• Past Shows

    Contemporary Arts Center and Prospect New Orleans

    Prospect.5 Opening Celebration

    October 23, 2021
    Celebrate the debut of Prospect.5 at the CAC, featuring gallery openings across both floors of the CAC and a music to keep the party going into the night with DJ Innerversions and Legatron Prime! Admission is free with RSVP (capacity is limited). Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test is required for admission, and mask-wearing is required at all times when not actively eating or drinking. RSVP Now Opening Night Schedule 6 to 7 pm: Exclusive Walkthrough for CAC Members and Prospect VIPs 7 to 10 pm: Prospect.5: "Yesterday we said tomorrow" Exhibition Opening with DJ Innerversions 9 pm to Midnight: Foggy Windows dance party with DJ Legatron Prime and DJ Innerversions Foggy Windows Dance Party feat. Legatron Prime and Innerversions 9 pm to Midnight | CAC Atrium Dance the night away as we re-embrace each other in these strange times and celebrate New Orleans' history of transatlantic connections! Miami-based Barbadian filmmaker and writer Jason Fitzroy Jeffers will emcee and host a special presentation of his Foggy Windows slow dance party, featuring music by New Orleans DJs Innerversions and Legatron Prime. About Prospect.5 Curated by Artistic Directors Naima J. Keith and Diana Nawi, P.5 features an intergenerational group of artists from the United States, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe, and will include both existing and newly-commissioned projects. P.5 will examine the ways in which the past informs the present, and will take a nuanced approach to history as a form of haunting and as a presence held in the land. Acknowledging time as cyclical and layered, rather than linear, the exhibition presents a range of artistic practices that attend to history as an ever-present specter in the individual and collective consciousness. Learn more at prospectneworleans.org
    Contemporary Arts Center

    EVENT UPDATE: White Linen Night at the CAC

    August 7, 2021
    8/5/21 Update - White Linen Night AFTER DARK and VIP Lounge CANCELLED Due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the city of New Orleans and State of Louisiana, and in consultation with the Arts District of New Orleans , the CAC regrets to announce the cancellation of its White Linen Night, AFTER DARK party, scheduled for Saturday, August 7, 2021 from 9 pm to midnight. Guests who have purchased VIP Membership tickets can contact the CAC at info@cacno.org for refund information. READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT Exhibition Opening: "Behind Every Beautiful Thing: Encountering Bodies, Wrestling the Human Condition" 6 - 9 pm | CAC First Floor Gallery Free and open to the public | Music by DJ Raj Smoove Featuring multimedia artworks from 36 Gulf South artists, the CAC’s annual Open Call exhibition offers a deeply personal portrayal of artists’ experiences with health and illness, and the reverberating impact on the life, body, and psyche of the individual and their community. Music in the CAC Atrium by DJ Raj Smoove. HEALTH UPDATE: Mask-wearing is required to enter the CAC as per the State of Louisiana's recent mask mandate. Social distancing will also be enforced in the CAC's atrium and exhibition spaces. ABOUT THE EXHIBITION Gallery Openings in the Arts District New Orleans 6 - 9 pm | 300 - 600 Blocks of Julia Street Held in the heart of the Arts District New Orleans (ADNO), Fidelity Bank White Linen Night features exhibitions at 20 participating galleries along the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street in New Orleans’ historic warehouse arts district and at the CAC and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art on Camp Street. Art lovers can explore specially-curated exhibitions featuring works by local, regional, and internationally-renowned artists. For a complete list of participating galleries, visit the Arts District New Orleans website...
    Contemporary Arts Center

    Opening Night Celebration: Behind Every Beautiful Thing: Encountering Bodies, Wrestling the Human Condition

    July 31, 2021
    We are excited to invite our community to the CAC's Opening Night Celebration for "Behind Every Beautiful Thing: Encountering Bodies, Wrestling the Human Condition," on Saturday, July 31 from 6 – 10 pm. Admission is free and open to the public. Join us for an evening of libations, music, food, and performances celebrating the opening of our annual Open Call exhibition, featuring works by 36 Gulf South artists that explore issues of health, healing, and what it means to be human. Health & Safety Update: Mask Wearing Required at the CAC In response to the recent spread of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 and out of interest for the safety of our guests, the CAC is requiring all patrons to wear masks at the CAC when not actively eating or drinking. We appreciate your flexibility as the situation continues to develop. Questions? Contact us at info@cacno.org . BEHIND EVERY BEAUTIFUL THING: Encountering Bodies, Wrestling the Human Condition 2021 Gulf South Open Call Exhibition On View July 31 – September 26, 2021 36 Gulf South artists explore issues of health, healing, and what it means to be human in the CAC's annual Open Call exhibition, guest-curated by David W. Robinson-Morris, Ph.D. LEARN MORE Grounding Ritual & Activation with Gia M. Hamilton 7 pm | CAC Oval Gallery Join us for a Grounding Ritual and Activation with Soundscape by Funké, led by local healer and creative Gia M. Hamilton. Located inside the CAC's Oval Gallery, the Gris Gris lab is an Afrofuturist Apothecary designed to ground, shift energy, and prepare the viewer to enter the portal and the exhibition. Music by Felice Gee 6 – 10 pm | CAC Atrium Brooklyn born and New Orleans inspired, Felice Gee curates sound waves fine-tuned specifically as a form of meditation and celebration. Intimately connecting...
    Contemporary Arts Center

