Junebug Productions Announces Fellowship for Five Local Artists
Junebug Productions, a 40-year-old local and national leader in performing arts, has announced the establishment of the John O’Neal Cultural Arts Fellowship.
Through contributions from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew Mellon Foundation, five local artists – whose work is entrenched in the community – will be awarded more than $100,000 in direct support for their work towards the New Orleans Arts and Cultural landscape.
The fellowship was announced as part of Junebug’s 40th anniversary celebration, honoring the legacy and work of the late founder – John O’Neal. O’Neal was an activist, actor, playwright, member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and co-founder of the Free Southern Theatre. As a major contributor to the Black Arts Movement, Mr. O’Neal’s work was rooted in bridging the gap between art and activism.
“The John O’Neal Cultural Arts Fellows illustrate the ways in which art and culture flourishes in our city, playing an active and vital role in not only our local arts ecosystem but the national arts ethos,” said Junebug Productions’ executive artistic director, Stephanie McKee-Anderson.
City Breaks Ground on Read East Group B Roadwork Project
In late January, Mayor LaToya Cantrell joined other officials, including Ghassan Korban, Executive Director, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, and Ramsey Green, Deputy CAO (Infrastructure), in breaking ground on the $3.6 million Read East Group B roadwork project. About $950,000 of the project will come from the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans.
The City’s Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, began road repairs this past Monday (Jan. 27). Beverly Construction will serve as the construction contractor on the project, with Evans-Graves Engineers on board as the design/construction management contractor.
Project details include:
• Replacing damaged portions of concrete with new concrete;
• Repairing damaged sidewalks and driveway aprons;
• Installing American with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps at intersections; and
• Replacing/repairing damaged underground water, sewer and/or drainage lines.
The Read East Group B project, which is the second of seven total planned projects in the Read East neighborhood, includes 15 blocks and is estimated to be complete in winter 2020. This is the second of six planned projects for the Read East neighborhood; in total there will be more $26 million invested over the next several years.
