New Orleans culture has a complicated relationship with big oil. Look no further than the Jazz & Heritage Festival sponsored by Shell, and you’ll find a river of money flowing from oil and gas companies into the artistic community. Fossil Free Fest (FFF) seeks to bring the New Orleans cultural community together to find more sustainable funding for the art we create and consume.

Organizers of FFF include activist Imani Jacqueline Brown, documentary filmmaker Monique Verdin, curator Raquel de Anda, filmmaker Katie Mathews and artist-activist Jayeesha Dutta.

The week-long event begins Monday, April 2, with film screenings at The Broad Theater (636 N. Broad St.) running through Thursday, April 5. The festival itself will take place that weekend (Friday, April 6 through Sunday, April 8) at the Joan Mitchell Center (2275 Bayou Rd.) and Grow Dat Youth Farm (150 Zachary Taylor Dr.), featuring three days of food, art, music and conversation.

By accepting the financial support and, as an imperative, the branding of fossil fuel corporations, are we granting these companies a social license to operate?” FFF’s staff organizers wonder in their mission statement. FFF asks tough questions of its community members, using its platform to implore artists to reexamine their relationships with their funders.

The festival is free and open to the public. Come out and support a good cause. Learn more about the event at FossilFreeFest.org.