The recipient entity's physical address:
           101 W. Vermilion St.
Lafayette, LA 70501

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           101 W. Vermilion St.
Lafayette, LA 70501

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  8288

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $3,000,000

What type of request is this?  Both

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Samuel Oliver, Executive Director, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Fawn Hernandez, Deputy Director, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Ed Abell, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Jessica Allain, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Jamie Baldridge, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Janet Begneaud, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Chuck Boudreaux, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
John Chappuis, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Robert Chevalier, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Aleisha Johnson Cook, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
April Courville, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Ronnie Daigle, MD, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Taylor Davis, President & Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Jon Downs, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Jessica Foreman, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Erica Fox, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Kiki Frayard, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Tracy Frentz, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Sarah Gauthier, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Dan Hare, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Nanette Soileau Heggie, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Ethan Jordan, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Brandon Journet, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Adrian King, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Daphne Krampe, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Burnell Lemoine, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Melissa Maeker, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Hannah Smith Mason, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Forrest Montgomery, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Jerome Moroux, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Michael Munzing, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Carly Nicholson Myers, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Mary B. Neiheisel, EdD, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Lucy Osborn, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Carolyn Doerle Schumacher, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Lawrence Simon, MD, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Olatunde Soyombo, Board member, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           AcA is a non-state agency. AcA operates with a long-term strategic plan, which includes the funding and operation of the Louisiana
Music Museum as proposed in this funding request. The Louisiana Music Museum is a project to expand the existing Acadiana
Center for the Arts (AcA), an 50,000ft2 art museum and performing art center that has been in operation serving tens of thousands
of patrons in Downtown Lafayette since 2004. The estimated total project cost is estimated at $10,601,443, including property
acquisition and construction. AcA has funded 25% of the project cost through funds committed by Lafayette Consolidated
Government, Lafayette Pubic Trust Financing Authority, and Lafayette Travel. AcA is conducting a campaign campaign for
foundation and individual donors support. A 3-year business plan accompanies this proposal, which envisions the project being
self-sustaining after three years of operation. The Louisiana Music Museum will occupy a 10,000ft2 historic building next door to the
AcA and as a new national draw for visitors, while offering a home to new and existing programs of the AcA, including arts and
heritage summer camps, concerts in the 20-year old Louisiana Crossroads series, and workshops and trainings for Louisiana
songwriters and recording artists. The core of this project is a permanent exhibition which aims to tell the many diverse stories of
Louisiana music. Here visitors and locals alike will gather for generations to come to celebrate the legacy of Louisiana’s musical
heritage as it deserves to be celebrated. Acadiana Center for the AcA envisions redeveloping the historic Lafayette Hardware
Store, which is a 10,000 ft2 building on the National Historic Register, for the purpose of opening a new museum dedicated to the
music and musicians of Louisiana. The building is immediately adjacent to the AcA’s existing facility and would serve as an
extension of the organization's nonprofit mission of fostering art and culture in Acadiana. AcA will directly operate the new facility
creating two permanent new full-time jobs. The Center for Louisiana Studies, a division of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette,
is confirmed as a partner institution for the creation of exhibitions and the preservation and management of historic artifacts.
Through this partnership, ULL students will have the opportunity to gain skills through internships in museum management, cultural
preservation, and hospitality administration. The renovated facility will include an admissions desk/cafe/gift shop, a permanent
exhibition of objects, photos, text, and multimedia, across two floors. Some space on the second floor would be dedicated to a
temporary exhibition space. The facility would accommodate cajun and creole dances on Saturday and Sunday mornings, weekly
talks and jam sessions, and occasional rentals for private events. The facility would include sufficient enough commercial kitchen,
restrooms, back of house rooms, and accessible pathways to serve these needs over and above daily museum operations.
Founded in 1975, the Acadiana Center for the Arts (“AcA”) is a community-supported regional arts council and 501(c)(3) nonprofit
whose mission is “fostering art and culture in Acadiana.” Rooted in a cultural community that has made its mark on the world

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $10,600,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) seeks State of Louisiana support to develop the Louisiana Music Museum, a major cultural infrastructure project that will celebrate, preserve, and promote Louisiana’s globally significant musical heritage. The project’s public purpose is to strengthen Louisiana’s cultural economy, expand tourism, create creative-sector jobs, and provide citizens and visitors alike with access to world-class educational and cultural experiences that reinforce Louisiana’s identity as the birthplace of uniquely American music.

