Imagine a space where you can go to be in community with your people. No, not home, not work, but a third place. Imagine a space where you can come together to collaborate, be your creative self with other creative people. You meet up, drink coffee or tea, exchange ideas, and learn something new. I want you to imagine a space where anyone can test their creative ideas, their first play, a music set, a small gallery showing, and the community would show up for it. Imagine a space where you could get help pursuing your creative ideas, making dreams come true, and having a community backing you in the process. Imagine a place you could continue learning, continue growing, and continue pursuing your interests at low to no cost.

That’s what we’re creating at the Contemporary Folk Collaborative. Our mission is to preserve, promote, and prepare “the Folk” to be successful in their creative endeavors and everyday life.

At CFC, we define “the Folk” as artists and culture bearers, as well as everyday people who make up our community.

Our programming consists of:

• Free and open to the public, workshops, roundtables, and events centered on financial wellness, health, creative entrepreneurship, and folk practices.
• Collecting present-day history and resources and providing free access by distributing them to the public via zines, social media, and installation events
• Producing live cultural and artistic events.
• Fostering a third space for the Folk to collaborate and be in community with each other.
• Open mic nights, artist salons, plays, variety shows, and more.

We created this campaign because we want to fund our programs, fund programmatic support, and most of all: purchase a building and complete the renovations to create a true third place in New Orleans where the Folk can:

• Have a centralized third place where the Folk can safely receive free coffee, water, snacks, showers, and resources with kindness and dignity, in addition to collaborating with other Folk. Do you need a space to write, paint, knit, create zines, or meet with other creatives?
• Produce low-cost arts and cultural events, including plays, concerts, galleries, or art installations.
• Provide low-cost practice space to up-and-coming local musicians and artists.

Join us in supporting the future and legacy of our local community. Join us in creating a third space for the Folk, by the Folk.