- Louisiana’s musical traditions will take center stage in a downtown Lafayette museum in conjunction with the Acadiana Center for the Arts.
- The historic Lafayette Hardware Store will house immersive exhibits exploring the state’s artists, sounds and cultural identity.
- Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the museum scheduled to welcome visitors in 2028.
A new home for Louisiana music
The Acadiana Center for the Arts plans to open the Louisiana Music Museum, creating a downtown destination for the state’s musical heritage. Support from the First Horizon Foundation will help advance the project. The investment supports the museum’s ongoing capital campaign. Since its founding in 2020, the organization has donated more than $15 million to meet community needs.
A welcome honoring musical legends
The foundation will receive naming recognition for the Walk of Legends Plaza while the outdoor entrance will recognize Louisiana’s musical legends and their cultural contributions.“Louisiana’s music is an important part of our culture and identity, and the Foundation is proud to support a project that will preserve that legacy for future generations,” said Jerry Prejean, Acadiana market president for First Horizon. “This museum will not only celebrate the artists and traditions that make our state unique, but also create new opportunities for education, tourism and economic growth in the communities we call home.”
Louisiana’s sounds, brought to life
The museum will occupy the historic 1890 Lafayette Hardware Store. Immersive exhibits, storytelling and educational experiences will connect visitors with Louisiana’s musical history. Exhibits will explore Cajun and Creole traditions alongside jazz, blues, zydeco, gospel and funk.
“The Louisiana Music Museum is about more than preserving our musical heritage. It’s about bringing to life the stories, traditions and creativity that have shaped Louisiana’s rich cultural identity,” said Samuel Oliver, executive director of Acadiana Center for the Arts. “We hope to create a space that celebrates Louisiana’s remarkable contributions to music while inspiring future generations. We’re grateful to First Horizon for believing in this vision and helping us bring it to life.”
The bigger question
Construction is expected to begin in 2027. Opening is planned for 2028. As Lafayette celebrates musical heritage through this museum, how should city leaders and school districts ensure students receive sustained arts instruction, particularly if school programs face funding cuts, so celebrating past creativity also develops the artists who will carry those traditions forward?
The stats
These figures describe Louisiana’s arts and cultural sector in 2023, not the museum’s projected economic impact.
- $7 billion — The economic value of Louisiana’s arts and cultural sector. Source: artsactionfund
- 2.1% — The share of Louisiana’s gross domestic product generated by arts and cultural production. Source: artsactionfund
- 48,591 — The number of jobs supported by Louisiana’s arts and cultural sector. Source: artsactionfund
- 2.39% — The share of Louisiana’s workforce employed in the arts and cultural sector. Source: artsactionfund
- $3.3 billion — Total compensation for workers in Louisiana’s arts and cultural sector. Source: artsactionfund
More places to explore Louisiana’s arts
- New Orleans Jazz Museum — Celebrates jazz through exhibitions, educational programming and musical performances.
- Hilliard Art Museum — Presents visual arts exhibitions and programs at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
- New Orleans Museum of Art — Features a permanent art collection, exhibitions and educational programming.
- Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden — Displays more than 90 sculptures in a landscaped outdoor setting.
- New Orleans Jazz Museum Exhibits — Offers rotating exhibitions examining jazz history and culture.
