentrification and COVID-19 in New Orleans, featuring a panel discussion with local leaders, dance classes and a film premiere of an original performance piece by its teen dancers. We talk with Dancing Grounds youth programs manager, Randall Rosenberg. The festival runs May 25th thru 29th. All events are free, but you must pre-register at dancingrounds.org for a link to the

Le Petit Theatre presents, “Sorry, Wrong Number”. The 1940’s classic noir radio play, about a woman who overhears a murder plot, will debut on Facebook, Friday May 22nd at 7:30 pm. There is also a link to the event at lepetittheatre.com. We talk with director Max Williams and actors Leslie Castay and Tracey Collins by phone.

CANO, Creative Alliance of New Orleans, explores art and artists virtually with its Artists in View project. Executive director, Jeanne Nathan joins us by phone. More info on the Artists in View project can be found online at cano-la.org