Save the Heymann

12/01/2022

Andre Courville & Sweet Cecilia

Andre Courville & Sweet Cecilia

This Thursday, opera singer Andre Courville and Sweet Cecilia will be in concert at the Heymann Center at 7:30 p.m.

11/03/2022

Column: Lafayette should hold Guillory’s horses on new Heymann Center

If you care, call you city council member and easy for a transparent public process for building a venue to replace the Heymann.

Mayor-President Josh Guillory is short-circuiting the site selection process in announcing a “tentative” deal with UL.

07/28/2022

All PASA shows on sale today at 9 a.m. Grab a ticket. A few firsts: The Kyiv City Ballet--stranded from the Ukraine--makes its first US tour and the December 1 show is Oh, Night Divine. Andre Courville & Sweet Cecilia perform publicly together for the first time, singing holiday tunes. Why stay home?

07/24/2022

Kyiv City Ballet tours the US for the first time ever, with a stop at the Heymann Performing Arts Center on October 23. Tickets on sale July 26. Follow Performing Arts Serving Acadiana for the ticket link. It will be posted after 8 p.m. on July 25.

04/04/2022

Timeline photos

Hear More About The Tuskegee Airmen Monday at 6 p.m. - https://mailchi.mp/pasaonline/hear-more-about-the-tuskegee-airmen-monday-at-6-pm-4873166

12/22/2021

The Kennedy Center Honors on CBS

Kennedy Center Honors: including Bette Midler and Joanie Mitchell. 9 eastern, 8 central.

The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.

11/27/2021

Stephen Sondheim, Titan of the American Musical, Is Dead at 91

Rest In Peace. We’ll miss your company.

He was the theater’s most revered and influential composer-lyricist of the last half of the 20th century and the driving force behind some of Broadway’s most beloved and celebrated shows.

11/27/2021

It’s Never Too Late to Pick Up Your Life and Move to Italy

Hmm…

Holly Herrmann vowed to move to Italy when she was 20. Her dream came true 38 years later.

11/18/2021

Main menu

Tossing this out there for anyone who might be interested. The deadline to submit an application is tomorrow. If you know someone who might be a good fit, tell them to throw their hat in the ring.

Civil Service will later issue a test to all applicants, but today - tomorrow is the time to drop by city hall and apply.



FULLTIME EVENTS COORDINATOR

EVENTS COORDINATOR -- The incumbent in this class independently organizes and directs the hospitality and front of house functions of the Heymann Performing Arts and Convention Center under the supervision of the Venue Administrator. The position is responsible for aiding and advising clients in the preparation of the building before events, with hospitality services during events, and moving out after events. The work requires constant contact with the public and working irregular work schedules. Bachelor's degree in Management, Public Relations, Theater, Hospitality Management, or related field and experience in the hospitality industry or managing a public facility; or any equivalent combination of training and experience. Examination will be a written test. $2,806-$3,507/month/DOE. Strong benefits and civil service status. See the Lafayette Consolidated Government, Civil Service Office, 705 W. University Ave., Lafayette, LA, or www.lafayettela.gov for deadline and additional information, or call 337-291-8330. See website for applications. EOE.

The Hospitality Hub is a coordinated effort between Lafayette Consolidated Government, Lafayette Travel, and the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, One Acadiana, and Downtown Lafayette to provide resources for those affected by disasters needing to navigate Lafayette and the surrounding areas...

08/12/2021

Yep! Our first chance to see Postmodern Jukebox here! www.pasaonline.org gets you to tickets.

Bet you can't watch just one 🎶
Go down the PMJ Rabbit Hole at http://youtube.com/postmodernjukebox

07/21/2021

As Virus Resurges, G.O.P. Lawmakers Allow Vaccine Skepticism to Flourish

Follow the math.

As the coronavirus’s Delta variant rips through conservative communities, most Republicans remain reluctant to confront vaccine misinformation and skepticism in their midst.

07/21/2021

It’s a thing! Get tickets: www.pasaonline.org.

