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At the Opelousas Yambilee Festival, Project HEAL employed professional drummers to instruct children in basic drumming rhythms.

Project HEAL (Helping Employ Artists Locally) was created by the Acadiana Arts Council to assist artists and musicians impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita through employment opportunities in local communities.

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina struck, the Acadiana Arts Council began working through Lafayette Consolidated Government to quickly use Federal dollars to hire displaced artists for community activities and displaced arts administrators for program development. Since its inception in early September, Project HEAL has hired more than 100 musicians and other displaced artists to perform at festivals and multiple music venues, as well as nontraditional performing spaces such as shelters, schools, libraries, museums, and galleries. 

Fans of Cajun music ambassadors BeauSoleil provided the cornerstone gift that launched Project HEAL. Donations from artists, patrons, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and foundations—ranging from $50 to $10,000—have provided continued support of this frontline program. Additionally, the Cheim & Read Gallery, New York; Christian Patterson of the Eggleston Artistic Trust; and Livet Reichard Company, Inc. organized a special online auction of donated art work through eBay Giving Works. All proceeds of the Katrina Art Auction will be given to Project HEAL to further help artists and nonprofit arts organizations in immediate need of financial assistance as a result of Hurricane Katrina.  

Incorporated in 1975 as the result of a far-reaching two-year feasibility and cultural needs study, the Acadiana Arts Council serves an eight-parish region of southwestern Louisiana through technical assistance, grant programs, and direct community programming. Known as Cajun and Creole Country, the Acadiana area is home to people of French Acadian, Creole, African, Anglo, German, Caribbean, and Native American ancestry, and is known worldwide as one of the most unique culture pockets in North America. The AAC works to enrich quality of life and place for the region and its residents by creating new opportunities for artists, nurturing new organizations, developing and promoting the activities of existing arts and cultural organizations, and filling community programming needs.