NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

The recipient entity's physical address:
           938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113


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

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Dr. David A. Boileau
Dr. Robert C. Whittemore
Dr. Sydney J. Romero


The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  5568

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $0

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

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:
           Willie Landry Mount, Chair of the Board
205 Shell Beach Drive
Lake Charles, LA 70602

Randy K. Haynie, Vice-Chair
P.O. Box 44032
Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Brad Adams, Immediate Past Chair
938 Lafayette Street, Suite 432
New Orleans, LA 70113

Janet Haedicke, Secretary
3502 Deborah Drive
Monroe, LA 71201

Elizabeth Ary, Treasurer
1221 Leontine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115

Elaine Garvey, Asst. Treasurer
One Galleria Blvd Suite 2100
Metairie, LA 70001

Dorian Bennett
2340 Dauphine Street
New Orleans, LA 70117

Tyler Bromell
301 Main Street Suite 2100
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Dr. Christopher Cenac, Sr.
210 New Orleans Boulevard
Houma, Louisiana 70360

Rebecca Collins
503 Allen Street
New Iberia, Louisiana 70563

Stewart Ewing
1511 Frenchman's Bend Rd
Monroe, LA 71203

Melinda Fitzgerald Anderson
4306 Wendover Boulevard
Alexandria, LA 71303

Faye Flanagan
5959 Hannah Dr.
Alexandria , LA 71303

Mark Gremillion
226 Beverly Drive
Lafayette, LA 70503

Sherry Guarisco
266 Seyburn Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Linda Holyfield
1704 Island Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71201

Saundra Levy
2100 St, Charles Avenue #2L
New Orleans, LA 70130

Liz Mangham
543 Spanish Town Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Melinda Mintz
1910 Stuart Avenue
Monroe, LA 70201-2541

Jody Montelaro
9585 Pecue Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Marie Moyse Schlesinger
1112 Falcon Road
Metairie, Louisiana 70005

Roderick Olson
40064 Pelican Point Pkwy.
Gonzales, LA 70737

Monica Ramirez-Montagut
719 Pleasant Street
New Orleans, LA 70115

Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir
History Department
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125

Mary Ann Sternberg
1346 Belvedere Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-8605

Drew Tessier
412 N. 4th Street Suite 210
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Sharonda Williams
201 St. Charles Ave. Suite 4600
New Orleans, LA 70170-4600

Miranda Restovic, Executive Director & President
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Since 1971 the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities has partnered with communities, institutions,and individuals to explore Louisiana's past, reflect on our present, and imagine our future. Our vision
is everyone realizing their full potential through the humanities.

The LEH seeks renovate the bottom floor of its historic 150-year­ old Turners' Hall into The Helis Foundation John Scott Center. John Scott, the MacArthur Foundation 1992 "genius" award recipient, created art that was a manifestation of his experiences - growing up black in the Jim Crow South, struggling for civil rights, coming of age during the Cold War and the Space Race, and engaging in New Orleans' street culture. The Center will utilize his many works as a springboard for integrated humanities programs that seek to bring about civil, civic discussions around tough social issues of our day.

The art will be brought alive through virtual reality that will allow the visitor to view the piece of art being created and hear the words of the artist as to the motivation of that piece. The Center will also craft traveling exhibits that will tour across Louisiana - again utilizing Scott's art as a basis to create the environment for civil discussion and civic programs. The traveling tours will make the wealth of Scott's work available to those who cannot make it down to New Orleans. With the Scott Art collection, his personal journals, photo and video archives, and access to the personal insights and collections of dozens of students and fellow artists, the LEH will develop an interactive exhibition space focuses on three themes: human and civil rights, human expression, and civil human interaction.

