OCTOBER

The Creative Alliance of New Orleans

The Creative Alliance of New Orleans (CANO), is an organization formed to promote the creative sector of New Orleans as a way of growing our economy and improving the quality of life for our citizens.  An important part of its mission is to encourage our younger generations to realize the potential of their creative talents, whether music and theatre, visual or design arts, film and video, building arts, culinary or the evolving Internet related design arts.

CANO is developing a Studio at the Colton School.  The Studio (a work in progress) is intended to establish an innovative educational environment, that will provide both work space and exhibit opportunities to facilitate the creative activity of students with the guidance of professional artists from many disciplines in a collaborative/workshop environment.            

The aim of the proposed Studio is to help students improve their skills, learn good work habits, expand their performance and career expectations. It is also meant to foster exploration of new media, innovation and expanded networks of collaboration between creative disciplines in the New Orleans that will result in expanded opportunities for the creative sector of the region's economy. Finally, the Colton School Studio is intended to communicate to the global marketplace the skills, talents, and creative products and trends of this region.

Prospect 1 New Orleans:
This fall a major biennial visual arts exhibition, Prospect 1, is being presented in New Orleans and is expected to draw thousands of national and international visitors interested in the arts between November 1st and January 18th.  The exhibition will feature the work of internationally known artists, the majority of whom are not from this region.  CANO feels this is a "don't miss" opportunity to present the creative products of our community to this audience/market, as well as to enable our talented students to gain an understanding of the potential of the marketplace for their arts.

CANO has therefore proposed the use of the Colton School as a major temporary exhibition facility to house this companion exhibition and performance venue that will feature the works of students as well as artists, performers, and designers working in the region today.   CANO's biennial committee will oversee the development of the project, but encourage participating organizations to develop the programming.

The Studio Facility: 
CANO chose the Colton School 2300 St. Claude Avenue at Spain Street for several reasons. This building is at the center of an emerging creative arts district, and on a broad boulevard that links several downtown neighborhoods, including the French Quarter, Bywater-Marigny, St. Roch, Desire/Florida, Treme and the 6th, 7th 8th and 9th wards, all areas with significant damage by Katrina from moderate to devastating. The school did not flood in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and was partially repaired and renovated with new HVAC, electrical, and other mechanical systems in 2007. Based on preliminary examination, the building is suitable for this temporary use, although it will require some temporary construction improvements and cleaning. The building has architectural grace, historical value, and rooms filled with natural light, making them suitable for work on and presentation of art. With 100,000 square feet it offers an exceptional amount of space for numerous exhibits that can accommodate the wide range of the creative disciplines in the region, as well as the work of students from numerous schools.

The RSD has indicated that the building may be earmarked to become an arts-focused elementary school in the future, and could function as a multi-purpose site. It is CANO's sincere hope that a successful exhibition will support the building's long term viability as an arts centered learning institution.

The Colton school building's 1,100 seat capacity auditorium, with three story ceilings, provides a grand theater space for musical, theatrical, film and video, and dance presentations. It is in need of a thorough cleaning, minor repairs, and new flooring on the stage.  CANO members will enlist – architects, engineers, preservationists, and building professionals, as well as other arts, civic, rebuilding, and student oriented organizations to support this building preparation process.  CANO will also attempt to secure funding support to address these needs.

Management and Accountability:
CANO has formed a special committee of experts in the arts, architecture, performance arts, and marketing that will act as a managing entity. CANO also in the process of selecting a facility manager, and will assign a staff person to coordinate the work of the committee, facility manager, and potential partners. CANO has asked that a  representative of the RSD be designated to work with this committee to provide details on RSD policy, advice on building operations, and guidance on helping this temporary use become a guide for how to benefit the building's long term cultural and educational potential.

Partners:
CANO is outreaching to organizations, arts entities, and businesses in the surrounding neighborhoods to make sure this project will benefit the goals of the area. In particular, the Downtown Neighborhoods Improvement Association is a committed partner.

Marketing and Audience Building:
Many of the leaders of CANO are marketing professionals who will assist in developing and realizing a marketing plan aimed at making sure the Colton School venue will attract visitors and residents, opinion makers as well as students, faculty, and career counselors who we hope to instill with greater expectations for the future of our students.

CANO will also partner with other marketing entities such as the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, the St. Claude Avenue and Rampart Street Main Street organizations, city and state agencies, and other various business and neighborhood interests.

Funding:
CANO is looking for to partnering organizations to support the installation, production, and labor costs for each individual exhibit or performance. Each participating arts, educational or business group will be expected to support their individual workshop as well as performances and exhibitions. CANO will raise funding for overall management and marketing, looking for support from public, non-profit, and corporate sources interested in the city's economic, educational, cultural, and tourism future. 

Achieving New Orleans' Potential:
New Orleans is regarded as a Mecca of 20th century culture throughout the world. Yet, it has suffered from a lagging economy and a public educational system lacking in the appropriate support from its citizens for decades.  CANO believes that if the city will invest more in growing the creative sector of its economy, it can realize the city and region's potential based on the world's regard, in fact, love of our iconic culture.

We hope CANO's Studio Space at Colton School will become a major milestone in the region's evolution into a center of contemporary cultural production, not just cultural history. We also hope to sponsor extended workshop projects in this or other buildings in the future.

For more information about supporting CANO contact:

Sarah K. Hess, Program Manager
Creative Alliance of New Orleans
email: sarahkhess@gmail.com
phone: (504)615-8122