SoLa Center for the Arts

ABOUT SOLA CENTER FOR THE ARTS:

South Louisiana Center for the Arts (SOLA), founded in June 2001, takes its community role in performing and visual arts education seriously for several reasons…

The arts are the foundation of expression and cultural education in our society. We learn about each other and ourselves through artistic expression whether visual, musical, dramatic, culinary or dance. Not only do we learn and open our minds to existing cultures, we learn about past cultures and bring history to life.

Arts education is vital to the education of the whole human being. Plato believed that music and art form the “basic” curriculum – not a frill or an extra curricular activity. It is a fact that students with a foundation in music, theatre or art education score higher on standardized tests than those who have never been exposed to the arts.

Arts education in our area schools needs to be supplemented. There are too few arts programs for elementary students and limited resources for secondary students.

Adults are entitled to begin or continue art in their lives. Adults who enjoyed theatre, music or art in their younger years utilize our resources to rekindle that part of their lives. Those who are curious and wish to learn a new art form need a quality, nurturing environment in which to learn.

SOLA Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization determined to meet these goals. Our highly qualified staff and faculty dedicate their time and talents to the advancement of arts education in our region.

Supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.

MISSION:

South Louisiana Center for the Arts, a nonprofit, visual and performing arts education organization, is committed to the stimulation of individual creative expression. Through instructional programs, community outreach, and exhibitions, SOLA brings people together and enhances community life for the diverse population of the region.

PHILOSOPHY:

We believe that all citizens, regardless of social-economic status, gender, ethnicity or geographic location, have an inherent right to their individual expression through the arts. We affirm that the arts strengthen development and offer positive expression and well-being. We recognize art as enriching life at all ages, from early childhood through the senior years.

VISION:

We envision our diverse community rich with opportunities for all residents to find expression through the visual and performing arts. We envision SOLA as the key agent for creating educational opportunities in the arts for area residents through our strong programs of service, our partnerships with schools, teachers, other arts organizations, interested citizen groups, the business community, the media, and artists themselves. We envision SOLA as a fiscally strong, sustainable agency, offering its services throughout the region with a quality staff and faculty, a diverse board of directors and committed volunteers.

SPONSORS: