Acadiana Center for the Arts

What Acadiana Center for the Arts does

Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) is a 501(c)(3) community-supported regional arts council founded in 1975 and headquartered in a 50,000 sq. ft. facility at 101 W. Vermilion Street in Lafayette, Louisiana. The organization operates as the designated Regional Development Agency for arts and culture across an eight-parish region (Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion), serving over 300,000 people annually and providing fair compensation to approximately 2,700 artists each year. Its facility houses a 20,000 sq. ft. art museum, a 300-seat performing arts theater (James Devin Moncus), classrooms, offices, an on-site café, and multiple gallery spaces, with the adjacent historic Lafayette Hardware Store building (121 W. Vermilion St.) being developed into the Louisiana Music Museum scheduled to open in 2026.

AcA delivers a portfolio of programming across three pillars: performing arts, visual arts, and arts education. Performance programming includes the AllStars, NXT, Louisiana Crossroads (24th year), Spotlight Theatre and Dance, and Standing Room series. Visual arts programming spans five gallery spaces and anchors Lafayette's monthly Second Saturday ArtWalk. Arts education reaches over 190 schools and 80,000+ students through in-school performances, a Teaching Artist Program, curriculum-integrated lessons, and student artist awards. The organization also administers grant programs, including ArtSpark ($50,000 annual pool for individual artists), Louisiana Project Grants (~$100,000 across 20 projects in 2024 for Region 4), and LCG Arts and Culture Operations Grants (up to $7,500 per recipient, administered since 1988).

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: grants from federal, state, and municipal government sources (NEA, Louisiana DCRT, Lafayette Consolidated Government, Lafayette Economic Development Authority); individual donations and memberships; earned revenue from ticket sales, facility rentals, café operations, and summer camps; and proceeds from signature fundraising events (Pelican Ball, Gulf Brew, Sunny Side Jazz Brunch, State of the Arts Symposium). Corporate sponsorship supports specific programming series (First Horizon Bank for Louisiana Crossroads, Standard Title for Spotlight Theatre and Dance, MacLaff Inc. for Student Arts Expo). Annual operating budget exceeds $2 million.

Name

Acadiana Center for the Arts

Legal name

Acadiana Center for the Arts

Website

https://acadianacenterforthearts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Acadiana Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) regional arts council founded in 1975 that operates a 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Lafayette, Louisiana, delivering performing arts, visual arts, and arts education across eight Acadiana parishes to over 300,000 people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Center

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Museums (712110), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Arts education programs
• Artist grant funding
• Community arts council

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: Receives funding from Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Lafayette Consolidated Government, and National Endowment for the Arts to support grant programs and operations
2. Donations and Memberships: Individual donations and membership programs provide ongoing support, with special events like Pelican Ball and Gulf Brew as major fundraisers
3. Ticket Sales and Facility Rentals: Revenue from performances, events, and facility rentals including the James Devin Moncus Theater
4. ArtSpark Grant Program: $50,000 pool supporting new works of art and professional development for individual artists, funded through Lafayette Economic Development Authority and NEA

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Acadiana Center for the Arts operates a regional arts venue and cultural programming hub in Lafayette, Louisiana, producing performing arts series, visual arts exhibitions, arts education in schools, and administering artist and organizational grant programs. It operates a 50,000 sq. ft. facility including a 300-seat theater and 20,000 sq. ft. art museum, and convenes the cultural ecosystem across an eight-parish region, reaching more than 300,000 people annually.

