Press Releases

CAC Cancels Spring Performing Arts Season, Turns Focus Towards Supporting Local Artists & Cultural Sector - March 20, 2020

(New Orleans, LA - March 4, 2020): Today the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) New Orleans announced a call for visual artists living and working in the Gulf South states of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida for its upcoming exhibition “Make America What America Must Become.”

SWEETARTS 2020’s theme – CHANGES: Into a Radiant Future – highlights transformation as the CAC ushers in the decade with new leadership, a refined focus on contemporary creativity, fostering artistic excellence, and honoring visionary leaders in the New Orleans arts community. 

NEW ORLEANS, LA (February 28, 2020) – The Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans (CAC) announced today that SWEETARTS 2020, its premier annual ball, will take place on Friday, May 15th, 2020, 7:30pm–10:30pm and will benefit the Contemporary Arts Center.

(NEW ORLEANS, LA – February 7, 2020) – With a commitment towards fostering the artistic expression of emerging creators, the Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans is proud to announce its Spring 2020 season featuring an evocative presentation of music, dance, and performances by leading artists, including Dance for Social Change, a community collaboration with Dancing Grounds; the return of Aurora Nealand and Goat in the Road’s KindHumanKind; the Afro-Cuban Jazz rhythms of Daymé Arocena; and the expressive dance movements of Kyle Abraham’s Company, A.I.M (Abraham.In.Motion). 

The New Orleans Public Library has partnered with several cultural institutions throughout New Orleans to offer daily passes for free entry for New Orleans Public Library cardholders who live in Orleans Parish and are 18 and older. The CAC is proud to join organizations across the city in joining this great program!

Culture Pass partner institutions include:

WOKE DREAMS, a free event, features live art-making by Jose Cotto and Les Femmes Feroces, panel discussions with community leaders, a curated DJ set by Raj Smoove, and complimentary admission to CAC galleries featuring works by Mickalene Thomas, Akosua Adoma Owusu, Meg Turner and more

(December 23, 2019 – New Orleans, LA)— The Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, announced highlights from 2019, including recent international acclaim for past and present visual art exhibitions, the hiring of new Executive Director George Scheer, and bold performing arts programming coming to New Orleans audiences in the spring of 2020.

Megan Liberty, Hyperallergic (December 13, 2019)

Ted Loos, The New York Times (November 20, 2019)

"BALTIMORE — Few artists have had more museum exposure in the past couple of years than Mickalene Thomas, a prolific maker in several media. In 2018 alone, her name was in the title of at least four different shows, and since then her work has been included in many other exhibitions across the country. But it wasn’t always thus.

Kristina Kay Robinson, BURNAWAY Magazine (December 11, 2019)

John D'Addario, Contributing Writer, NOLA.com (December 3, 2019)

"If there’s a through-line connecting the four distinct but conceptually resonant shows that opened recently at the Contemporary Arts Center, it’s how identities — especially marginalized ones involving race, gender and sexuality — are constructed and represented through artistic practice.

(NEW ORLEANS, LA - October 25, 2019): The National Performance Network (NPN) recently announced the Fall 2019 Development Fund Awards. Six NPN Creation Fund projects received a total of $45,000, leveraging an additional $177,000, to support the next steps in developing their work. These projects represent a cross section of disciplines, geographies, cultures and practices that reflect NPN’s commitment to advancing racial justice and cultural equity through the arts.

(NEW ORLEANS, LA - October 4, 2019) – The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), New Orleans today announced its 2019 Fall Season, beginning with Southern Crossings, a showcase of new works by CAC artists-in-residence during Art for Arts’ Sake on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Southern Crossings will feature Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever by Leyla McCalla and Kiyoko McCrae, Raw Fruit by Kesha McKey & KM Dance Project, and Requiem for a Stranger by Vagabond Inventions in collaboration with Renee Benson.

(August 2, 2019 – New Orleans, LA)—The Board of Directors of the Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans (CAC) is excited to announce the selection of George Scheer, PhD as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective October 1, 2019. Scheer brings extensive leadership and management experience to the Contemporary Arts Center, including his 16-year tenure as Executive Director and Co-Founder of Elsewhere, a 12,000 sq. ft. living museum, artist residency, and education laboratory set in a former thrift store in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans (CAC) announced today the appointment of MK Wegmann as its Interim Executive Director. 

Her appointment will begin November 1, 2018 to allow for a brief overlap with outgoing director Neil Barclay, who formally departs at the end of the year.

CAC’s Director and CEO Will Stay on the Job Through End of 2018

We invite you to join us for the re-opening of our main galleries at our Spring Exhibitions Public Opening which will feature artists Jockum Nordström: Why Is Everything A Rag and Sarah Morris: Sawdust and Tinsel. 

Spring Exhibitions Public Opening 

Thursday, March 22, 2018 6 -9pm

This event will include music by DJ Otto, a food truck and a bar! 

Attention Artists,Creators, and Innovators! 

The CAC Teen Board is accepting applications!

This season Teen Board members will:

• Curate the 2018 Teen Arts Exhibition 
• Create programming for Teens Only events at the CAC 
• Participate in hands-on creative workshops 
• Meet with professional artists, curators and designers

Participation in the Teen Board can be listed on resumes for college and counts towards volunteer hours. 

New Price Changes:

Advanced (non-member) ticket price $30*

Advanced (Member) ticket price $20* 

*All tickets sold after 11:59 on the Sunday leading up to the performance will increase to: $35 non-members; $25 members, respectively. 

All prices include fees. Group rate discount of 10% applies to parties buying tickets of 10 or more on one transaction.