The Louisiana Music Museum will serve as a permanent, publicly accessible institution dedicated to telling the story of Louisiana’s music—from zydeco and Cajun traditions to jazz, blues, gospel, and contemporary forms—through immersive exhibitions, artist archives, and live performance. The museum will be located in the heart of downtown Lafayette, adjacent to AcA’s existing facility, and designed as a civic destination that anchors the state’s investment in South Louisiana’s cultural industries.

This project directly advances Louisiana’s long-term public interests in:

Economic development and job creation within the state’s growing cultural economy, a sector that employs over 150,000 residents statewide.

Cultural preservation and education, ensuring that the music, languages, and traditions of Louisiana’s diverse communities are safeguarded and shared with future generations.

Tourism and downtown revitalization, leveraging culture as an economic engine and drawing new visitors to Lafayette and the Acadiana region.

Public access to the arts, particularly for youth and K–12 students, through exhibits and learning programs integrated with AcA’s regional education network that currently reaches nearly 90 schools across eight parishes.

The use of state funds will catalyze a major public-private partnership already underway, combining philanthropic investment, local government support, and state participation to complete a once-in-a-generation cultural facility. By investing in this project, the State will help ensure that Louisiana’s musical story—its artists, its communities, and its creative industries—are celebrated on a global stage, driving pride, participation, and prosperity for Louisiana’s people.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The Louisiana Music Museum project advances clear, measurable goals to achieve its public purpose and ensure strong returns on state investment:

Construct a permanent, world-class cultural facility

Complete construction of an approximately 20,000-square-foot museum and plaza adjacent to AcA by 2027.

Leverage state funds alongside $5 million in private philanthropy and $2 million in local public funding to complete an $8 million construction budget and establish a $2 million endowment for sustainability.

Preserve and interpret Louisiana’s music heritage

Develop permanent and rotating exhibitions in partnership with leading Louisiana artists, scholars, and collections.

Commission new media, oral histories, and interpretive installations that document the state’s living musical traditions.

Drive cultural tourism and economic impact

Attract an estimated 100,000 annual visitors to downtown Lafayette.

Generate new local spending, hotel occupancy, and small-business revenue tied to cultural tourism.

Create and support year-round employment for artists, educators, and creative professionals.

Expand access to arts and culture for Louisiana residents

Provide free or reduced-cost admission for students, seniors, and underserved communities.

Deliver K–12 educational programming and field trips to 60,000+ public school students annually through AcA’s established regional arts education system.

Ensure long-term operational sustainability

Establish a dedicated endowment to fund future programming, maintenance, and staffing.

Operate the museum under AcA’s proven nonprofit governance model, ensuring fiscal transparency and public accountability.

Through these objectives, the Louisiana Music Museum will serve as a living testament to Louisiana’s creative legacy and as a catalyst for its cultural and economic future—advancing the State’s priorities in workforce development, tourism, heritage, and education for generations to come.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           2 years

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/A
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 N/A

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/A

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               The contracted services for the Louisiana Music Museum involve the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a historic, two-story, 10,000-square-foot structure built in 1890, as part of a new cultural facility to be developed by the Acadiana Center for the Arts. The facility has been evaluated by Grace Hebert Curtis Architects and Fox Nesbit Engineers, who have determined that while the building’s structure is generally stable, significant upgrades are required to meet current code and accessibility standards for public occupancy.

The contracted work will include:

Selective interior demolition to remove non-structural elements and prepare the space for restoration.

Exterior cleaning, repair, and repainting to preserve the building’s historic character.

Refinishing of existing wood flooring and restoration of other architectural features consistent with historic preservation standards.

Construction of a new entrance building and connector to improve public access and circulation between museum spaces.

Installation of new HVAC, electrical, fire alarm, and sprinkler systems to meet life-safety and performance standards.

Installation of a new elevator and accessibility upgrades to ensure full ADA compliance.

Repair and restoration of original windows, improved insulation, and energy-efficient building systems to enhance sustainability and long-term operational efficiency.

Together, these contracted services will transform a structurally sound but outdated historic facility into a fully compliant, modern, and accessible museum environment suitable for exhibitions, performances, and educational programming. The project will preserve an important architectural asset in downtown Lafayette while creating a state-of-the-art public venue that supports Louisiana’s cultural, educational, and economic development goals.


Contact Information
name:  Samuel Oliver 
                                       address:  101 W. Vermilion St
Lafayette LA 70501
                                       phone:  3372987468
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  sam@acadianacenterforthearts.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director