Advocacy

The Ella Project seeks to advance proactive, progressive ideas where culture and creativity intersects with public policy. While we work as an advisor to government, we are not a neutral. Ella Project’s advocacy focuses on these core ideas:

• Public performance is a public good that enhances the quality of life and the economy of New Orleans and all cities, and music clubs, theatre spaces, and art galleries should be encouraged to operate in any commercial zone unless there is a specific, compelling reason why their operations should be restricted. Too often, public performance spaces need to justify their existence to regulators. We believe this equation should be flipped, and regulators should have to justify why their activity should be restricted.

• In developing this policy to regulate venues or street parades, a specific City department (Night time Management Office) should be fully funded, staffed, and supported. In all areas of regulation, the police should be de-emphasized.

• Culture is the backbone and unique selling proposition of the New Orleans tourist economy, and the City and State should increase their arts funding to be on par with similar southern cultural hubs such as Austin, TX and Nashville, TN.

• Copyright is an inherent right, and creatives should be able to exercise their copyrights in a way that is clear, equitable, and artist friendly.  

How we accomplish this work

• Bringing New Orleans politicians and policy makers together with national leaders of progressive cultural policy.

• Hosting candidate forums and policy briefings on cultural policy.

• Providing access to pro bono legal services for creatives and arts businesses seeking to protect and enforce their rights.

• Board service on organizations including Music Policy Forum, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and the Louisiana State Arts Council.