OUR MISSION
Enrich the community with a celebration of its native cultures through performing arts.
Educate the public of the historical achievements and artistic expressions of related global cultures while developing an appreciation for the arts.
Develop culture and tourism, as well as enhance economic development by expanding Louisiana’s reputation as an arts center and a destination for artistic events.
OUR VISION
Festival International de Louisiane is a premier International music and arts festival known for bringing a variety of unique and emerging performers to Louisiana. The 501 (C) (3) organization is committed to maintaining the festival as non-ticketed and free to the general public. The family-oriented event is held each year in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Our loyal audience, comprised of local, national and international patrons, return year after year.
Festival International de Louisiane
Founding Executive Committee 1987
Left to right: Michael Doucet, VP Production, Programming; Julie Calzone, Public Relations, Marketing; Taylor Rock, Pavillion de Cuisine; Sally Herpin, Treasurer; Cathy Webre, Parking, Security, Site Planning; Philippe Gustin, First VP, Programming, International Relations; Herman Mhire, Founding President; Phil Lank, VP Fundraising, Hospitality; Donnie Robin, Volunteers, Communications; Tina Girouard, Coordinator; Herbert Wiltz, Ethnic Music; Lyn Bertuccini, Secretary
OUR HISTORY
Festival International de Louisiane was founded upon being resilient during tough times, as it was created during the oil bust in 1987 when Louisiana’s economy was at stake. It was founded to help boost the cultural tourism and overall economy in our region while celebrating diverse music, food, and art. Festival has stayed alive over three decades by being resourceful and forward-thinking. This year, we are celebrating our 37th annual celebration!
Festival International was conceived as a multi-faceted cultural event of international scope and significance. In broad terms, the mission was to develop a unique, spectacular forum for cultural expression, exchange and enrichment, and to create an opportunity for sustained economic growth and diversification. This statement was penned by Herman Mhire, Festival International’s Conceptual Visionary, on its 10 year anniversary in 1997.
Since the beginning, Festival was meant to not only bring the world together for a cultural celebration, but to also serve as a vehicle of Economic Development and cultural diversity for the region. By using LA’s heritage and reaching out to our sister cities around the globe, we can strategically program our stages to provide colorful artistic expression, while also providing a business-friendly environment that drastically boosts our local economy and tourism industry each year.
Introduce your brand
Photograph of the poster that accompanied the 1985 “Senegal: Narrative Paintings” exhibition which was where the seed was planted for staging an international francophone arts festival in Lafayette.