Arts Council Distributes $27,000 to SWLA arts organizations

The Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, the distributing agency for the City of Lake Charles Partnership Assistance Grant Program, is pleased to announce its 2012 grant awards. The program is made possible by the City of Lake Charles and provides a total of $27,000 to arts organizations domiciled within the City of Lake Charles.

 The Lake Charles grant program, which began in 1983, is designed for projects that are art related or for the stabilization of art organizations.  This year, a total of twenty seven organizations were awarded funding. Some of the recipients include: Artists Civic Theatre & Studio (ACTS); Black Heritage Festival; Lake Charles Community Band; Bulber Youth Orchestra; Children’s Theatre Company; Louisiana Choral Foundation; the Children’s Museum; and Cajun French Music Association.

Some of the project that will receive assistance are Dancing Classrooms; “I Hear a Symphony” by the Lake Charles Symphony; “Christmas in Louisiana” by the Lake Charles Civic Ballet; Art on Wheels Festival; “Premieres of Louisiana Women” by the Itinerant Theatre; Storyteller Donald Savis by the Calcasieu Parish Library; The Down Town Lake Charles Crawfish Festival by the Eljay Foundation; BayouCon 2012 by the Southwest Louisiana Science Education Foundation; “Culture Fest Louisiana” by Common Ground; Louisiana Master Gardner’s; and the Lake Charles Film Festival.

“We are committed to making arts enrichment opportunities available to all Lake Charles Citizens,” said Mayor Roach.  “The Lake Charles Partnership Grant has helped tie together the power of the arts and culture as development tools that unite communities, create economic opportunity and improve the quality of life. The City of Lake Charles has an extensive history of supporting the arts through this grant opportunity for city residents.”

As well as greatly improving the quality of life for the residents of Lake Charles, one of the grant’s main goals is to ensure the stabilization of arts and humanities organizations through increased attendance and engagement of community members in local projects. “The arts are the guiding principle at the Arts and Humanities Council,” said Jackie Dowden, Community Development Coordinator.  “These projects demonstrate the imaginative and innovative capacities of artists and arts organizations to enhance the quality of life in Lake Charles.” 

For more information on this grant or other grant related opportunities, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787. 

Margaret Place Celebrates 100 Years

This weekend, the annual Palm Sunday Tour of Homes will become an exceptional and unique experience of one of our city's most beloved historic landmarks thanks to the Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society. Margaret Place is a small neighborhood located between Ryan Street, Shell Beach Drive, and Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive in Lake Charles, and after the Great Fire of 1910, much of the development in Lake Charles was pushed south of the downtown area. Allen Jefferson Perkins of Perkins & Miller Lumber Mill designed the subdivision which is exemplary of the diverse bungalow architectural styles between 1912 and 1937. Saturday, March 31st, and Sunday, April 1st, will feature a great variety of events to showcase the best of the neighborhood.


Those who were lucky enough to purchase a Fan Tour ticket before the event sold out will be able to take a guided walking tour of Margaret Place on Saturday with a block party to end the evening which will have refreshments and live music by local band Soul Vacation.


Palm Sunday will be jam-packed with exclusive events, and the line up is as follows:

• 121 Artisan Bistro will host the 100th Anniversary Brunch, and there are four seatings at 9:30 a.m. (sold out), 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 a.m. Brunch ticket holders receive access to the Palm Sunday homes early!
• An exhibit featuring images from Margaret Place and ICCS will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ICCS.
• The 37th annual Palm Sunday Tour of Homes will commence at noon, and ticket holders will get to experience interior tours of nine historic Margaret Place homes. Tickets may still be purchased at ICCS on the day of the tour for $25.00. Day-of tickets can also be purchased on Harrison near Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive, on Park Avenue near Shell Beach Drive, and in front of 205 Shell Beach Drive. 
• Due to the historical nature of Margaret Place being one of the original streetcar subdivisions, Sunday will also feature a re-enactment of the South Ryan Street Car Route. The City of Lake Charles is offering free rides on the trolley buses to nine stops within the district, and J&R Carriage will offer carriage rides two and from the Civic Center for $5 (one-way) or $10 (round trip).

