Prospect New Orleans: Prospect.5—Yesterday We Said Tomorrow

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, New Orleans creatives gathered to ask: "What could the role of artists be in rebuilding the city?" 

This question, in the Fall of 2021, resounds louder than ever in a city of creatives still recovering from the effects of COVID-19 on their industries, who have just been slammed yet again by the crippling damage of Hurricane Ida. As we rebuild once again, artists have remained at the heart of New Orleans. In 2007, the post-Katrina answer was Prospect.1, an exhibition of international contemporary art inspired by New Orleans, following the model of the Venice Biennale. Organizers hoped that it would drive visitors and much-needed tourism revenue to the city, still reeling from the devastation of the hurricane. And it worked. Occurring every three years, the event has driven over 100,000 visitors to the city for each Prospect and generated over $10 million in total economic impact. 

In 2021, Prospect.5 reflects the event's origins more than ever. Titled Yesterday we said tomorrow, the exhibition—which will be displayed in museums, cultural spaces, and public sites throughout New Orleans through January—features an intergenerational group of artists from the United States, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. Focusing on the unspoken present, the exhibition champions change—interpreted through the readings of each individual artist. 

Details at prospectneworleans.org. 

Look forward to more extensive coverage on Prospect.5 in our November Visual Arts Issue. Subscribe today to have it delivered straight to your mailbox ($21.99/year).