– July 2008:
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LEH Humanities Education Center celebrates grand opening

On June 27, the LEH held a special gala to mark the official dedication of its new Humanities Education Center at Turners' Hall. The Center, located in LEH headquarters at 938 Lafayette Street in New Orleans, consists of five meeting rooms and the 120-seat Patrick F. Taylor Auditorium, all with the latest on-line Internet and teleconferencing technology. The Humanities Center also contains the largest collection of artworks, now numbering 17, by the late New Orleans artist John Scott. Attending the gala were a number of LEH board members, donors and friends of the LEH. The evening highlights included tours of the Scott collection and a performance by pianist Ronald Markham and trumpeter Irvin Mayfield.

Contributors to the creation of the Humanities Education Center were: "Champion" $250k-plus: State of Louisiana, Kresge Foundation, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Patrick Taylor Foundation. "Benefactor" $100k-plus: Gustaf Westfeldt McIlhenny Family Foundation, The Historic New Orleans Collection, Community Foundation of Shreveport, Zemurray Foundation. "Underwriters" $25k-plus: Booth Bricker Foundation, Helis Foundation, Libby-Dufour Fund, Michael Sartisky in memory of Jacques Sartisky, Selley Fund, R. Lewis McHenry, Houmas House Plantation, Capital One, Mr. & Mrs. Randy Ewing, Jones Wallker Law Firm, The Pennington Foundation, Whitney Bank, Freeport-McMoran, Wanda and Sydney Bestoff. "Investors" $10K-plus: Mr. & Mrs. Lyndon & Janine Barrois, Darnell Bludworth & Mike Boyle, Mr. & Mrs. William K. Christovich, French Quarter Realty & Mr. Michael Wilkinson, Phil and Lucie Earhart, Mark Heller, Norman Kinsey, Jean & Saul Mintz & Melinda & Morris Mintz, Cleland Powell III, Drew & Shelia Ranier, George & Wendy Rodrigue, Sanford Foundation, Josef Sternberg Memorial Fund, and Mrs. Bert Turner.

Business, civic, cultural and educational organizations interested in using the Humanities Education Center meeting facilities should contact Brian Boyles at 504-620-2632 or at boyles@leh.org.

LEH sponsors summer teacher institutes in July

New Orleans: "Looking at History: Photography and the American Past" is a unique opportunity for teachers to look at American History from mid-19th century to the present through the eyes of its photographers. This institute takes you from the Civil War through the Iraq War, contemporary terrorism, slums, child labor, the Great Depression, spectacular American landscapes and urban scenes. Participants will incorporate the knowledge gained in the institute in their own lesson plans, using Power Point as an instructional tool. The institute will take place at Loyola University New Orleans, July 7-31. For more information, contact Dr. Leslie Parr at 504-865-3649, or by email at parr@loyno.edu.

New Orleans: "Prime Time for PRIME TIME in New Orleans" will give educators the opportunity to enhance their ability to teach reading and critical thinking skills in grades K-8. They will explore issues, using award-winning children's and young adults' books. The PRIME TIME methodology, based on the Socratic dialogue, will be used throughout this institute. The content area of the institute corresponds with the benchmarks and standards of both language arts and character education established by the Louisiana Department of Education. The institute will take place at the Louisiana Humanities Center at Turners' Hall, July 7-31. For more information, contact Dr. Olivia Pass at 985-414-0381, or by email at pass@leh.org.

LEH completes American history workshops in Calcasieu & Caddo Parishes

The LEH - funded by two $1 million grants from the U.S. Department of Education's Teaching American History program - completed seven graduate-level institutes in American history this June for elementary, middle and high school public school teachers in Caddo and Calcasieu parishes. Three summer institutes for 85 public school teachers took place in Caddo Parish in partnership with LSUS and four institutes with approximately 65 teachers in Calcasieu Parish in partnership with McNeese State University. The LEH also is serving as the fiscal agent for the Algiers Charter School Association's Teaching American History summer institutes for New Orleans public school teachers.

PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME workshop in New Orleans

PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME® is set to host its second in-state training workshop this year. The workshop will be held July 26-27, 2008, at the Louisiana Humanities Center at Turners' Hall in New Orleans, the LEH's state-of-the-art education center. The PRIME TIME staff is pleased to welcome team members from 27 sites representing 6 states (Louisiana, Georgia, Kansas, Florida, New York and Oregon). Approximately 80 registered participants will descend upon New Orleans for two days of intense instruction and practice in program philosophy, methodology and implementation for new scholars, storytellers and program coordinators. For more information regarding the PRIME TIME training workshop, contact Shantrell Adams at adams@leh.org.

PRIME TIME salutes the Kentucky Humanities Council

Since 2002, the Kentucky Humanities Council (KHC) and the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA) have partnered with the LEH to expand PRIME TIME across their state. Even after implementing 65 programs, however, there was still opportunity for a "first"! The KHC agreed to fund a bilingual (Spanish/English) PRIME TIME program at a school in Lexington. The first hint of the impending challenges arose when the registration of participating families revealed a mix of Hispanic families, African refugees (speaking several different languages including Swahili, Kirundi and French), and Iraqi refugees speaking only Arabic. Instead of turning any of these families away, the KHC team brought on board translators for the various languages represented. To encourage families to read together, the KHC team also provided translations of the texts for the families to take home. Bravo, KHC!

RELIC kicks off fall adult reading programs statewide

RELIC will field 17 adult reading programs this fall in public libraries throughout the state. New subjects such as Creole Louisiana, the Civil War in Louisiana, and Elizabeth I of England are enjoying record attendance in libraries. Along with older perennial favorites such as Louisiana folktales, World War II, Louisiana literature and other subjects, RELIC programs constitute one of the more effective ways in which the LEH directly engages the Louisiana public in core humanities content. Be a part of this great experience in your community. Click here to see programs for this fall.

LEH-funded events

Ascension Parish Library hosts "meaning of life" film series

• Gonzales: The Ascension Parish Library hosts its ninth annual summer film discussion series led by award-winning scholar Dr. John May of Louisiana State University. This year's theme is "Film and the Quest for Meaning," and the series examines film's representation of the human journey through life and the individual's search for personal, social, and religious meaning. Screenings and discussions are held each Tuesday night. July offerings include "The Last Picture Show" (July 1), "Alice's Restaurant" (July 8), "Cool Hand Luke" (July 15), "About Schmidt" (July 22), and "The Mission" (July 29). For more information, contact the Ascension Parish Library at 225-647-8924.

African storyteller tradition featured in Hammond

• Hammond: The Tangipahoa African-American Heritage Museum hosts a public lecture by Dr. Jay Martin of Southeastern Louisiana University on the African Griot, or storyteller, tradition and its connection with modern oral history traditions within Louisiana's African-American community. Afterward, attendees will receive training on oral history collection and interview techniques. Interviews will be made available online as well as archived for public use at the Southeastern Louisiana University Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies. Program begins at 10 a.m. July 12. For more information, contact Amanda Barrilleaux at 985-542-4259.

"Memorable Musicals" scheduled for Iberia Parish

• Jeanerette: The Iberia Parish Library hosts an ongoing scholar-led film discussion series scheduled in conjunction with the six-week display of the Smithsonian Institution's Museums on Main Street traveling exhibition New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music. The series, called "Memorable Musicals: Films That Shaped a Generation," offers screenings followed by discussions through Oct. 8; this month's screenings will be held July 16 and July 23. For more information, or to register, contact Gail Garcia at 337-362-7150.

LEH funds Natchitoches-Northwestern folk fest

• Natchitoches: The 29th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held on July 18-19, 2008 in Prather Coliseum on the campus of northwestern State University. This festival provides a wonderful opportunity for people to learn about folk traditions and culture in Louisiana. The event draws thousands of visitors, many from Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Arkansas. They, as well as the event's state visitors, repeatedly praise the folk festival for its narrative sessions, music, traditional culture artists, foodways demonstrations and an air-conditioned venue. The theme for this year's Folk Festival is "Ties to the Isles: British and Irish Traditions in Louisiana." For more information, contact project director Sheila Richmond at 318-357-4332 or by email at richmonds@nsula.edu.