    Dreaming While Awake: A Celebration and Reflection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    January 16, 2021 to January 18, 2021
    Join us for Dreaming While Awake, A Celebration and Reflection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exploring the impact of Dr. King's work on today’s civic movements and the artists who engage and advance them. Through youth programming, art activations, an interactive altar and a culminating panel discussion, we will explore the intersections of art and social justice while celebrating and interrogating a collective vision for the future. This special weekend of programming will cultivate connections and community while exercising the role of the art institution as a convener of civic and political engagement. Free Gallery Admission: January 16-18, 2021 In celebration of Dr. King's legacy, admission to the CAC is free through the entire weekend: Saturday, January 16 through Monday, January 18 from 11 am to 5 pm. Gallery tickets must be reserved online in advance. Please review the CAC's Health & Safety Guidelines, here , before your visit. Reserve Gallery Tickets CAC Teen Board Instagram Takeover Sunday, January 17, 2021 11 am - 2 pm CDT on Instagram Tune in to our Instagram stories as members of the CAC Teen Board share their reflections on art and social activism while exploring the exhibition Make America What America Must Become , An Exhibition of Gulf South Artists. Follow the CAC on Instagram Virtual Discussion: "And the Youth Shall Lead:" Perspectives on Art & Leadership Sunday, January 17, 2021 2 pm - 3 pm CDT | Facebook Live On Facebook Live, join the CAC for a virtual discussion hosted by CAC Teen Board members Renee Angerer , Justine Lelani Allen , and Monica Garcia , who will interview Make America What America Must Become artists Langston Allston , Caroline Sinders , and Derrick-Woods Morrow , about how art influences democracy and informs their artistic practices. RSVP on Facebook Virtual Panel:...
    Contemporary Arts Center

    "Make America What America Must Become," An Exhibition of Gulf South Artists

    "Great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become." – James Baldwin

    America is an anxious nation chasing a more perfect union. As it's political body struggles along the arc of justice, the truths “we” hold, rarely appear self-evident. Complicated by an overtly mediated era, today's social movements demand a punctuated examination of #historicalconsequence and #power. At this moment, the distance between Art and Politics—reflection and response—seems to be collapsing. In a letter to his nephew on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, philosopher and American commentator, James Baldwin, offered an optimistic but urgent message, "Great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become." Read more

    Contemporary Arts Center, The Helis Foundation and The Times-Picayne New Orleans Advocate

    WOKE DREAMS: A Celebration & Reflection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    January 20, 2020
    On Monday, January 20 from 12-3:30 pm, join us at the CAC for WOKE DREAMS , a reflective celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact on today’s social movements, and the role that art plays in advancing activism and social justice. Through a panel discussion, music, and art explorations, guests are invited to reflect upon and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. WOKE DREAMS is free and open to the public, courtesy of The Helis Foundation! Admission to the CAC's exhibitions will also be free to enjoy, featuring works by Mickalene Thomas, Akosua Adoma Owusu, Meg Turner, and collaborative artist and retail collective Les Femmes Féroces. A special menu of food and drinks will be available for sale from La Vie En Rose Cafe. This event is free and open to the public but registration is requested. RSVP here! Panel Discussion: Art, Community, and Activism Join our all-star panel for a conversation about the intersection of art, community, and activism at the center of the old and new civil rights movements, in the heart of the Mickalene Thomas: Femmes Noires exhibition at the CAC. Panelists include: Ranord J. Darensburg JD, RSW , Judicial Administrator, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Stephanie McKee , Director, Junebug Productions Alanah Odoms-Hebert , Executive Director, ACLU of Louisiana Kathy Randels , Artist, Art Spot & The Graduates Dr. David Robinson , The Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit Jose Cotto: "Cultivating history, Documenting dreams" Artist Jose Cotto invites you to take part in his photographic project to capture intimate one-on-one portraits of individuals -- and their dream-like auras -- through innovative photographic techniques. Les Femmes Féroces Presents Jet Costello, Artist New Orleans-based artist Jet Costello and CAC resident art collective Les Femmes Féroces will present a memorial altar installation to honor murdered Trans women from...
    Les Femmes Féroces