This event will be truly something to remember for years to come! Lake Charles is lucky to have such a wonderfully preserved historic district with residents who dedicate endless hours and energy to ensure that Margaret Place will remain a gem for another hundred years. For more information, visit www.calcasieupreservation.org.

Lake Charles to be represented at national poetry out loud competition!

Pam Breaux, Assistant Secretary to
the Office of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism,
with State Champion Keaghan Kane

On Saturday, March 24^th, eleven finalists from across Louisiana high schools competed at the Louisiana State Museum for top honors as Louisiana State Champion for Poetry Out Loud’s 2012 season. Over a thousand students competed in Louisiana, and three students from Southwest Louisiana were among these finalists: Keaghan Kane, home schooled, 12^th grade; Elizabeth Salvador, home schooled, 10^th grade; and Raven Dobbins of Washington-Marion High School, 9^th grade.

After a highly competitive contest in which each student recited three poems on stage in front of a packed room and four qualified judges including published poets and LSU professors, Kane was awarded first place as State Champion and will go on to represent Southwest Louisiana at the National Poetry Out Loud Competition in Washington, D.C. on May 13^th-14^th.

Kane will be the second Lake Charles student in a row that competes at the national competition with last year’s state championship awarded to David Douglas of Washington-Marion High School. Kane won the state judges over with her recitations of “Preludes” by T.S. Eliot, “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and “Monet Refuses the Operation” by Lisel Mueller. Kane, who has competed in Poetry Out Loud for the past four years, is a home schooled senior graduating in May, and she will attend Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia, to pursue a degree in literature.

“This was Keaghan’s last year to be eligible to compete, and she has grown stronger each year in her abilities to understand the architecture of each poem and to translate that understanding effortlessly in her performances,” stated Erica McCreedy, Special Projects Coordinator for the Arts Council. “She will be a great voice for Louisiana at the national competition.”

Poetry Out Loud began in 2005 from the joint efforts of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The Louisiana Division of the Arts has been played a vital role in keeping this program strong, and the Arts Council facilitates this program in Southwest Louisiana each year. For more information about Poetry Out Loud or how to participate in next year’s round of competitions, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787.

Live @ the Lakefront Concludes with City Heat!

Live @ the Lakefront will end its explosive inaugural season on Friday, March 30th, with performances by local favorites City Heat and Iberville High Life. The Lake Area's newest music festival is co-presented by the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and the City of Lake Charles, and its goal is to showcase the Lakefront Promenade while celebrating local music talents and Southwest Louisiana culture.

This Friday's concert will be held at the Arcade Amphitheater on the Lakefront Promenade from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and it will also feature Lake Area food vendors, children's entertainment, beverage sales as well as booths showcasing one-of-a-kind local art from a variety of art mediums.

Come spread a blanket on the amphitheater's grassy hill and listen to the best live music around with the lakeshore scenery and the cool March weather as the perfect backdrop! 

Live @ the Lakefront acts as a fundraiser for the arts in Southwest Louisiana with all proceeds from Coke, Budweiser, Miller, and wine sales going directly to the Arts Council's efforts to support area arts and cultural initiatives and endeavors.

Mayor Randy Roach will welcome the audience with local blues band Iberville High Life to follow. With Bam Arceneaux, Tim Norris, Steve Dufrene making up its core, Iberville High Life performs across the dynamic spectrum of the blues genre with special emphasis on traditional blues. 

Jazz band City Heat will headline Friday's concert, and despite beginning as Isle of Capri Casino's house band, City Heat has become one of Southwest Louisiana's most sought-after live music acts. The band originated in Lake Charles and is driven by local jazz legend Chester Daigle with their unique combinations and fusions of jazz, funk, blues, and R&B. City Heat's repertoire of original and cover songs has cemented them as a true Southwest Louisiana favorite.

Live @ the Lakefront is free to the public and is made possible by Deep South Productions and generous sponsorships from Isle of Capri Casino Hotel and Tobacco Free Living. Event partners include Townsquare Media, Gator 99.5, Coca-Cola, 107 JAMZ, Cajun Radio, KISSFM, 92.9 The Lake, the Porch Coffee House & Café, American Press, Lake Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, Knight Media Printing, Southwest Daily News, the Jambalaya News, Lagniappe, Thrive Magazine, KPLC, Beverage Sales, Southwest Beverage, and Redfish Rental.