07/18/2021

In Undervaccinated Arkansas, Covid Upends Life All Over Again

It doesn’t have to be this way. Get vaccinated. Be pro protocols.

While much of the nation tiptoes toward normalcy, the coronavirus is again swamping hospitals in places like Mountain Home, in a rural county where fewer than one-third of residents are vaccinated.

05/28/2021

PASA in your Casa: Top of the Class

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR7oCis0YIw

Top of the Class, featuring award-winning high school musicians, is the next PASA in Your Casa, the virtual performance series offered by Performing Arts Ser...

05/06/2021

SOLA Giving Day is today! PASA's comeback needs you!

$328 from our SOLA Giving Day goal. Please help us close the gap by making a donation of any size now. www.pasaonline.org/PASA

05/05/2021

We're headed back to the Heymann on June 23. Please support our comeback with a SOLA Giving Day donation, regardless of the size. www.solagivingday.org/PASA. Complexions Contemporary Ballet will be on stage when the curtain rises!

We're $328 away from our goal! www.solagivingday.org/pasa supports PASA. Please help us close the gap and make a tax-deductible today and help PASA stage a comeback. SOLA Giving Day

04/28/2021

Heymann Center Dress Up The Dressing Rooms Fund

Consider a donation. Keep in mind this is a fund led by Darrellyn Burts and not a donation to Lafayette Consolidated Government.

Let's deliver a show-stopping experience to the performers & everyone who uses the dressing rooms at the HPAC. Tear out the old. Bring in the new! If you haven't been backstage, here's a quick inventory of spaces. Five "star" dressing rooms accommodate 1 or 2 people. (2 is tight) 2 chorus dressing r...

10/24/2020

Pumpkins in the Parc

It’s today! http://bit.ly/PumpkinsInTheParcFB. Bring your painted pumpkin or paint one on site. There’s still time and the instructions for how to paint a pumpkin are in the link. Also register there for apple pumpkin painting and Jurassic Park.

The Great Painted Pumpkin Festival and DLU's Movies in the Park with Jurassic Park team up Oct. 24 for a Pumpkins in the Parc celebration.

10/21/2020

The Heymann Commission is scheduled to meet once again Thursday, Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. It’s a public meeting. In Ballroom I.

10/14/2020

The Heymann Commission will meet for the first time in months--and I do mean more than a year's worth of months--Thursday, October 15 at 5:30 p.m. Newly-appointed members have requested this meeting, which is open to the public. It will take place in Ballroom I of the Heymann--in common language "in the back." Enter through the first set of double doors.

10/08/2020

Continue to keep an eye on news of the Heymann. The first meeting for new board members was postponed. No news on Oschner/LGMC and who knows if the mayor will open it for hurricane delta refugees.

09/26/2020

Does Lafayette General want to buy the Heymann Center? Mayor allowed appraisal

Heads up!

In a closely guarded secret at City Hall, Josh Guillory’s administration allowed Lafayette General to appraise the Heymann Center.

09/17/2020

Final Budget meeting 5:30 p.m. today, Thursday, September 17. Call in, email or show up. Whatever you do, speak up! Council office is (337) 291-8428 and you must call in before 5 p.m. if you wish to speak. Email your comments if you do not wish to speak to [email protected].

The items that impact arts and culture, and which will be voted on separately and likely debated, are SA 2 (Cajundome); SA 4 (ACA); SA 10 (Science Museum).

In the general amendment, which will be approved or not approved in one vote, is $230,000 and $30,000 (for a contractual position to market and fund raise for the Heymann Center) to the Heymann Center; $300,000 to the Science Museum. There should be another $30,000 for the Science Museum for the same contractual position to market and fund raise for the Heymann, but I do not see it in the amendment document that I have.