In short, there simply isn't anything like The Helis Foundation John Scott Center -- providing a combination of outstanding artwork, state-of-the-art exhibit programming technology, and a virtual reality component - anywhere in the Gulf South. Anticipated visitors to The Helis Foundation John Scott Center will include students on field trips, tourists, and area residents for community events. The traveling show of the Center will go out through our Museum on Main Streets programs across the state.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $972,451
          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?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The monies sought are to renovate the entire first floor of Turners’ Hall into The Helis Foundation John Scott Center. Since we will be opening wide the spaces on the first floor, structural steel will need to be added for stabilization purposes. Along with that, the concrete foundation at the columns will need to be added to for shoring purposes. On the building's Lafayette Street side, historic replica doors will be added to literally open the LEH to the street. The doors will also meet both safety and security needs. There will be new main entry doors that are more inviting. A terrazzo tile flooring system will be added, replacing carpeting, that will withstand high usage. There will be numerous ADA requirements met for the entry area (ramps and railings) and in the bathrooms. There will be plumbing upgrades made to accommodate for a larger number of visitors to the building. The electrical and HVAC systems upgrades will bring the first floor up to code and to accommodate the exhibit and programming needs. And lastly, fire systems on the first floor will be changed from a 'wet' to a 'dry-pipe' system-better suited for the collection. The Center will have exhibition space, education space, and meeting space for the community.

The Helis Foundation John Scott Center seeks to create civil, civic dialogue through the exploration of both the topics of Scott's life so that common ground and solutions emerge and the community is nurtured. It will be a venue that offers all learners the opportunity to explore relevant artwork and scholarship to better understand the world. With the Scott collection, his personal journals, photo and video archives, and access to the personal insights and collections of dozens of students and fellow artists, the LEH will develop an interactive exhibition space that relates Scott's work to three primary humanities themes: human and civil rights, human expression, and human interaction.

Through the use of virtual reality, virtual sketch books, and the artwork, visitors will come to know not only know Scott's genius but also be welcomed into an environment that encourages and engenders the discussion of the tough topics of the day. For further reach across the state, the Center will create traveling shows based upon the programming and work of the Center in New Orleans. It will be exhibited across the state through Museum on Main Streets program.

In total, there simply isn't anything like The John Scott Center-providing a combination of outstanding artwork, state-of-the art exhibit programming technology, and a virtual reality component anywhere in the Gulf South. The Center's humanities programming stays timely through technology that is fully interactive and can be updated frequently, art steeped in folklore, and insights in the artist's own voice and hand. At the Center, his art will be the touchstone for dialogue on present events.


What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          "Through Genius Eyes" - In a virtual world, using Scott's sketchbooks as a guide, artists will recreate the actual building of some of Scott's monumental pieces. Visitors will "tour" his virtual studio and view pages of the sketchbooks that detail what influenced his work and they'll listen to him discuss it. Visitors will also see snippets of news events of the day, popular culture, and music-which played a critical role in Scott's creative process-all while simultaneously watching a piece be built as they are able to move through and around it.

After seeing how Scott was able to use his environment and experiences, Tilt Brush, a virtual paint brush, allows visitors to find their own voice through the creation of a virtual piece of art. It offers an opportunity to develop age specific programming around a range of socially challenging topics, in a non-threatening way, for the visitors. "Through Genius Eyes" can offer stand-alone programming where we tie a visitor's project to a John Scott piece or function as a larger program initiative. For example, students viewing Scott's works addressing the environment can create works describing the Louisiana wetlands. The impact of "Through Genius Eyes"' lies in our ability to mold the visitor's experience by offering programs relevant to today's most pressing issues.

The Helis Foundation John Scott Center will offer the LEH a unique opportunity to put a public face on the humanities, the organization and its mission, and celebrate the work of one of Louisiana's most dynamic and gifted artists. Yet, the Center is not a museum, it is not a gallery, lecture hall, or learning center. II is an idea to be explored-an idea with 6,000 sq. ft of state-of-the-art presentation technology and art, of seating for more than 140, of education space for children and teachers, of virtual reality, and of sheer genius, beauty, and cultural commentary begging to be explored-all for free, seven days a week.

With the programming, expertise and capacity, and exhibits mentioned above, The Helis Foundation John Scott Center will serve as a venue at which people of our community, our state, and nation can engage one another in hopes of building greater understanding and addressing the complex questions of our society. The LEH has the art, has the programming experience, owns the building outright, has the partners, and has the plan. We need the state's assistance to make The Helis Foundation John Scott Center a reality.


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Approximately 16 months

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:
                
    
     (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:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0%

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

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: 
               

(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:
              

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

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(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:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Michael Bourg 
                                       address:  938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

                                       phone:  504-620-2482
                                       fax:  504-529-2358
                                       e-mail:  bourg@leh.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Vice President of Institutional Advancement