Year 9, Embracing Change

Basin Arts entered Year 9 (Aug. 2024–Aug. 2025) with big dreams for where we’re going. This year, we proudly launched our very first LINEAGE Awards, honoring local arts legends Cissy Whipp and Robert Dafford for their lifetime of impact in Acadiana. Cissy hosted a powerful movement workshop series, while Robert led a mural painting series— you’ll be able to view the finished mural at our brand new Basin Arts location, as well as, a new dance work by Cissy!

Dance/Splits premiered at the Acadiana Center for the Arts featuring new work by Basin Arts Creative Director, Clare Cook, and Leigha Porter. Window Wanderings invited local movers to create site-specific dance works through Downtown Lafayette during the holiday season. DanceLab resident artists, Blakeley McGuire and Daniel Fetecua, traveled from NYC in January to share a master class and develop new work within our walls.

In Fall 2024, we partnered with Lafayette Consolidated Government to kick off the University Corridor Public Art Initiative, beginning with a community meeting at LCG where neighbors shared ideas for public art. After site selection, we began holding Public Art Office Hours to continue to engage with the community.

Our ProjectSpace Residency supported three vibrant cycles this year:

🌱 From the Ground Up — Jack Budd, Macie Menard, LouSea

💧 The Water That Holds — Cristina Molina & Rebecca Allen

🔄 Temps Rouler: Explorations in Change — Cole Broussard & Alex Sutherlin

In the gallery we also had the (un)common exhibition, displaying uncommon works from local Acadiana artists. BARE Walls kept growing too — with a lively group exhibition in our gallery, and a brand new installation site at Bottle Art Lofts.

We also made one of our biggest announcements yet: Basin Arts is moving! We honored our original Clinton St. location with a “Last Hoorah” ArtWalk, reflecting on years of creativity within those walls. Then, with the help of incredible volunteers, we packed up every brush, barre, and bench — ready to write our next chapter together in our new home.