The New Orleans Theatre Association (NOTA) awarded $100,000 to the University of New Orleans School of the Arts for a guest residency program that will bring to the campus professional artists from around the country who will teach master classes in visual arts, theatre, film and music. With this award, NOTA is the sole sponsor of the guest residency program.
 
According to Charles Taylor, director of the University of New Orleans School of the Arts, visiting artists will complement the expertise of the permanent School of the Arts faculty and at the same time offer students exposure to the lives and experiences of working professional artists. 
 
“Our primary mission is preparing our students to succeed in a competitive professional world,” Taylor said. “While there are many professional artists in New Orleans, it is essential for students to develop a broader conception of artistry and artistic success. This guest residency program ensures that our students will have the benefit of instruction and interaction with successful professional artists from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds, viewpoints and locations.
 
“We are grateful to the New Orleans Theatre Association for its generous investment in the UNO School of the Arts and the future of our region’s cultural economy,” Taylor added.
 
The University hopes to attract a different artist or group of artists each year. The length of stay for each visiting artist will vary depending the artist’s availability and the University’s needs at that time. Over the 5-year grant period, each arts discipline—visual arts, theatre, film and music— will be represented at least once.
 
The New Orleans Theatre Association (NOTA) is a presenter of touring Broadway productions and other live performances. As a nonprofit organization, NOTA channels all proceeds back into the local arts community in the form of grants and other support. Previous support from NOTA for University of New Orleans projects includes the New Orleans Jazz Celebration’s sponsorship of the Jazz at the Sandbar performance series and an endowed professorship in theatrical arts.
 
The University of New Orleans School of the Arts ranks among the leading cultural and arts education centers in the Gulf South. Offering instruction in music, film, theatre, visual arts and arts administration, the School of the Arts nurtures creative and intellectual development, fosters collaboration among disciplines, embraces diversity and encourages community engagement. It also serves the public as a regional center of cultural and intellectual activity with performances, exhibitions, lectures and workshops by students, faculty and guest artists in its galleries and performance spaces.