Photography, Recovery and Jazz lectures in New Orleans

• New Orleans: The Lambeth House Foundation hosts its annual summer lecture series featuring notable speakers in the arts, humanities, politics, and other fields. July presentations feature documentary photographer C.C. Lockwood (July 17), recovery czar Dr. Ed Blakeley (July 25), and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra artistic director Irvin Mayfield (July 31). Lectures are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and are followed by a question-and-answer period. Light refreshments provided. For more information, contact Tanya Becnel at 504-865-1960, ext. 165.

Spanish heritage exhibit opens in Iberville Parish

• Plaquemine: The Iberville Museum hosts an open house and reception marking the installation of its "Spanish of Iberville" exhibition exploring the cultural impact of Spanish settlers in the parish. The exhibition is part of the museum's ongoing series celebrating and examining the cultural contributions of the various ethnic groups represented in the region. The open house and reception is scheduled for July 4; a public lecture highlighting the Spanish settlement of Louisiana, given by Dr. Wilber Meneray of Tulane University, is scheduled for Aug. 23. For more information contact Rita Lynn Jackson at 225-687-7197.

Smithsonian "New Harmonies" music exhibit visits Ruston and Jeanerette

Ruston and Jeanerette: Thanks to the LEH, a major traveling Smithsonian exhibition on the roots of American music is on display through July 12 at the Lincoln Parish Library in Ruston, and opens July 21 at the Jeanerette Bicentennial Park & Museum. New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music explores the American story through the musical genres that evolved from our nation's unique blending of cultures and experiences. Through panel displays and interactive kiosks, the exhibition includes material on sacred songs, blues, country, rock'n'roll and more. Each of the six Louisiana communities hosting the exhibition through 2009 mounts a local exhibition, and presents public humanities programs, showcasing Louisiana's rich and diverse musical heritage. The Jeanerette Bicentennial Park & Museum hosts the first installment in its musical heritage informance series with Flashback, scheduled for 4 p.m. July 27. For more information, contact Gail Garcia at 337-362-7150.

Louisiana Cultural Vistas magazine

The summer 2008 edition of the LEH's Louisiana Cultural Vistas magazine is now in circulation. The feature cover story profiles the career of Cajun artist George Rodrigue, a painter best known for his iconic "Blue Dog" series. Rodrigue's lesser known paintings of Louisiana landscapes, Cajun folklife and the state's historic figures fill the pages of LCV.

Readers also can log onto the on-line version of this issue at www.leh.org and listen to three streaming audio performances by jazz musician Tom Sancton, a clarinetist and journalist interviewed by Bruce Raeburn, director of the Hogan Jazz Archives at Tulane University. The two men discuss Sancton's recenty published memoir, A Song for My Fathers: A New Orleans Story in Black and White, a book that pays tribute to the older black jazz men of Preservation Hall in New Orleans who taught Sancton how to play the clarinet.
The summer issue also includes:

• Photographs by Andrew D. Lytle of Baton Rouge from 1863-1910.
• A biographical sketch of Union General Benjamin Butler, the so-called "Beast" who ruled a defeated New Orleans during the Civil War.
• The history of New Orleans Faubourg Marigny neighborhood.
• A photo essay by Robert Polidori of Hurricane Katrina's destruction upon New Orleans' flood-ravaged neighborhoods.

Subscriptions to Louisiana Cultural Vistas - a mere $16 per year - make great gifts. To subscribe, or to view past issues in their entirety, log on to www.leh.org/html/lcv/html.

LCV nominated for press club awards

In the upcoming Press Club of New Orleans awards competition, Louisiana Cultural Vistas has been nominated for six awards in the categories of Layout and Design, Editorial, Critical Review and Photo Story. LEH graphic designer Toan Nguyen is in the race for awards in two categories: Editorial Illustration, for his drawings accompanying the LCV article "China Town New Orleans," and in Layout and Design, for his layout of the LCV story "Big Charity." Photographers Cheryl Gerber and Richard Sexton are finalists for their photo stories "New Orleans: An Autopsy" and "Terra Incognita," respectively. Writer Benjamin Toledano is up for an award in the Editorial category for his essay "New Orleans: An Autopsy." Finally, writer Ben Sandmel's column "Domino Effect," a critique of the Fats Domino tribute album, is a finalist in the category of Critical Review. The results will be announced on July 19 at the press club's annual banquet and published in the LEH's August newsletter. Over the last 19 years, Louisiana Cultural Vistas has won 90 press club awards.