Here is a link to the amendment document. The first column on the left are the general amendments. The middle column lists the special amendments. We hope it works:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17HhBe9rx1ZI3WQIs7D8NHPivAt8w6Irt/view?usp=sharing

09/17/2020

Today, September 17 at 5:30, the LCG final budget adoption meeting will begin. Call in and speak out to preserve funding for our cultural assets, including the Heymann, the Lafayette Science Museum, the Acadiana Nature Stationer, the senior citizen centers and our local arts and culture grant program. The council office number is 291-8800. Call in your support, or call in your support and indicate you wish to speak by phone during the meeting. You can also attend in person. Use your five minutes and drive home the message that these assets are treasured and must be funded.

It's too early to breathe a sign of relief because there's still the vote on the final budget on Thursday, September 17 and the threat of a potential veto by the mayor. However, at budget wrap up today, the mayor's proposed budget, which slashed the budgets for our cultural assets, received council amendments that restore necessary funding for Heymann Performing Arts Center staff, temporary help and overtime help almost to Fiscal Year 19-20 levels. This is good news for those who bring live entertainment to the Heymann and Mardi Gras krewes, as well as to the staff that still remains. Funding for other cultural assets was also restored, to varying degrees. Thanks to the council members who worked to get us to this point. We will post relative amendments when the information is made clear.

09/03/2020

It's too early to breathe a sign of relief because there's still the vote on the final budget on Thursday, September 17 and the threat of a potential veto by the mayor. However, at budget wrap up today, the mayor's proposed budget, which slashed the budgets for our cultural assets, received council amendments that restore necessary funding for Heymann Performing Arts Center staff, temporary help and overtime help almost to Fiscal Year 19-20 levels. This is good news for those who bring live entertainment to the Heymann and Mardi Gras krewes, as well as to the staff that still remains. Funding for other cultural assets was also restored, to varying degrees. Thanks to the council members who worked to get us to this point. We will post relative amendments when the information is made clear.

09/03/2020

Make your calls again to the mayor and the councils.
t 1 p.m. today, Thursday, September 3, the Lafayette Parish Council and Lafayette City Council meet in "Wrap Up." Amendments to the 20-21 budget made by council members will be reviewed and those made in departmental budget hearings which drew an objection from another council member will be debated. Make your calls again to the mayor and the councils.
Attend in person, sign a blue card and indicate your support for fully-restored funding for the Heymann Performing Arts Center, the Lafayette Science Museum, the senior citizen centers and the Acadiana Park Nature Station.
Live on Acadiana Open Channel on LUS Fiber channel 4 or www.aocinc.org.

08/23/2020

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed twice at the Heymann and Ailey II was here in 2019. We saw “Revelations” three times, but maybe never again.

08/23/2020

This week, the LCG councils meet in "Wrap Up." Meeting begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug 27. All amendments to the budget will be reviewed and those which have been contested, will be debated. Each amendment will be voted on. Some are city council-only votes. Some are parish council-only votes. Some will be voted on by both councils. Please plan to tune in because the meeting will be broadcast live on television on AOC and on www.aocinc.org.
There will be action on the Heymann Center, so please tune in. Call the mayor's office at 291-8300 and the council offices at 291-8800 and express your support for fully restoring the budget for staff at the Heymann Performing Arts Center..

08/19/2020

Here is the Mayor's proposed budget for the Heymann Center. The first line highlighted is the total budget, showing the overall cuts. The second highlighted line shows the funding reduction to staff. Between the two highlighted lines, you will see that all overtime and temporary help is eliminated. The budget proposes a total cut to overall HPAC staffing of $679,672, or 73% from the 19-20 budget amount. Cry foul, because this is foul.

08/19/2020

Posted below are Sarah Mikayla Briwn’s remarks from the council meeting last night regarding Arts/Culture/Parks/Rec. there is still a week before “wrap-up,” where the Council will vote on amendments to the budget. We encourage you to reach out to council persons and express yourself. It’s quick to send an email or a phone call. People sometimes get intimidated by what to say. You don’t have to be the most eloquent speaker in the world. Saying that arts and culture is a priority for you, and you don’t want it to bear the brunt of cuts - that’s a start.
Hello Mayor-President and Council Persons - my name is Sarah Brown, and I am a citizen, home-owner, and business owner in Lafayette. For the last two months, I have been drawn into the civic conversation like never before, and I am honored to be a small part of this historic moment.