No ice chests or outside food are allowed. For details about Live @ the Lakefront, call the Arts Council office at 439-ARTS or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

The Southern Review and LSU to hold open forum

On Thursday, April 5th, LSU Press and The Southern Review will host a free presentation and open forum at the Central School Arts & Humanities Center theatre from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Louisiana Bound will be a discussion about Louisiana’s premier academic book publisher and literary journal. Mary Katherine Callaway, Director of LSU Press, will discuss the history and work of these two literary giants. Judy Kahn and Nolde Alexius will also speak about their book, Best of LSU Fiction, which examines the literary history of LSU.

Since 1935, LSU Press, a non-profit organization and the state's premier academic publisher, has dedicated itself to publishing works of the highest intellectual and creative merit and educating readers about the rich cultural assets and achievements of Louisiana. Also founded in 1935, The Southern Review is LSU's distinguished literary journal. Published quarterly, the journal features fiction, poetry, critical essays, interviews, book reviews, and excerpts from novels in progress.

These discussions will be followed by a reception with wine and light hors d'ouevres and a chance for guests to meet the speakers. This event is made possible by Donna & Rick Richard, III / Empire of the Seed Historic Properties, and the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana. For more information or to RSVP, email pblevasseur@lsu.edu or call 225-578-6416.

Arts Funding At Risk!

Dear Friends and Arts Supporters,

Louisiana Citizens for the Arts (formerly Louisiana Partnership for Arts Advocacy) has been mobilizing individual artists, cultural organizations, and widespread arts enthusiasts for more than 19 years. The organization has been key to buildinga strong grassroots network of well-informed arts advocates, who in turn have been successful in persuading Louisiana's legislature to invest in arts funding. We adopted a new name to better portray our mission: Louisiana Citizens for the Arts. The new name correctly identifies the fuel that drives its establishment ─ you, Louisiana's citizens.

Last month, Governor Jindal released the proposed executive budget which reduces this past fiscal year's arts funding by 33%. To have any chance of restoring this funding, we must have the participation of every self-proclaimed arts advocate in the state. Compared with funding levels from fiscal year 2009, the proposed budget slashes arts funding by nearly 60%.

In years past, when we needed you most, you sent more than 40,000 emails to Louisiana legislators. In response, the Senate Finance Committee listened. When you told our legislators that arts funding should be considered an economic development tool and not just a quality of life issue, they heard you and restored funding to the arts industry in Louisiana. This year, we'll need your help again! In addition to writing legislators, you can join us on May 16th for Arts Advocacy Day in the Capitol's rotunda. More information on this lively demonstration of the value of our creative communities will come soon.

If you haven't yet joined as a member, please consider doing so. Visit our website to join or to find out more information about the Louisiana Citizens for the Arts at www.louisianacitizensforthearts.org. Individual membership starts at just $25 per year. Considering how much good comes from this organization, $25 is a steal!

Signed,

Christie Weeks, Chair
Matt Young, Vice Chair for Advocacy
Kevin Hayes, Legislative Lobbyist

The Louisiana Citizens for the Arts is supported solely by donations from citizens, businesses, and organizations who believe the arts are essential to our Louisiana economy, identity, and way of life.

Renowned Artist Alan Flattmann to Conduct Workshop

New Orleans artist Alan Flattmann will conduct a two day oil painting workshop from April 14th and April 15th at the Creative Arts Center located at Associated Louisiana Artists at 106 W. Pryce Street in Lake Charles. Flattmann's career spans over forty years, and he has become one of the most influential and recognizable artists in the country. 

Flattmann's work has been published in numerous art books and magazines, and it has been featured in over sixty solo exhibits and group shows across the world. He is best known for his depictions of New Orleans, and he has led painting tours in Greece, Ireland, and Italy, just to name a few.

The fee for this workshop is $200, and students of all levels and abilities are welcome to participate. To register, call Nancy Czejkowski at (337) 855-9202 or call Gallery by the Lake at (337) 436-1008.

Banners Series Heats Up

The McNeese Banners Cultural Series has, in short, brought an international stage to Lake Charles with a constant cycle of events each Spring that offer renowned musicians, dancers, performers, writers, poets, and historians. This year is no exception, and despite Banners director Mary Richardson retiring, Banners has no plans to lose steam and will continue giving the Lake Area a wider perspective of the world.


