Foundation for Louisiana Invests $430,000 in 45 Arts & Culture Grantees with 2024 World Makers Grant

NEW ORLEANS, LA – June 6, 2024 – The Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) is proud to announce the 45 recipients of the 2024 Louisiana World Makers Grant. This groundbreaking initiative awards $430,000 in unrestricted funding to support the visionary work of Louisiana's artists, cultural workers, and tradition bearers, driving social change and cultural preservation.

Selected from a competitive pool of over 152 applicants, these 45 World Makers represent a diverse range of creative disciplines, including visual arts, music, theater, dance, literature, and cultural traditions. Their work addresses critical issues facing Louisiana communities, such as climate change, mass incarceration, cultural erasure, and the legacy of systemic injustices.

The goal of the World Makers Grant is to enrich and elevate Louisiana's cultural landscape. At its core, the initiative seeks to sustain and illuminate the indispensable work of artists and culture-bearers, thus enabling the creation of alternative worlds that reflect its people’s diverse experiences and histories. This grant aims to bolster financial support for artists typically not supported by traditional philanthropy by recognizing the unique challenges and perspectives they bring to their creative endeavors.

"This grant funding is a vital investment in the power of arts and culture as a form of activism in Louisiana," said Charmel Gaulden, President and CEO of Foundation for Louisiana. "At FFL, we are committed to uplifting communities by supporting the creative voices that drive social change and justice."

The selection process, facilitated by renowned Louisiana cultural leader Gia M. Hamilton, involved a rigorous peer review by a diverse panel of seven experts, representing various artistic practices, racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, and geographic regions within Louisiana. The panel sought out artists whose work not only reflects the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana but also challenges the status quo and inspires new ways of thinking and being.

"The role of the culture bearer couldn't be more important than it is today - so many histories to be shared, perspectives to understand, and cultural activations to participate in. The Foundation for Louisiana's World Makers Grant created a streamlined community engaged grantmaking process to support creatives in a variety of ways from paying basic bills, to childcare to creation of new Black Masking Indian suits,” said Gia M. Hamilton, Executive Director and Chief Curator, New Orleans African American Museum. “This is historic in nature when we consider how these communities typically fund and sustain their work. It is with great honor that The New Orleans African American Museum was able to facilitate this process."

FFL prioritized supporting Black artists, Indigenous artists, and artists of color who are born, raised, or have generational ties to Louisiana. FFL also placed a special emphasis on uplifting elder artists and culture bearers, as well as transgender and gender-nonconforming artists.

“We are immensely proud to invest in these visionary Louisiana World Makers, whose work is a shining example of the power of art to inspire, heal, and transform," said Jamie Schmill, FFL VP of Programs. “Through their creative expression, they are paving the path towards a brighter and more inclusive future for all Louisianans, and we are honored to support their journey."

The 2024 Louisiana World Maker grantees hail from a wide range of creative fields. From musicians and dancers to visual artists, filmmakers, and culture bearers, these individuals are pushing the boundaries of their respective crafts. FFL is excited to see how they use these grant funds to further invest in their artistic practices and continue to enrich Louisiana's cultural landscape.

Meet the 2024 World Makers:

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ABOUT FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA:

Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) is a social justice philanthropic intermediary founded in 2005 as the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation to invest in the immediate recovery of Louisiana’s communities after Hurricane Katrina. While FFL was founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, our founders recognized the need to address the longstanding inequities that have shaped life outcomes for the most marginalized of Louisianans. Our programs grew in response to these needs, and today FFL focuses on racial justice, climate justice, criminal justice reform, economic justice, gender justice, and support for Louisiana's vibrant arts and culture. Learn more at foundationforlouisiana.org and follow @foundationforla across all social platforms for regular updates and news.