The Nous Foundation, a New Orleans-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting French and Creole heritage in Louisiana, has been selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious Library of Congress Community Collections Grant. This grant, awarded by the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, recognizes the Nous Foundation’s outstanding work in documenting Louisiana’s musical heritage in French and Creole.

The Nous Foundation’s project, titled ‘La Musique Nous Réunit’ (Music brings us together), focuses on how musicians who sing in Louisiana French and Creole are adapting their musical styles in an era of ongoing language loss. The project will involve working with renowned musicians such as Grammy winner Louis Michot, Leyla McCalla, Les Cenelles, Bruce ‘Sunpie’ Barnes, Sweet Crude, and others to record a new vinyl record in Louisiana French and Creole. Additionally, the project includes a publication featuring interviews and photography taken from live recording sessions.

Executive Director of the Nous Foundation, Scott Tilton, expressed his excitement about the grant, stating, “We’re thrilled that a project highlighting Louisiana’s deep musical heritage in French and Creole will have a permanent home in the Library of Congress. This project will be a collective effort to offer a snapshot of Louisiana music as performed in 2024.”

The ‘La Musique Nous Réunit’ project will be recorded throughout the year and is set to be released in 2025. The vinyl record and publication will be made available to the public thereafter. The Nous Foundation also plans to organize an exhibit around the launch of the album.

The Library of Congress Community Collections Grant program aims to document cultures and traditions of Black, Indigenous, and communities of color historically underrepresented in the United States and the Library’s collections. The Nous Foundation’s selection among the ten projects awarded this year highlights the significance of their work in preserving and promoting Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage.

For more information about the Nous Foundation and their initiatives, visit www.nous-foundation.org.