On Saturday, March 24th, Banners will present a unique world music performance by Samite in the New Theater at the Shearman Fine Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Joseph Shabalala, founder and leader of Ladysmith Black Mamabzo, said, "When you hear the music of Samite, the soul of Africa is revealed to you." A refugee from Uganda, Samite sings about his difficult and inspiring tale with grace, warmth, and wit. He sings in a bright, sweet tenor, often accompanied by thumb pianos (kalimba), flute, guitar, marimba, and percussion instruments.


Following this, Banners offers weekly performances and events through May of a fantastic spectrum of entertainment and art forms. For more information, visit www.banners.org or call (337) 475-5123.

Live @ the Lakefront Continues!

Live @ the Lakefront officially opened last Friday at the Arcade Amphitheater, and the Lake Area's newest music festival will continue this Friday, March 23rd, for the second concert in its three-part series with performances by Grammy-nominated Cajun band Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys and local indie band Bobcat.


Live @ the Lakefront is presented by the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and the City of Lake Charles, and it seeks to celebrate and showcase local talents through a full-fledged music festival for the Lake Area. A third concert with City Heat and Iberville High Life will follow on Friday, March 30th.


This Friday's concert is sponsored by Tobacco Free Living and will be held at the Arcade Amphitheater on the Lakefront Promenade from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will also feature Lake Area food vendors, children's entertainment, and beverage sales as well as booths showcasing one-of-a-kind local art from a variety of art mediums. Festival-goers can spread a blanket on the amphitheater's grassy hill and listen to the best live music around with the lakeshore scenery and cool March weather as the perfect backdrop.


Live @ the Lakefront acts as a fundraiser for the arts in Southwest Louisiana with proceeds from all Coke, Budweiser, Miller, and wine sales going directly to the Arts Council's efforts to support area arts and cultural initiatives and endeavors.


Mayor Randy Roach and Patricia Prudhomme, director of Tobacco Free Living, will open the festival with a welcome from the stage at 6 p.m. Local indie band Bobcat will follow. The band rose from the ashes of several area bands including Canvas Red and Silicon Warriors, and despite beginning as a cover band, Bobcat quickly changed directions and has been working hard at composing strong original songs that have been described by Chris Shearman of LakeCharles.com as "rockin' but introspective. Confident, but not too serious." Their efforts have yielded their explosive debut album ATTACK which can be found on iTunes.

With eleven albums created from a cross-pollination of Cajun, zydeco, and swamp pop sounds, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys easily secured a Grammy nomination for their 2011 album Grand Isle which has been critically acclaimed by The Huffington Post, NPR, The Examiner, and the Chicago Sun-Times, just to list a few. With Riley at the forefront, who is perhaps the most skilled accordion player performing today, the band comes straight out of Mamou and is steeped in an entire history of Cajun music. Riley’s searing, emotional vocals are seamlessly tied to his strong songwriting, onstage charisma, and soulful fiddle solos, and paired with Kevin Wimmer, Sam Broussard, Kevin Dugas, and Brazos Huval, the band has become one of the first thoughts that come to mind when one thinks of Cajun music.

The City of Lake Charles Department of Recreation & Parks will host an extensive children’s entertainment area for each of the three concerts. From 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., parents can bring their children to the Arcade Amphitheater for fun jumps, spin art, lawn connect four, coloring table, Putt Putt Golf, and more.

Live @ the Lakefront is co-presented by the Arts Council and the City of Lake Charles and is made possible by Deep South Productions and generous sponsorships from Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, JPMorgan Chase, and Tobacco Free Living. Event partners include Townsquare Media, Gator 99.5, Coca-Cola, 107 JAMZ, Cajun Radio, KISSFM, 92.9 The Lake, the Porch Coffee House & Café, American Press, Lake Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, Knight Media Printing, Southwest Daily News, the Jambalaya News, Lagniappe, Thrive Magazine, KPLC, Beverage Sales, Southwest Beverage, and Redfish Rental.


The festival is free to the public, and no outside food or ice chests are allowed. For more information, contact the Arts Council at 337-439-ARTS or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

Live @ the Lakefront is Here!

