Preservation Hall Foundation
John Dunlop
Since its founding in 1961, Preservation Hall has been dedicated to preserving New Orleans musical traditions. From its inception, founders Allan and Sandra Jaffe fostered a community of inclusion, committed to the preservation of New Orleans Jazz and to caring for elder musicians. More than 150,000 visitors attend memorable shows 360 nights each year. While the building may not have changed much over its history, the Hall ensures that musical traditions are revered and celebrated, while allowing it to breathe and evolve with the contributions of subsequent generations, and raise up those who play and appreciate it.
The Preservation Hall Foundation, founded in 2011, is based on the ethos, values and practices of Preservation Hall and brings them to life in classrooms, detention centers, concert venues, and community centers around New Orleans, the nation, and the world. The Foundation protects, preserves, and perpetuates the musical traditions and heritage of New Orleans through its four program areas: Education, Community Engagement, Legacy and Archives. We believe that tradition is not just a static body of knowledge, but it is the personal bond between generations of practitioners that allows culture to be transmitted and made meaningful in the present.
Education: primary activity is developing educational programming that targets troubled areas in new orleans with no current music programs in their schools. Outreach: extends traditional jazz music and culture outside of new orleans. Activities include free performances at schools, libraries and other public spaces as well as lectures and master classes in academic and professional settings. The long-term goal is to contribute to the larger body of knowledge and practice that protects the transmission of local cultural traditions worldwide. Click here for more information.