The Surdna Foundation has announced a $1 million grant in support of the New Orleans-based Ashé Cultural Arts Center.

Awarded through the foundation’s Thriving Cultures program, the grant commemorates the 25th anniversary of the center, which—through 350 music, theater, dance, spoken word, drum circles, and multi-disciplinary events per year—supports the art, culture, imagination, and economic resilience of New Orleans, fosters human development and civic engagement, and celebrates the people, places, and philosophies of the African diaspora. In addition, the grant will support specific Ashé programming, including a community health worker project that addresses the 25-year difference in life expectancy between the city’s Black and white residents and the Community Investment Project, which offers opportunities for low-income residents.

“Ashé embodies the Yoruba word of affirmation, meaning the ‘power to make things happen.’ This investment from Surdna supports our ability to continue to do just that,” said Ashé Cultural Arts Center chief equity officer Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes. “With Surdna’s support, we are continuing our legacy of creating a more equitable arts and culture industry in New Orleans, building an equitable economy for the artists and culture bearers that create our city’s richness, and fostering city-wide racial, health, and environmental justice.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/suteishi)