CANOA (Caribbean and New Orleanian Arts) is an artist-led initiative and project space located in the Upper 9th Ward of New Orleans. CANOA is also a resource center, a gathering place, a workshop space, and a lecture and performance venue. I founded CANOA in 2021 with project partner, Tomas Montoya Gonzales. Since it’s inception, we have hosted a multitude of artists and events, including Marina Albero and Yusa Mar, Grupo Yurumeina, Spyboy J’Wan Boudreaux, and Open Channels.

CANOA supports arts practitioners from the local Caribbean diaspora and facilitates exchanges among New Orleanian and Caribbean artists and community members. We seek to foster new cultural and artistic connections between New Orleans and the wider Caribbean, both locally and internationally.  Born from the recognition that New Orleans is in fact a Caribbean city, CANOA brings New Orleanian and Caribbean artists and culture workers together in solidarity around our mutual histories and cultural practices.

Click here for the project website.