I wanted to begin by acknowledging some great ideas I have heard. The idea of Bayou Vermilion District and the Nature Station working together is an innovative solution, and sounds like it will benefit both parties. I likewise commend the Parish council for their ongoing efforts to have municipalities take over responsibility for the parish parks. That is an area where we all seem to be in agreement. These ideas are marked by deliberation, innovation, and collaboration.

Why not take the spirit of these afore-mentioned efforts into the conversation about The Science Museum? The Heymann Performing Arts Center? The Acadiana Center for the Arts? The LCG Arts and Culture Grants? The 37 employees laid off from Parks and Recreation?

At present, we have drastic cuts that have not been well thought out or discussed at length with the interested parties. I can agree that complex conversations need to be had regarding our cultural assets. However, I do not agree that they should be defunded in this rash manner. Especially when we have $890,000 dollars expressly set aside for Recreation and Culture.

As other speakers are sure to point out - the budget projections need to be adjusted closer to reality. We do have the funds available to restore these assets while we, as a community, work together to achieve greater fiscal responsibility, as is your stated goal, Mr. Mayor-President.

I would like to take a moment to address some special concerns. I am in full support of the reinstatement of the 37 laid off Parks and Recreation employees. The laid-off employees include the Parks Police. I was here last week when the Interim Chief of Police said that indeed - knowledge would be lost with these people being let go. I am in full support of Councilman Lazard’s motion to restore the Parks and Recreation funding out of the General Fund. Mr. Mayor-President - you spoke of finding innovative solutions to the Parks and Recreation issue, and asked for the community’s support.. I will help find the solutions - but I believe we need our 37 experienced employees to maintain our parks while we figure it out.

Another concern close to me is the LCG Arts and Culture grants. This item is on page 210 of the budget - item 76025-0. This fund of $111,000 is being proposed to be cut in half - to $55,000. As far as I am aware, there have been no amendments proposed to address this cut. This $111,000 dollars does a great deal of good, supporting some of our most impactful cultural assets such as Festival International, while also supporting grants to our small but mighty cultural organizations, many of which will be speaking to you today. This investment of $111,000 dollars is honestly, shamefully small when you consider the direct economic impact of our Festivals and Cultural institutions. To think of halving this small of a fund is absurd, and makes me question if these cuts were ever about fiscal responsibility in the first place.

Mayor President and Council Persons - the community has spoken - Arts, Culture, Parks and Recreation are a priority. These are the very things that makes Lafayette famous world-wide. They are the things that influence whether young professionals will make Lafayette their home. We cannot afford to let them falter. You will be in your elected positions for more years to come. The fact is, you have time. If we want to foster more innovation in our creative sector, and more financial stability - Let’s do that. Let’s work together over the next few years and do that work with the deliberation and care that it deserves. Let us not pit our creative entities against each other, scrambling for dwindling resources. Let us not, as a community, fall into the clutches of partisan politics, but rather work together to do what is right. Let’s take our time and make the effort necessary to restore the trust has been lost in this process. To that end, I support the creation of a Cultural Commission to help with this and the issues that lie ahead of us. Culture is a need - not a want.

08/19/2020

The mayor is raining on our parade. Be relentless.
Budget wrap up is
August 27.
Stay tuned for more info

08/18/2020

It's worse than we first thought: The mayor has slashed funding of staff and all overtime and temporary help for the Heymann Performing Arts Center. So the cut is 72% from a total of $679,672 to $187,114. Meanwhile, the three golf courses get more than $1.4 million, to cover their $900,000+ loss, plus $500 million in capital improvements. Make your calls or show up at the public input hearing today.

08/18/2020

Speak up in person or by phone: The LCG councils meet today (August 18) at approximately 5:30 p.m. for a public hearing for citizen input, as part of the budget review process. Urge on budget amendments to return full funding to the Heymann Performing Arts Center. The cuts that the mayor offered are unnecessary, will damage our community and will hamper our economy.