Voices of Region 8

A Regional Roundtable Series for the Creative Community

Your Voice. Your Vision. Our Region.

Voices of Region 8 is a facilitated roundtable series hosted by the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council to listen directly to visual and performing artists, arts educators, and arts leaders across our twelve-parish region.

This initiative is designed to create intentional space for members of our creative community to share their lived experiences - what’s working, what’s challenging, and what support is needed to help the arts thrive in Northeast Louisiana.

Rather than a presentation or informational session, each roundtable centers community voice. The Arts Council’s role in this series is to listen, learn, and carry these insights forward into future planning, advocacy, and program development.

Why We’re Doing This

The arts ecosystem in Region 8 is diverse, talented, and deeply rooted in its communities - but no single solution fits every creative discipline or parish.

These roundtables help us:

• Better understand the real needs and challenges facing creatives in our region

• Stay aligned with our mission and responsive to the community we serve

• Identify gaps, opportunities, and priorities for future programming

• Strengthen trust, communication, and collaboration across disciplines

While we may not be able to address every need immediately, this process allows us to plan with clarity, intention, and accountability - guided by the voices of those doing the work.

Roundtable Tracks

Each Voices of Region 8 session focuses on a specific creative sector. Participants are encouraged to register for the track that best aligns with their primary role or practice.

~ Arts Educators

For K–12 educators, higher education faculty, teaching artists, and arts education advocates. This track focuses on the realities of arts education in our region - including access, resources, advocacy, professional development, and community partnerships.

~ Arts Organization Leaders

For leaders and staff of arts organizations, cultural nonprofits, museums, galleries, theatres, and libraries. This track centers on sustainability, capacity building, collaboration, and the shared challenges of leading arts organizations in Northeast Louisiana.

~ Visual Artists

For visual artists, makers, designers, photographers, and artisans. This track explores professional needs, access to opportunities, creative economies, visibility, and what support looks like for working artists across Region 8.

~ Performing Artists

For musicians, actors, dancers, theatre artists, poets, and other performing artists. This track focuses on performance opportunities, venues, audiences, resources, and the unique needs of live and time-based art forms.

What to Expect

• Facilitated, discussion-based conversation
• Small group and full group dialogue
• A welcoming, inclusive environment
• Light refreshments
• No formal presentations or lectures

All sessions will begin at 6:00pm and last approximately two hours.  

Meet Our Facilitators

Libby Gifford - Libby is a graphic designer and creative director who has long been involved in the arts community locally and beyond. A Louisiana Tech arts graduate, she has served with the Downtown Art Alliance as a local gallery director and is passionate about supporting artists of all disciplines.

Drék Davis - Drék is a professor and Head of the Department of Visual & Performing Arts at Grambling State University, in Grambling, Louisiana. An inaugural recipient of the Take Notice Fund Grant, awarded by the National Performance Network (Ford Foundation). He was most recently awarded a Creative Residency Fellowship at the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences, for Arts & Culture Administrators.

Lee Ann Stenvick - Lee Ann is a trained theatre artist and nonprofit leader serving as Executive Director of the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana. With a background in higher education advancement and community engagement, she works to strengthen creative ecosystems through collaboration, advocacy, and grantmaking.

Sarah O'Conner Siereveld -  Sarah (BFA, MBA) is a veteran performer, a 2023 Top 20 under 40 award winner, and successful business leader currently serving as the Development Officer at ULM. A proud member of Actors' Equity Association, favorite performances include the National Tour of “Young Frankenstein”, “Gypsy” at Capital City Theatre, and “Oliver!” at PaperMill Playhouse. Sarah has served as a Board Member with the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, New Music on the Bayou, and the Monroe Symphony Orchestra.

Register to Participate

Participation is free, but registration is required, as space is limited.

Please use the form below to:

• Register for a Voices of Region 8 roundtable
• Select the track you wish to participate in
• Help us plan appropriately for space and facilitation