Up Stairs Lounge Plaque Update
A dedication ceremony for the new Up Stairs Lounge commemorative plaque is scheduled for Sunday, June 22. You may recall the old plaque (pictured above) was stolen last year. The unveiling and dedication of the new plaque will be followed by a second line to Crossing (439 Dauphine Street) for a reception. The ceremony will take place at the site of the Up Stairs Lounge in the French Quarter (604 Iberville Street). Time to be announced later. The arson at the Up Stairs Lounge killed thirty-two people and remains the deadliest in New Orleans history. You can learn more about The Up Stairs Lounge fire here.
Archives Project Awarded John Burton Harter Foundation Grant
The Archives Project is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the John Burton Harter Foundation to help produce its 2025 programming focus, Louisiana Queer Arts (LQA). This four-day program will take place June 5—8 at various locations throughout New Orleans and feature art exhibitions, panel discussions, and film screenings. You can learn more about LQA here. We are very grateful to the John Burton Harter Foundation for making this important program possible.
Attacks on DEI Affect Archives Project
Recent attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives have begun to affect the Archives Project in terms of funding and public programming. We recently learned the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ annual Rebirth Grant has been suspended. We have received this grant each year for several years. We’ve also lost funding from the Alliance for Cultural Equity. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has canceled a program with the Archives Project which had been scheduled for Pride Month. Despite these setbacks, we are determined to continue with our mission of “Getting Our History Out of the Closet.” Would you help us by becoming a monthly donor? Giving is easy here.
The loss of grants mentioned above has caused us to pivot toward new funding models. We are fortunate to enjoy several corporate / business sponsorships, but we need more. Do you have a business or organization you want to promote? If so, consider becoming a sponsor. We will list your logo on our website’s sponsorship page for a year. Sponsorship levels begin at $250.00. You can see our current sponsors here.