Product overview

Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) operates as a unified cultural center offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a modular software platform. The core offering centers on performing arts at the James Devin Moncus Theater (AllStars Series, NXT Series, Louisiana Crossroads, Spotlight Theatre & Dance, Standing Room Series), visual arts exhibitions across five gallery spaces (Main Gallery, Side Gallery, ArtHouse, Circle Gallery, Mallia Galleria), and arts education initiatives serving over 190 schools and 60,000+ students. Key programs include grant funding through ArtSpark ($50,000 pool), Louisiana Project Grants (~$100,000 to 20 projects), and LCG Arts & Culture Grants (up to $7,500). Creative Acadiana provides professional development, while Student Artist Awards support young creatives. The Louisiana Music Museum, scheduled to open in 2026 in the historic Lafayette Hardware Store, will expand AcA's cultural footprint. Additional offerings include special events (Pelican Ball, State of the Arts Symposium), summer camps, facility rentals, café/bar, and membership programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AllStars Series Flagship performance series featuring acclaimed national and international artists in music, presenting major touring acts at the James Devin Moncus Theater.
• NXT Series Performance series focused on emerging and next-generation artists, providing platforms for up-and-coming performers in the region.
• Louisiana Crossroads Series Performance series celebrating Louisiana's musical heritage and traditions, presented by First Horizon Bank, currently in its 24th year.
• Spotlight Theatre and Dance Series Series featuring theatrical productions and dance performances, including multimedia concerts that fuse music, film, and contemporary dance.
• Standing Room Series Intimate performance series offering smaller-scale, experimental performances.
• Art Exhibitions (Main Gallery, Side Gallery, ArtHouse, Circle Gallery, Mallia Galleria) Rotating exhibitions in multiple gallery spaces showcasing regional artists and national/international professionals; anchors Lafayette's monthly ArtWalk.
• ArtSpark Grant Program Individual artist grant program offering a $50,000 pool to support new works of art and professional development for artists, musicians, cultural workers, and creatives; in its 12th year with 97 projects funded.
• Louisiana Project Grant (LPG) Program State-funded grant program administered by AcA for Region 4, distributing funds to support innovative arts projects across eight parishes in Acadiana.
• LCG Arts & Culture Operations Grant City-funded operational support grants for Lafayette Parish-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, administered by AcA, offering up to $7,500.
• Creative Acadiana Creative entrepreneurship and professional development series providing workshops, artist talks, and networking opportunities for creatives across the region, made possible with support from Atchafalaya Natural Heritage Area.
• Arts in Education Program Comprehensive arts education initiative bringing cultural performances into schools and providing arts-based lessons in Science, Math, English, and Social Studies, serving over 190 schools and 80,000 students.
• In-School Performances Live professional performances in music, dance, and literary arts presented to students in public schools, impacting tens of thousands of students annually for over 30 years.
• Student Artist Awards (Jean Breaux Award & Courtney Granger Memorial Award) Annual awards supporting young artists, musicians, and creatives in high school and college, with a total of $7,500 distributed to ten recipients annually.
• Louisiana Music Museum A nationally significant museum dedicated to Louisiana music, musicians, and musical culture, located in the historic 134-year-old Lafayette Hardware Store at 121 W. Vermilion St., scheduled to open in 2026.
• Special Events (Pelican Ball, State of the Arts Symposium, Student Arts Expo, Sunny Side Jazz Brunch) Annual fundraising and community events including the Pelican Ball gala, State of the Arts civic symposium, Student Arts Expo, and Sunny Side Jazz Brunch.
• Summer Camps & Classes Arts-focused camps and classes for children during summer months, offering diverse creative activities.
• Second Saturday ArtWalk Monthly community event where AcA's galleries serve as the primary anchor, drawing over 20,000 patrons to downtown Lafayette.
• James Devin Moncus Theater 300-seat theater and mixed-use venue within AcA's 50,000 sq. ft. facility, hosting major performances and events.
• AcA Café On-site café and bar serving visitors to the arts center, also hosting exhibitions like Repérages: Quebec-Louisiane.
• Facility Rentals Rental program allowing individuals and organizations to book AcA spaces for events and functions.
• Membership Program Membership program offering benefits including member events, member spotlights, and exclusive access to AcA programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 300,000 people annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2025Co-funding partner for ArtSpark individual artist grant program. Has supported ArtSpark for multiple years as part of economic development through creative entrepreneurship.
• Art ProcessorscoreTechnology or Integration · 8 October 2024Global experiential design and technology company (offices in NYC and Melbourne, Australia) selected for exhibition design of Louisiana Music Museum. Known for Bob Dylan Center and USS Midway projects.
• Moliere Chappuis ArchitectscoreTechnology or Integration · 8 October 2024Lafayette-based architecture firm (formerly Architects Beazley Moliere) leading overall design and construction of Louisiana Music Museum with nearly 70 years of local roots.
• Community Foundation of AcadianacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2024Partnership to establish fund supporting AcA's 'Vision for Education' expansion initiative through 'Visionaries' donor group, helping expand arts education to 80,000+ students.
• Lafayette Parish School SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2024Longstanding partnership since 1979 to bring cultural performances into schools and provide arts-based lessons across curriculum subjects.
• Standard TitleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 August 2024Presenting sponsor of Spotlight Theatre and Dance series, supporting the presentation of performances like Sediment.
• UL Center for Louisiana StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2024Collaborative partner in Louisiana Music Museum project; Director Joshua Caffery noted as early supporter of the museum initiative.
• First Horizon BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Louisiana Crossroads series, supporting local and regional music performances.
• MacLaff Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Student Arts Expo, supporting annual showcase of student talent.
• Lafayette TravelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Louisiana Music Museum project announced December 2021.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: San Francisco multidisciplinary arts center combining galleries, performing arts, and community/education programming under one roof, structurally analogous to AcA's venue-plus-education-plus-grantmaking model.
• Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans: New Orleans-based multidisciplinary arts center presenting exhibitions, performing arts, and education programs for a regional Gulf South audience, directly comparable in mission and programming mix.
• Contemporary Art Center of Virginia: Mid-sized multidisciplinary visual and performing arts center in Virginia operating galleries, classes, and performances, similar in scale and programming breadth to AcA.
• Arts Council of New Orleans: Regional arts council and intermediary funder for the greater New Orleans area, with comparable grantmaking, advocacy, and convening responsibilities as AcA performs for the Acadiana region.
• National Performance Network: New Orleans-based performing arts network connecting artists and presenters across the U.S., with grantmaking and convening functions that mirror AcA's role as a performing arts presenter and arts funder.
• SouthArts: Regional arts organization serving nine southern states including Louisiana; directly comparable as a regional intermediary supporting artists, organizations, and grantmaking across the same geography.
• Mid-America Arts Alliance: Regional arts organization re-grouting federal and state funds and providing professional development across multiple states; structurally similar to AcA's role administering Louisiana Project Grants and ArtSpark.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center: Alexandria, VA-based multidisciplinary arts center housing galleries, artist studios, and classes in a repurposed historic building, structurally analogous to AcA's repurposed-hardware-store Louisiana Music Museum project.
• Ogden Museum of Southern Art: Regional museum in New Orleans dedicated to Southern art and culture with exhibition, education, and event programming; comparable in regional cultural institution positioning to AcA.

Broad incumbents

• Speed Art Museum: Kentucky's oldest and largest art museum, operating exhibitions, performing arts, and education on a larger scale; broader incumbent serving as a useful scale benchmark for AcA's museum aspirations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AcadianaCenterfortheArts
• Facebookfacebook.com/acadiana.arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/acadianacenterforthearts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Acadiana Center for the Arts