118 Cotton Street
West Monroe, LA 71291
Phone 318.397.6717

About Us

Parishes Served

Mission

The Arts Council of Northeast Louisiana seeks to nurture a vibrant regional arts culture through support, promotion and education.

Vision

The Arts Council of Northeast Louisiana strives to be a transformative force for the community by encouraging a passion for the arts, promoting partnerships and collaboration, and ensuring access to the arts for all.

Staff

  • Barry Stevens has served the Arts Council of Northeast Louisiana as president since 2016. Before serving as president, Barry worked as the community development coordinator. A native of Austin, TX, Barry is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University, the Bank Operations Institute at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce), and the LSU School of Banking. He has served as president of the Louisiana Young Bankers, treasurer and president of the Princess Theatre in Winnsboro, and was a founding director and president of the Princess Theatre Foundation. Barry was instrumental in the formation and establishment of the Old Post Office Museum in Winnsboro, serving as a founding member and treasurer of that organization.

    Barry served as District Governor of Lions International District 8-I for the Lions year 2016-2017. His hobbies include music and genealogy. He and his wife Gayla are the parents of three grown daughters and proud grandparents of two granddaughters and three grandsons.

  • Abigail Handy joined the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council in July 2020. Growing up in a rural northeast Louisiana community, she developed a love for the arts when she discovered photography through her local 4-H club in middle school. She has been a commercial photographer, visual storyteller and visual artist for the last 20 years, in addition to being a published writer. As a Mama of three - ages 15, 8 & 7 - Abigail has a passion for championing the arts in the local public school system as well as championing public art in the local community, ensuring access to art for all, regardless of background, age or ability.

    Abigail is an active member of Photographers Without Borders, a worldwide movement of diverse and ethical storytellers. Her hobbies include traveling to new places, meeting new people, drinking copious amounts of coffee, street-art hunting with her kiddos and chasing sunsets. She and her children currently reside in West Monroe.

Board of Directors

  • Melissa Kiper Baldwin, Board Chair
  • William 'Will' Copeland, Administrative Vice Chair
  • Brittany Liner, Development Vice Chair
  • Ashley Hubenthal, Community Vice Chair
  • Jessica Louque, Secretary
  • Tyler Baugh, Treasurer
  • Adrienne LaFrance Wells, Immediate Past Chair
  • Taylor Bennett
  • Dr. Leonard J. Clark
  • Naomi Cordill, RUPAR Coordinator
  • Daphanie Dailey
  • Sarah Hoffman
  • Sara Beth Howard
  • Rebekah Lawrence
  • Kelsea McCrary
  • Lacy Miletello
  • Wendy Napoli
  • Gracie Ouchley
  • Dylan Sanders
  • Jessica Slaughter
  • Cheryl Sutton
  • James 'Ronnie' Walker
  • Cheyenne Weaver

To view the Arts Council's privacy policy, click here.

Our Partners

Supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Additional support provided by the City of Monroe and the City of West Monroe.

118 Cotton Street
West Monroe, LA 71291
Phone 318.397.6717

© Northeast Louisiana Arts Council 2023

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