Ashé Cultural Arts Center

What Ashé Cultural Arts Center does

Ashé Cultural Arts Center is a private nonprofit cultural institution headquartered at 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating a multi-venue campus that includes the Powerhouse Theatre/Gallery at 1731 Baronne Street, Adinkra Lounge, and Adinkra Courtyard. Founded around 2000 by Carol Bebelle and Douglas Redd, the organization serves the African Diaspora community through an integrated portfolio of programs spanning arts and culture (Side by Side Artist Program, MAAFA Commemoration, exhibitions, Swimming Upstream: The Katrina Monologues, Ashé Rooftop Festival & Gala), health and wellness (I Deserve It!, Sistahs Making A Change, BirthRite), youth development (Kuumba Academy, Young Fierce Citizens), economic equity (AfriCarnaval Initiative, Platforms Fund), civic engagement (Building Community Power), and cultural preservation research (Alliance for Cultural Equity).

The organization operates with no proprietary technology beyond a Squarespace website and a Neon CRM-powered ticketing/donation platform. Its functional model relies on community-led distribution through partnerships, events, social media, newsletters, and earned media rather than technology-mediated channels.

Ashé's revenue model is diversified across donations and philanthropy (including the National Endowment for the Arts, Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation, Arts New Orleans, and corporate sponsors such as JPMorgan Chase and Liberty Bank), annual memberships ($50 Side by Side Artist Program), event ticket sales ($5–$75), space rentals (Powerhouse Theatre and Adinkra Lounge), experience package sales, and retail (Ashé Diaspora Boutique). Its go-to-market is community-led, anchored in 27+ years of trust-based relationships with Black New Orleans communities and an extensive network of strategic collaborators across health (New Orleans East Hospital), philanthropy (Greater New Orleans Foundation, Foundation for Louisiana), civic (Urban League of Louisiana, Bar None), and arts (Antenna, Junebug Productions, The Black School, Clockshop) sectors.

Name

Ashé Cultural Arts Center

Website

https://ashenola.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ashé Cultural Arts Center is a New Orleans–based nonprofit operating a multi-venue campus and integrated programs in African Diaspora arts, health equity, youth development, civic engagement, and economic justice for Black New Orleans communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Arts Center / African Diaspora Cultural Programming

NAICS

Museums (712110), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Cultural arts programming
• Arts education
• Community wellness programs
• Youth development services
• Artist residency support

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, private foundations, and corporate sponsors constitute a primary revenue stream for the nonprofit organization.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership fees providing access to Side by Side Artist Program benefits, event access, and professional development opportunities.
3. Event Tickets and Admissions: Revenue from ticket sales for performances, festivals (such as the Ashé Rooftop Festival), exhibitions, and special events.
4. Space Rental: Rental of venue spaces including the Ashé Powerhouse Theatre, Adinkra Lounge, and multi-functional campus spaces for events.
5. Government and Foundation Grants: Grants from organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Arts New Orleans, Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and others support specific programs.
6. Experience Packages: Culturally significant, integrative, and educational experience packages offered to visitors and tour groups.
7. Ashé Diaspora Boutique: Retail sales of culturally themed merchandise and art.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ashé Cultural Arts Center is a community-led nonprofit that operates a multi-venue campus in New Orleans to deliver African Diaspora cultural programming, exhibitions, festivals, youth and adult arts education, wellness initiatives, artist development, and civic engagement programs. Its core activities include ticket-based events, an annual membership program, venue rentals, donations and grants, experience packages, and retail sales of culturally themed merchandise.

