What We Fund

After almost two decades of operation on various university campuses, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation gave a permanent home to the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music in its Rampart facility. While this institution would make an impact regardless, the location of the school in the Treme has its own special significance, as it is the oldest African-American neighborhood in the United States. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, while the country was very much still in grip of slavery, Treme was one of the only places in the country where not only free people of color, but newly-freed slaves were allowed to purchase property. Given this ability to establish firm roots, the inhabitants of Treme created a hotbed of black art and music that fed the unique cultural landscape of New Orleans, and stood in stark contrast to majority of the country at that time.

With the rich musical heritage of this neighborhood, particularly regarding New Orleans Jazz music history, this location is ideal for a school that seeks to preserve this legacy through music education, positioning itself to further and preserve the cultural contributions of the city which were historically well-fed in the neighborhood. Providing this type of supplement to student’s traditional education offers them endless opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally. Beyond offering a path to a potential career in music, this type of education builds self-esteem in students, discipline, and often enhances academic performance.

The school helps to address the historical and ongoing inequity in access to music education, particularly for black students, and especially as arts funding for public schools continues to be eroded. The center stands as a community space, with performance/event space, and a collection of artwork that celebrates the rich culture of the neighborhood, and contributes to the broader cultural narrative of New Orleans.

The goal of the reimagining of the Helis Foundation Gallery Collection, is to capitalize on this access to students and offer them a mirror, a reflection of themselves that not only connects them to this rich heritage, but offers a visual reminder of the myriad of ways that they can contribute to the culture of New Orleans, reinforcing their identity and fostering a sense of belonging. Students are invited to view the collection and imagine how they might “get in where they fit in”, whether it be as musicians, documentarians, artists, craftsmen, educators, or participants in the beautiful tradition of second line culture and masking. The hope is that students experiencing the collection as they attend classes, will find this inspiration in the powerful representations of culture bearers, by primarily New Orleans artists.

Having art as the backdrop for their music education, students are hopefully connected to this heritage and feel a sense of pride created through a deeper understanding of the culture and its architects who are repeatedly represented in the exhibition. The education provided by the school is enhanced by the collection which not only contextualizes the music that the students are learning, but hopefully illuminates the visual arts as another potential avenue for creative expression.

Beyond the students, the collection offers a mechanism to reach the broader community, solidifying it as an arts center, and providing a space for cultural exchange and artistic expression. For non-students who experience the collection, the mission of the foundation is brought into even clearer focus, hopefully inspiring contribution to it. - Leslie-Claire Spillman, 2024

The Helis Foundation Gallery and its Collection along with the most recent acquisitions, were made entirely possible through the generous support of The Helis Foundation.