Nurturing meaningful relationships between artists and communities
ART SPAN NOLA
ArtSpan NOLA is a New Orleans–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing collaborative contemporary art. Rooted in New Orleans, we support artists as catalysts for connection through collaborative experimentation that brings artists and communities together to create new work. We expand opportunity, engage audiences, and sustain a living cultural legacy across cities.
NOW AIRING ON WYES — NEW ORLEANS PBS
CHASING THE LIGHT: A LIFE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS
AUGUST 19 AT 10 PM • AUGUST 26 AT 3 PM • AUGUST 31 AT 9 PM
An Art Span NOLA Presentation
We’re thrilled to bring the remarkable story of celebrated New Orleans photographer Joshua Mann Pailet to PBS.
WATCH ON WYES • WYES.ORG • THE PBS APP
Grant Highlight - ASN Photography Book Grant 2026
Art Span NOLA (ASN) invites applications for the 2026 ASN Photography Book Grant, an annual award supporting the creation and publication of a first photography book by an emerging photographer from the Greater New Orleans region.
The 2026 theme, Nature and Memory, encourages photographers to explore the evolving relationships between landscape, ecology, memory, and place. As coastlines shift, habitats disappear, and communities adapt to environmental change, photography becomes both witness and archive. Images have the power to preserve what is fading, reveal what often goes unseen, and imagine new ways of understanding our connection to the natural world.
WHO WE ARE
A Collaborative Resource For Contemporary Artists
Art Span NOLA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We provide valuable resources and mentorship for contemporary artists. While our roots are in New Orleans, our outreach spans multiple cities. We are also committed to showcasing and sharing the rich history, creativity, and cultural depth of New Orleans through artistic exchange and collaboration.
WHAT WE DO
Connecting Artists & Communities
Through mentorship, cross-disciplinary exchange, and thoughtful production support, we bring artists and communities into dialogue—encouraging risk-taking, fostering innovation, and supporting the creation of work that resonates across audiences and contexts.
HOW WE DO IT
Community Support
Through your donations, Art Span NOLA provides grants, exhibition opportunities, and mentorship to empower the development and installation of community-focused art projects.
Art With Impact
Values
Community & Collaboration
We believe artists are catalysts for connection and cultural continuity. We value collaboration over isolation, creating opportunities for artists and communities to build together through dialogue, exchange, and shared creativity. Rooted in New Orleans, we honor a culture where creativity is lived, shaped, and continually evolving.
Process & Creative Support
We value process as much as the final work itself. Experimentation, conversation, and creative risk-taking are essential to cultural impact. Through thoughtful production practices, we provide artists with the support, time, and resources to explore ideas and create work with purpose.
Access & Lasting Impact
We are committed to expanding access and opportunity for artists to grow their practice, reach new audiences, and sustain meaningful careers. We believe strong cultural ecosystems are built through relationship, reciprocity, and shared vision—and that art remains one of the most powerful tools for creating lasting connection.