NEW ORLEANS, LA — The International Arts Foundation (IAF) announced its upcoming International Arts Festival, marking Year 5 of a growing cultural and economic-development initiative designed to deepen global relationships, expand access to international arts experiences, and position New Orleans as a leading hub for connection with Africa and the broader diaspora.
In a recent interview, IAF Chairman Ernest D. Kelly II described the festival’s mission as more than entertainment—calling it a practical engine for education, community rebuilding, and opportunity.
“Culture is education… it gives you more ways to figure it out,” Kelly said. “Arts and culture aren’t just performances—they turn the wheel of the economy.”
New Orleans is known for its festivals, but IAF’s International Arts Festival is intentionally designed to be international at its core, bringing together cultural representation, performing arts, and relationship-building that extends beyond a single weekend.
Last year, the festival welcomed engagement connected to 16 countries, with musicians from seven countries. This year, IAF anticipates participation and representation spanning up to 40 countries, with performers and delegations expected from Africa, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and beyond.
Kelly emphasized that IAF’s work has long included cultural programming alongside mentorship, conflict resolution, and initiatives that help young people understand the deep connections between New Orleans and the African diaspora. He noted that IAF has supported and fostered sister-city relationships and global exchanges for decades—highlighting the importance of sustained stewardship and civic infrastructure to maintain these ties.
Through these relationships, IAF has helped create pathways for:
Educational exchanges connecting students and universities (including planned involvement from Dillard University)
Business and investment opportunities tied to international partnerships
International collaboration between artists, including album collaborations and cultural projects
Exposure to innovation, including participation from a company developing atmospheric water generation technology (producing potable water from air)
“You don’t get those relationships… unless you have some level of comfort—if they have to trust you, you have to trust them,” Kelly said.
At the heart of the festival is the belief that music and culture create unity that translates into tangible community outcomes.
“Music is the great equalizer… Everybody’s going to find the groove,” Kelly said, describing how global audiences connect instantly—even across language barriers.
IAF’s 2026 festival will include free seminars/panel discussions and affordable performances, aiming to make global culture accessible to New Orleans residents who may not have the means to travel internationally—while also leaving visiting delegates with deeper impressions of New Orleans’ cultural power.
The festival will also highlight practical themes, including:
Ways to invest in Africa
Ways to travel and engage Africa responsibly
Cultural tourism and exchange models that support long-term economic growth
Kelly shared a long-term vision of New Orleans becoming a true “headquarters” for diaspora connection—leveraging what he describes as the city’s unmatched cultural blend: “the France of the South,” “the northern capital of the Caribbean,” and “America’s most cultured African city all rolled into one.”
“Nobody else can even come close to saying that… it’s like jambalaya and gumbo—everybody’s in the pot,” he said.
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