Your donation directly impacts the quality of exhibitions at the Louisiana State Museum by providing substantial funding to help underwrite the costs of the exhibition and other associated project expenses. From transporting artifacts and art, fabrication and installation of the exhibition to costs associated with educational programming associated with the exhibition — all of which furthers LMF’s mission by promoting and educating a broad audience on Louisiana’s rich history.

As a state government agency, the LSM system is not equipped to accept and administer private funding, grants and individual or corporate contributions which are needed for its three core areas; crucial to all museums. The State provides for core museum staffing and infrastructure, while the majority of funding for collections care, exhibitions and educational programming which are fundamental for all museums, must come from other sources and mostly community support from individuals like you.

LMF operates in the French Quarter, and our work is focused primarily on LSM’s five National Historic Landmark French Quarter properties, including the Cabildo (the Museum of Louisiana History, Culture and Art) and the Presbytere (the Museum of Mardi Gras (2nd Floor) and Hurricanes (1st Floor), and the collections associated with the five French Quarter museums.

The Louisiana State Museum’s iconic French Quarter properties house permanent exhibitions, including The Presbytère’s two permanent exhibits that tell two sides of the ongoing Louisiana story — one of celebration and one of resilience. Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana offers a window into the annual celebration and riotous rituals of Mardi Gras. Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond exhibition tells of rescue, rebuilding, and renewal.

The Cabildo is one of the state’s most significant historic structures, and is the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies. Its three floors feature artifacts such as documents, paintings and 3D objects from the museum’s vast collection. Currently the third floor of the Cabildo houses a virtual arts exhibition that changes annually and contains the exhibitions that Founders Ball opens every November, featuring artists, both living and legacy, whose works provide a glimpse into the historical and cultural nature of our state’s vital resources and inspiration.

Louisiana Museum Foundation is a New Orleans-based, independent, annually audited 501(c)3 tax exempt organization, governed by an apolitical self-perpetuating board of community leaders, founded in 1981 to serve as the nonprofit support organization and provide community support and fundraising support for the underfunded Louisiana State Museum system.  Founded in 1906 by an act of the state of Louisiana legislature the LSM is responsible for the care and operations of ten statewide museum properties and six major collections, consisting of nearly 500,000 artifacts (mostly housed in New Orleans’ French Quarter), all pertinent to Louisiana’s history and culture.  The LMF was founded to accept private donations and grants on behalf of the LSM.