The Masur Art Museum is the largest visual arts museum in Northeastern Louisiana, and it offers educational programs for both children and adults. Admission to the museum is always free, and the Monroe Symphony League is an independent nonprofit organization that works to promote the cause of good music and music education. The League was founded in 1972 and offers educational programs for students who attend any school in or around Ouachita Parish. Every year, the League sponsors the musical education concert for children, “The Sound Safari”, organized by the orchestra.
Students can enjoy a short concert followed by a “pet zoo” with instruments. The League also supports the New Music on the Bayou festival, which takes place in June each year. The Louisiana Foundation for the Humanities has awarded 39 Renaissance and Renaissance Festival scholarships to organizations across the state, and several Acadiana groups were winners. In its eighth year, the Rebirth Grants program supports projects that provide access to the humanities for Louisiana residents.
The Twin City Ballet Company is incorporated by the State of Louisiana as a non-profit organization to enrich the cultural environment of Northeastern Louisiana and surrounding areas. Google Arts & Cultures is an interactive platform that explores the intersection of art and culture with history, science and technology. It provides virtual tours of museums and historic sites around the world, as well as hands-on, immersive game-based activities that allow students to learn about different cultures. The African American Museum houses a collection of African American art, culture, and history in a building of architectural interest.
The Crawl is free and open to the public, and strives to publicize and educate about the fine arts in downtown Monroe and West Monroe. The downtown gallery tour, sponsored by the nonprofit Downtown Arts Alliance, showcases new art by local, regional and national artists six times a year. The Arts Council of Northeastern Louisiana strives to be a transformative force for the community by encouraging a passion for the arts, promoting partnerships and collaboration, and ensuring access to the arts for all. The Arts Council works directly with local artists and provides grant opportunities to artists and arts organizations.
The School of Visual and Performing Arts at ULM offers cultural activities, special events and performances for university and local communities. The goals of the Symphony include collaborating with other local and regional artistic groups, bringing nationally renowned artists closer to the community, providing recognition opportunities for young and talented Louisiana artists, and trying to reach out to the community with concerts that appeal to all segments of the population. Partially supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, the Office of Cultural Development, and the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
