Despite the uncertainty of the University’s future budget, the annual Jubilee should be secure in its funding for at least the next few years.

The Jubilee, which began in 1998 as a part of the University’s 50th anniversary, is a festival of the arts and humanities. This year, the festival will run from Mar. 1- Apr. 26.

Associate education professor Angela Hammerli has been at Nicholls for 41 years and has organizing the Jubilee for over 10 years.

“This year, we’re listing many different things. We’re listing theater things, music things, art things – a lot of different things,” Hammerli said. “People love to see a variety of things.”
The goal of the Jubilee is to raise awareness of the arts and humanities by highlighting local theater, music and an assortment of other arts in the area.

The Bayou Playhouse in Lockport will be showing Harvey this weekend and next. Next week’s events include Semaine de la Francophonie, the opening ceremony, and French film on Monday to start the weeklong celebration the French heritage of Louisiana. There will be lectures on both biomedicine and robotics in the oil and gas industry as well. The full list of events, along with times and locations, can be found on the Jubilee website.

One of the highlights of the Jubilee will be the Louisiana Swamp Stomp Festival, which takes place Mar. 20-22 at John L. Guidry Stadium.

According to Hammerli, the University sets aside $3,000 each year for the Jubilee to hire musicians and guest lecturers. She supplements those funds with the money leftover from years of grant writing and fundraising.

“I don’t write grants anymore, but I have enough left for a few more years,” Hammerli said.
As for what will happen to the Jubilee after her retirement, Hammerli said she has no idea.
Many Jubilee events are free of charge, but several are ticketed or will be accepting donations in lieu of tickets.

Hammerli also said that she is looking forward to the upcoming renovations of the Mary M. Danos Theater in Talbot Hall.

Later this year, the theater is set to receive its first renovation since its opening in 1970. The renovation will include a new sound system, lighting, curtains, flooring, walls and seating. The Nicholls Foundation has already raised $1 million but hopes to raise another $500,000.

“They’re going to remodel it in the summer, so next year we may not be able to do anything [for the Jubilee] in the Mary M. Danos Theater,” Hammerli said.

In addition to theater, the Jubilee will also include the culinary arts in its celebration.
The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute hosted its second annual Dinner of the Century at the Royal Sonesta in New Orleans last Sunday.

The culinary students will begin their weekly Cook-Off Challenges on Thursday, Mar. 19 at the Dansereau House in Thibodaux.