Product overview

Ashé Cultural Arts Center is a cultural arts organization in New Orleans that offers a diverse portfolio of programs, productions, and community services focused on celebrating and advancing the African Diaspora. The organization operates as a multi-faceted cultural institution with interconnected programs spanning youth development (Kuumba Academy, Young Fierce Citizens), health and wellness (I Deserve It!, Sistahs Making A Change, BirthRite), artist support (Side by Side Artist Program), civic engagement (Building Community Power), cultural preservation (MAAFA Commemoration, Alliance for Cultural Equity), economic equity (AfriCarnaval Initiative, Platforms Fund), and large-scale events (Ashé Rooftop Festival & Gala, exhibitions, theater productions). The center also provides venue spaces and experience-based cultural tours. Together, these offerings create a comprehensive ecosystem supporting cultural expression, community empowerment, and social justice within the African diaspora community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Side by Side Artist Program Annual membership-based artist development program for visual artists and culture bearers providing resources, networking opportunities, exhibition chances, professional workshops, and career development support at a $50 annual membership fee.
• MAAFA Commemoration Annual racial healing commemoration of ancestors from the Transatlantic and Domestic Slave Trades, including a procession from Congo Square through historic Tremé to the Mississippi River with drumming, dancing, singing, and praying.
• Ashé Rooftop Festival & Gala Annual multi-rooftop celebration of the African Diaspora across rooftop spaces in New Orleans featuring themed rooftops including Main Rooftop, Wellness Rooftop, and Social Justice Rooftop with performances, food, art, and cultural programming.
• Kuumba Academy Year-round and summer youth cultural arts education program for children ages 5-15 covering African drumming, dance, music, gardening, and social development, funded in part by Arts New Orleans Community Arts Grants.
• I Deserve It! Wellness and health program addressing life expectancy disparities in New Orleans' Black neighborhoods through culturally grounded wellness activities, health education, and connections to healthcare providers, in partnership with New Orleans East Hospital and supported by NEA.
• Sistahs Making A Change Multi-generational, multi-disciplinary health and wellness class held twice weekly featuring dance and wellness topics, providing free workshops and dance classes on a weekly basis.
• BirthRite Cultural advocacy program for breastfeeding addressing poor birth outcomes for African American women using cultural and creative strategies such as photography, poetry, filmmaking, and theater to support mothers.
• Young Fierce Citizens Capacity-building civic engagement program empowering young adults ages 18-25 with civic education, voter registration, connection with elected officials, campaign creation, and youth-led policy advocacy.
• Building Community Power Collaborative monthly two-day policy design series convening in different neighborhoods to confront community concerns with radical imagination, focusing on criminal justice, housing rights, health equity, education, economic justice, and climate justice.
• Exhibitions Rotating exhibitions at Ashé Cultural Arts Center and Ashé Powerhouse Theater featuring visual artists, photographers, and cultural artworks focused on African diaspora experiences and social justice themes.
• Swimming Upstream: The Katrina Monologues Theater production recounting women's post-Katrina and Rita stories of survival through word and movement, originally produced by Carol Bebelle and playwright V (formerly Eve Ensler) in partnership with V-Day and Ashé Cultural Arts Center.
• Experience Packages and Tours Culturally significant, integrative, and educational experience packages including The Kuumba Kids Experience, MAAFA Movement Experience, An Ashé Story, and The Ashé Experience, hosted at Ashé facilities, historical sites, and partner locations.
• Alliance for Cultural Equity Research study led by Ashé Cultural Arts Center in partnership with the New Orleans Data Center, Shift Collective, Helicon Collaborative, and Southern University at New Orleans examining the role of small museums and archives dedicated to preserving marginalized communities' histories and cultures.
• AfriCarnaval Initiative Economic and cultural equity initiative working with culture bearers, organizations, and business enterprises to grow business efforts and develop policies around Black cultural equity, including AfriCarnaval: Under the Bridge celebration on Mardi Gras Day.
• Platforms Fund Collaborative regranting initiative of Antenna, Ashé Cultural Art Center, Junebug Productions, The Black School, and the Andy Warhol Foundation awarding project grants up to $10,000 and research grants of $1,500 to New Orleans-based artists for public realm commissions.
• The Art of Conversation Series of engaging conversations and in-depth interviews spanning disciplines and generations, creating space for thought-provoking dialogue exploring issues of equity, legacy, and social awareness in the arts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Addresses 25-year life expectancy gap in New Orleans' majority Black neighborhoods
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, cohort and funder.

• ClockshopmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026Arts and culture nonprofit partnering with Ashé to extend 3D-scanning workshops to the South as part of LaRissa Rogers' Subterranean Convergence artist commission.
• AntennacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Platforms Fund, a regranting initiative awarding up to $10,000 project grants and $1,500 research grants to New Orleans-based artists for innovative artistic commissions outside traditional gallery settings.
• Junebug ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Platforms Fund supporting new and innovative artistic commissions that take place in public realms and non-traditional exhibition environments.
• The Black SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Platforms Fund focused on reimagining visual artmaking for social change with attention to regional histories and ecologies.
• New Orleans Data CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead research partner in Alliance for Cultural Equity study examining the role of small museums and archives preserving marginalized community histories, funded by Ford Foundation.
• Shift CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator in Alliance for Cultural Equity study alongside Ashé, New Orleans Data Center, Helicon Collaborative, and Southern University at New Orleans.
• Helicon CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator in Alliance for Cultural Equity study examining economic and social impact of cultural institutions serving marginalized communities.
• Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Alliance for Cultural Equity research study on small museums and archives dedicated to preserving marginalized community narratives.
• New Orleans East HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in I Deserve It! program addressing health disparities in Black communities; sponsor of Wellness Rooftop at Ashé Rooftop Festival.
• Saul's LightmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement and implementation partner in BirthRite cultural advocacy program for breastfeeding in the Black community.
• Covenant HousemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement and implementation partner in BirthRite program serving pregnant and parenting young mothers.
• NOLA4WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of BirthRite Story Project experiences and focus groups providing safe and healing spaces for women to express their maternal stories.
• Broad Community ConnectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for Main Rooftop at Ashé Rooftop Festival at 300 N. Broad Street, collaborating on African Diaspora cultural programming.
• Artists At WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts nonprofit co-presenting events including MAMA SAID open mic night and Creativity + Community: Celebrating AAW Artists in New Orleans.
• Fathers MattersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Favorite Fathers Awards event celebrating father figures in the New Orleans community.
• Ujamaa Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in AfriCarnaval Initiative working to create economic equity in Black communities through Black carnival traditions.
• Tambourine and FancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in AfriCarnaval: Under the Bridge celebration on Mardi Gras Day, collaborating on cultural and community celebration.
• Bar NonemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Building Community Power: Criminal Justice design session focusing on reclaiming the justice system for historically marginalized communities.
• Urban League of LouisianamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in For The People Debate Series including Mayoral Debate, hosting at Xavier University of Louisiana.
• McKenna MuseumscohortStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort member of Alliance for Cultural Equity studying impact of small museums preserving Black community histories.
• Amistad Research CentercohortStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort member of Alliance for Cultural Equity research study.
• LGBT+ Archives Project LouisianacohortStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort member of Alliance for Cultural Equity preserving LGBTQ+ community histories.
• Backstreet Cultural MuseumcohortStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort member of Alliance for Cultural Equity preserving Black masking Indian traditions.
• Tekrema Center for Art and CulturecohortStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort member of Alliance for Cultural Equity study.
• United Houma NationcohortStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort member of Alliance for Cultural Equity preserving indigenous community histories.
• Know NOLA TourscohortStrategic or Co-development PartnerCohort member of Alliance for Cultural Equity.
• Claiborne Avenue History ProjectfunderStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder and cohort member supporting Alliance for Cultural Equity research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Backstreet Cultural Museum: New Orleans-based museum preserving Black masking Indian and second-line traditions; explicitly listed as an Alliance for Cultural Equity cohort peer. Most directly comparable given shared Black cultural-heritage mission and similar community-anchored operating model.
• Joan Mitchell Center: New Orleans-based artist residency and community-arts center supporting visual artists. Comparable in artist-development mission and New Orleans footprint; overlaps with Side by Side Artist Program.
• Le Musée de fpc: New Orleans museum focused on the history and culture of free people of color. Comparable in African Diaspora cultural-preservation mission and small-museum operating profile.
• Amistad Research Center: Alliance for Cultural Equity cohort partner; New Orleans-based independent archive specializing in racial equity and African American history. Comparable as a Black-heritage cultural/educational nonprofit.
• New Orleans African American Museum: Partner in the Alliance for Cultural Equity study; operates as a small museum preserving African American history and art in New Orleans. Closely comparable mission, geography, and programming scope.
• McKenna Museums: Alliance for Cultural Equity cohort partner operating a small Black-history museum and cultural programs in New Orleans. Directly comparable in community-museum positioning.
• Studio BE: Black-led, community-rooted arts and exhibition space in New Orleans featuring large-scale installations and artist residencies. Comparable in cultural-anchored programming and Black-arts focus.
• Tekrema Center for Art and Culture: Alliance for Cultural Equity cohort member; New Orleans nonprofit dedicated to African Diaspora art and culture. Direct comparable in scope, geography, and mission.

Broad incumbents

• Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans: Established multidisciplinary arts institution in New Orleans presenting exhibitions, performances, and residencies. Comparable venue-based programming and audiences but broader (non-Black-specific) curatorial scope.
• New Orleans Museum of Art: Major regional art museum in New Orleans offering exhibitions, education, and public programming. Comparable as a New Orleans museum institution but at significantly larger scale and with broader curatorial focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ashe_cac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ashé Cultural Arts Center