The Ella Project has been approved for $25,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support their pro bono legal services and our Music Business Intensive workshop series. This project will provide pro bono legal services to at least 200 moderate-income Louisiana artists in the matters of copyright, trademark, licensing, contract creation, and for-profit and nonprofit incorporation, and other legal matters. This grant additionally supports their seven-week Music Business Intensive workshop series, which will launch in Fall 2021.

Spearheaded by Ella Project alum and local attorney Bri Whetstone, the Music Business Intensive takes independent musicians through the phases of developing their artistic career, with sessions focusing on contracts and copyright, music publishing, working with Performing Rights Organizations, festivals and touring, publicity, and more. More information on the Music Business Intensive will be provided later in the year.

The Ella Project’s project is among 1,073 projects across America totaling nearly $25 million that were selected during this first round of the fiscal year 2021 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects funding category.

The Ella Project was launched in January 2004 by co-founders Ashlye Keaton and Gene Meneray in partnership with the Arts Council of New Orleans, Tipitina’s Foundation, and Tulane Law School to offer dedicated pro bono legal assistance to low to moderate-income artists, musicians, and grassroots nonprofits of Louisiana. As Ella grew, services in arts business assistance and development and cultural advocacy were added to its portfolio.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support this project from The Ella Project,” said Arts Endowment Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “The Ella Project is among the arts organizations across the country that have demonstrated creativity, excellence, and resilience during this very challenging year.”

The National Endowment for the Arts supports exemplary arts projects in communities nationwide through grantmaking, initiatives, partnerships, and events.

For more information on projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, click here.