The music event that everyone has been talking about is finally here! Live @ the Lakefront hits the Arcade Amphitheater stage tomorrow night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a great array of live music with local ties. Starting at 6 p.m., New Wave band Certain Satellites will take the stage followed by SWLA native Wendy Colonna at 7 p.m. Country-infused Southern rock band Twangsters Union will headline the night at 8 p.m.

Isle of Capri Casino is sponsoring our first concert, so be sure to give them much love when you come tomorrow! Spread a blanket on the grassy hill at sunset and let the cool March breeze and the live music ease away the stresses from the work week. Don't forget, Live @ the Lakefront is a FREE music festival with family friendly activities for kids from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. provided by the Lake Charles Department of Recreation & Parks.

Live @ the Lakefront acts as a fundraiser for the Arts Council, so all beverage sales go directly toward benefiting the arts in Southwest Louisiana!

Explosion of Poetry at Stellar Beans

This week and weekend, Stellar Beans will offer quite literally an explosion of literary events to entice even the homebody in us all to get off the couch and experience downtown Lake Charles. On Thursday, March 15th, the coffee house's monthly poetry night will feature a reading by Chris Shipman at 7 p.m.


Shipman is the author of Human-Carrying Flight Technology (Blaze VOX), Romeo’s Ugly Nose (forthcoming from Allography Press), and co-author of Super Poems (forthcoming from Kattywompus Press). Shipman was a finalist for the 2011 De Novo Award, the 2010 Akron Poetry Prize, and the 2010 Copperdome Prize. His poems appear in Cimarron Review, Exquisite Corpse, La Fovea, Salt Hill, and The Offending Adam, among many others. Shipman has been featured on Verse Daily and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He is the poetry editor for Dig Magazine of Baton Rouge and teaches at Baton Rouge Community College.


On Saturday, March 17th, Stellar Beans will continue with a reading by Arthur Pfister at 1 p.m. Also known as Professor Arturo, he is from New Orleans and is a Spoken Word artist, educator, performer, editor, speechwriter and recipient of the Asante Award. He received a Master of Arts degree in Writing from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. degree in English/Journalism from the State University of New York-College at New Paltz. Pfister, one of the original Broadside Press poets of the 1960s, has collaborated on a medley of projects with a mélange of artists including painters, musicians, photographers, dancers, singers, fire eaters, waiters, cab drivers, and other members of the Great Miscellaneous. 


He has performed his poetry, fiction, toasts and “jazz poems” on a solo basis or with musical accompaniment at Ebony Square, Vincent’s City Club, Louisiana Music Factory, the Contemporary Arts Center, the Louisiana Folklife Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Urban League’s Annual Golden Gala, Ashe Cultural Arts Center, among many others.


Also on Saturday, Stellar Beans will be the site of another Rumble in the Chuck poetry slam competition with poets from Louisiana and Texas competing for top honors at 7 p.m.


All of these events are free and the public is invited to attend. Poetry is not censored. For more information, contact Stellar Beans at (337) 564-5739.

The Importance of Being Earnest

Tourism Marketing Initiative Grant Available

Though our strong partnership with the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau we are able to present the Tourism Marketing Initiative grant program each year. This grant is designed to assist non-profit arts and cultural organizations in Calcasieu parish with marketing tools for creative endeavors in the area. 

With strong marketing strategies, the festivals, fairs, arts education programs, concerts, and performances that represent our Southwest Louisiana cultural heritage play a direct role in bolstering tourism to the area. Tourism comprises a large part of our state's economy, and by investing in the tools and means to boost attendance to arts events, we can better not only our quality of life but also the economic impact the arts and tourism have locally.

Qualifying arts and cultural organizations are able to apply for up to $2,000, and the funds can be used toward increasing and diversifying audiences for arts and cultural events through website development, billboards, brochures, press kits, radio and TV commercials, print ads, etc. 

All interested parties are encouraged to contact our grant administrator Jackie Dowden at (337) 439-2787 for further info and to visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org to download the guidelines and application. Grant applications are due Friday, March 4th, in the Arts Council office. 

