Jubilee, Nicholls’ festival of arts and humanities, will be celebrated for the 11th year this spring, beginning today and lasting until April 23.Jubilee has undergone various changes since its first year, at which time the festival held several events simultaneously and in a fewer number of days. After 11 years, Jubilee has expanded to include a month and a half of more than 40 events.

Several festival activities are newer than most, including the Writers’ Conference in its sixth year, Research Week in its third year and the Swamp Stomp festival, the newest event, in its first year.

“The first year we had (Jubilee), we didn’t have as many involved events like the Writers’ Conference and the Research Week that took on a larger capacity. To do those individually takes a great deal of time,” Angel Hammerli, Jubilee coordinator, said.

Jubilee events fall under several different categories this year. Activities reflecting Cajun culture include a French heritage day, while international events feature the performances of Singers of United Lands, which includes four singers from Chili, Kenya, Latvia and South Korea, and a Brazilian Composers Showcase.

The lectures and literature-oriented events are highlighted by a lecture from writer Sam Pickering. The music category features the New Orleans Civic Orchestra. Research week contains research presentations from all University departments and theater puts the spotlight on the Nicholls’ Players’ performance of “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

Hammerli, who served as co-chair of the Nicholls 50th Anniversary Committee more than a decade ago, never intended to create the festival or for it to continue as long as it has.

“No one asked me to create a Jubilee, just some sort of long event,” Hammerli said. “I really thought it was going to be a one-year thing.”

The festival’s name was proposed by former Ellender Memorial Library employee, Francine Middleton.

“It was something like the burst of energy or the excitement. Everybody loved it. There was no conflict,” Hammerli said of the name.

One definition of the word “jubilee” is the celebration of a 50-year achievement. This also fits the festival because Jubilee was created 11 years ago, around the time of Nicholls’ 50th Anniversary.

“We did decide to call it the Jubilee Festival of Arts and Humanities,” Hammerli said.

One of the challenges with the annual planning of Jubilee is the inconsistent falling of the Mardi Gras holiday and spring break.

“Because of our ever-changing Mardi Gras and Easter dates, its difficult to break it between those vacation times,” Hammerli said. “It’s also hard to involve the people who like to be a part of us if we only have a few days.”

No matter when it is held, Jubilee continues to be an anticipated tradition for the University community.

“We did it to celebrate the University, the graduates, (and) to connect the community with the faculty and staff,” Hammerli said.