    JOIE NOIRE: Move Ya Body

    January 5, 2020
    This Sunday, January 5, Les Femmes Féroces, a gallery & retail popup collaboration at the CAC, invites you to join them for an afternoon of release and rejuvenation to celebrate the new year! Artist Chipo Kandake will lead a dance healing circle to heal and remove blockages. No dance experience is required! This event is free and open to the public. To participate, please check in at the front desk located in the CAC Atrium. Participants will meet inside the CAC Oval Gallery inside the Femmes Féroces exhibition. Food will be available for purchase on-site courtesy of Le Vie En Rose Cafe! Learn more about Les Femmes Féroces
    Hancock Whitney and Contemporary Arts Center

    Hancock Whitney White Linen Night 25

    August 3, 2019
    Hancock Whitney White Linen Night Turns 25! Event Information Saturday, August 3, 2019 300 - 700 blocks of Julia Street and throughout the Arts District New Orleans FREE & open to the public Rain or shine For complete event details, visit our dedicated mini-site, here! This year the Contemporary Arts Center and title sponsor Hancock Whitney commemorate 25 years of experiencing art, building community, and celebrating culture in the Arts District New Orleans on August 3, 2019! Hancock Whitney White Linen Night is an annual outdoor celebration of art and artists in the Arts District New Orleans, featuring gallery openings, public art displays, food vendors, and much more! Proceeds from the event support the Contemporary Arts Center. Art in Focus: Celebrating 25 Years of Hancock Whitney White Linen Night and the Arts District New Orleans Thursday, August 1 6pm - 8pm at the CAC In anticipation of the 25th anniversary of Hancock Whitney White Linen Night, you are invited to join us for a special reception honoring the legacy of gallery owner Arthur Roger and the support of art collector and actress CCH Pounder on Thursday, August 1 at the CAC! Our expert panel will also explore the impact of 25 years of White Linen Night on art, collecting, and our local economy and community. Admission is free and open to the public. ART TALK: Past, Present, & Future: White Linen Night as Creative Placemaking CAC Black Box Theater | 6:30pm Panelists include Dr. Jordan Amirkhani, Curator, American University; Demond Melancon, Artist; Jeanne Nathan, Moderator, Creative Alliance of New Orleans; CCH Pounder, Art Collector; Arthur Roger, Arthur Roger Gallery; Regina Scully, Artist; and Kurt Weigle, President & CEO, Downtown Development District. Artful Awards CAC Atrium | 7:30 pm Julia Street Block Party 5:30pm - 9:30pm | 300 - 700 blocks...

    Second Thursday at the CAC

    April 11, 2019
    Second Thursday at the CAC We invite you to join us for Second Thursdays, our free, open to all, monthly celebratory event during which we welcome you to see our exhibition, Hinge Pictures: Eight Women Artists Occupy the Third Dimension. Join us on this Second Thursday for an evening of celebration, socializing, and programming designed to enhance your appreciation of contemporary art and artists. Free and Open to All Cash Bar Open All Night Music by DJ h3LLnah h3LLnah is a gender-non-conforming DJ reigning from New Orleans. They keep the clubs poppin’ with femme-centered sets and carefully-curated reimaginations of classic hits. Galleries on View, 6-9pm Immerse yourself in our visual art exhibition, Hinge Pictures: Eight Women Artists Occupy the Third Dimension, a demonstration of formal innovation and social liberation across two floors of the CAC. Women and Freedom– 6:30pm-7:00pm, Atrium Join Laura Blereau (Coordinator of Academic Programs at the Newcomb Museum) as she moderates a conversation with Kathy Randels (Co-director of The Graduates), Fox Rich and Dolfinette Martin (about the powerful story behind The Graduates’ The Life Quilt , on view in Per(sister) at the Newcomb Museum until July 6. Using our Hinge Pictures show as a platform to highlight women’s issues, they will speak on issues having to do with women and incarceration. The Graduates is a performance ensemble comprised of former members of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) Drama Club. Girl’s Night in with Nasty Woman, the Game -- 7:30-8:30pm, Rehearsal Hall Fight the patriarchy with us, get all those intense and valid feminist emotions out with Amanda Brinkman (CEO and Co-founder of Shrill Society) as she leads us in a rowdy game of Nasty Woman: A Game For Every Feminist. Nasty Woman is Amanda’s game where saying what you really think is the whole point!...