Facebook Competition

Enjoy our Live @ the Lakefront music festival on us! Visit our Facebook fan page for a chance to win 30 free beverage tickets to use at any or all of the concerts! Beverage tickets can be used toward Budweiser and Miller products, wine, Cokes, and bottled water. All you have to do is reshare our Live @ the Lakefront poster on your Facebook wall by next Tuesday, March 13th, and we'll choose one lucky winner!

Children's Theatre Auditions Tomorrow!

Class and auditions for The Frog Princess have been announced by The Children’s Theatre Company; Kerry A. Onxley, Artistic Director. This unique production brings to life this charming tale of love and devotion, creating an unforgettable theatrical experience for the whole family.

Roles are reversed in this colorful adaptation of the Russian folk tale. Queen Natasha is tired and wants to turn over the throne to one of her three sons. Boris, her oldest son, is mighty and strong, while Casimir, the middle son, is clever with words and young Sasha is kind, but rather inept.  The queen reveals that the difference between a good king and a great king is the woman behind the throne.  So, she sends her sons off to find wives, using an arrow to guide them.  Boris's arrow leads him to the brave warrior Ursula, Casimir finds the vain and materialistic Vass and Sasha's arrow pierces Natalia ...  a frog!  This charming, delightful play ends as a  funny tale and a very clever story teaching that it pays to be kind to everyone ...  including frogs!

This one act show, based on the famous film, offers a large cast for boys and girls ages 9-18.  The show is scheduled for May 4-6, 2012.

Classes meet every Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-6:00PM.  Taught by a team of theatre professionals, the students work on musical theatre skills, acting, singing, dancing, script analysis and vocal development. Onxley states, “While the students are learning technique, they are building self-confidence, discipline, self-awareness and leadership skills”.

No experience is necessary. Enrollment in classes is required for auditions. Classes are currently in progress with auditions being held Wednesday, March 7 from 4:00-6:00PM and are held at the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby; Suite 313). For more information, contact the theatre at (337) 433-7323 or visit the website at www.childrenstheatre.cc.

Live @ the Lakefront is on the Horizon!

From left: Patricia Prudhomme of Tobacco Free Living,
Denise Fasske of the City of Lake Charles, Mayor Randy Roach,
Rodney "Poncho" Seaford of JPMorgan Chase, and Matt Young of the Arts Council

The Arts Council and the City of Lake Charles are proud to announce Live @ the Lakefront sponsorships from Isle of Capri Casino, Tobacco Free Living, and JPMorgan Chase. Their dedication to our inaugural music festival will ensure its success for years to come! And don't miss out on our kick off concert on March 16th when Twangsters Union, Wendy Colonna, and Certain Satellites hit the stage from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Arcade Amphitheater!


March 16th will mark the kick off opening concert for Live @ the Lakefront, a brand new three-week music festival presented by the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and the City of Lake Charles, and this festival is designed to unify art, music, food, and culture into a singular collective Southwest Louisiana experience, all in one event. Isle of Capri Casino will sponsor the first concert with Twangsters Union, Wendy Colonna, and Certain Satellites taking the stage by storm from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Arcade Amphitheater at the Lakefront Promenade. Concerts on March 23rd and 30th will follow.

Local New Wave band Certain Satellites
will open the evening at 6 p.m.

Festival goers can spread a blanket on the amphitheater's grassy hill and listen to the best live music around with the lakeshore scenery and cool March weather as the perfect backdrop. Live @ the Lakefront will act as a fundraiser for the arts in Southwest Louisiana with the proceeds from all Coke, Budweiser, Miller, and wine sales going directly to the Arts Council's efforts to support area arts and cultural initiatives and endeavors.

SWLA native Wendy Colonna

Mayor Randy Roach will open the festival with a welcome from the stage at 6 p.m. with local New Wave band Certain Satellites to follow. Certain Satellites has become known around town for its innovative, and albeit unpredictable, performances that tap into a melody of little-known genres in Lake Charles from Shoegaze, an introspective-driven subgenre of alternative rock, to New Wave, a branch of punk rock that incorporates electronic and experimental music.

Southwest Louisiana native Wendy Colonna will follow with her resounding vocals and deep retro soul will perform with an impromptu compilation of Lake Charles musicians. Colonna, now working out of Austin, has recently named Austin’s “Best Singer/Songwriter” by Austin American Statesman, and has six albums under her belt that have cemented her and her one-of-a-kind soulful voice as a force to be reckoned with in the music world.

