The Ella Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of New Orleans culture. Ella provides pro bono legal services, business consultations and entrepreneurial training for low to moderate income artists in New Orleans. The project will represent New Orleans at the Music Cities Summit during Canadian Music Week (May 7-13) in Toronto.

On Sunday, May 12, Ella will run a panel on “New Orleans: A Case Study on Cultural Heritage, Economic Development and Artist Development in NOLA.” Project co-founder Ashlye Keaton will moderate the discussion, which will also include representatives from WWOZ, the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Council, the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation and A Closer Walk. The conversation will focus on how organizations such as these contribute to New Orleans’ cultural ecosystem, especially with regard to cultural heritage, economic development and audience development.

“This summit brings people engaged in music policy from across the world,” Keaton said. “We have a great opportunity to learn from them, but I also believe they have a great opportunity to learn from us. New Orleans culture continues to thrive, despite lack of significant public investment and a changing city. Channeling knowledge gained and shared at summits like this is key for New Orleans to engage in policy discussions going forward into the new administration.”

For more information on The Ella Project and its mission, visit EllaNOLA.org. For more information on the Music Cities Summit and Canadian Music Week, visit MusicCitiesSummit.com and CMW.net.