Twangsters Union will headline March 16th's kickoff concert

Twangsters Union will headline the evening’s live music. Since 2005, Twangsters Union, with members Joey LeBlanc, Donice Morace, Joe Rogers, Ron Harvey, and Jeff LeBlanc, have brought their high energy blend of Southern rock and country music to the area, and have opened for Reba McEntire, Percy Sledge, and Kenny Chesnutt, among other big names. With regular appearances among the state’s festival, fair, and fundraiser circuits, Twangsters Union’s heartfelt ballads and power house harmonies are infused with raucous and dizzying dance beats that draw audiences away from the typical cover band experience and instead offer a versatile tour of country-infused rock music.


The festival is free to the public, and it will also showcase local artists, children's activities, vendors, and Lake Area food booths. Live @ the Lakefront is made possible by Deep South Productions and generous sponsorships from Isle of Capri Casino, JPMorgan Chase, and Tobacco Free Living. Event partners include Townsquare Media, Gator 99.5, Coca-Cola, 107JAMZ, Cajun Radio, KISSFM, 92.9 The Lake, the Porch Coffee House & Cafe, American Press, Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau, Knight Media Printing, Southwest Daily News, the Jambalaya News, Lagniappe, Thrive Magazine, KPLC, Beverage Sales, Southwest Beverage, and Redfish Rental.


For more information, call the Arts Council office at 439-ARTS or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

Art Battle Registration Open

Are you up for the challenge, Lake Charles? The Arts Council will host its second annual Art Battle during this year's Spring Art Walk on April 13th. Last year the Art Battle was wildly successful and brought out an insane number of people for its first go-round. This year we are moving the Art Battle into downtown to better concentrate all our Spring Art Walk efforts to showcase downtown businesses and local artists.

Ten teams of up to four artists can compete in the Art Battle, but the team only has one hour to create a mural from scratch! Any mediums, materials, and subjects are accepted, and you'll receive a blank, primed piece of plywood with its size ranging from 2'x3' to 4'x6', depending on the number of teammates.

The winning mural will be selected by the amount of tips audience members put into a team's tip jar, and 50% of the tips will go back to the team. Last year, Painting With A Twist snagged first place with over $300 in tips in their jar! The winning mural will be put on display at Central School for 30 days after the competition. A fee of $25 is required with registration, and teams are responsible for bringing all of their supplies and materials.

All of the completed murals are featured in a silent auction during the evening, and 70% of the sales also go back to the team. Registration forms are available at the Arts Council office, and your payment confirms your spot. Call us at 439-ARTS for details! Registration ends March 30th.

To sum up:
Team sign-in: 5:30 p.m.
Battle: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Silent Auction: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets for The Sleeping Beauty on sale!

Photo by Danley Romero
of Romero & Romero Photography

The Lake Charles Civic Ballet (LCCB) will present the full length story ballet of The Sleeping Beauty on Saturday, March 17th, at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 18th, at 3 p.m. at the Rosa Hart Theatre. Saturday evening's performance will feature the Lake Charles Symphony orchestra, conducted by Bohuslav Rattay, performing Tchaikovsky's famous score, and is sponsored by L'Auberge Lake Charles. The Sunday matinee will be performed to the classic soundtrack. Tickets are available at the Civic Center box office, 337-491-1432 or via ticketmaster.com.

The Sleeping Beauty is the classic tale of Princess Aurora who is cursed by the evil Carabosse into a deep sleep and is awakened by the kiss of Prince Desire. LCCB's Artistic Director, Lady Holly Hathaway Kaough, has staged the company's version after the choreography of Marius Petipa. This performance is perfect for all ages with the lavish sets and costumes as well as the beautiful choreography and music making this a must-see event!

Be sure to visit www.lakecharlescivicballet.com to register to win two tickets in the sponsor seating for the Saturday performance with the Symphony!

The Lake Charles Civic Ballet was founded in 1968 by Lady Leah Lafargue Hathaway, and the company was awarded 2011 Arts Organization of the Year award by Mayor Randy Roach at the Arts Council's Mayor's Arts Awards this past October.