Dr. Brook Hanemann Represents Louisiana at South Arts Advocacy

Dr. Brook Hanemann, director of Banners at McNeese State University, was selected to represent Louisiana at the recent meeting of the South Arts Advocacy in Atlanta, Georgia, by the Louisiana Division of the Arts.  

The South Arts Advocacy – a nonprofit regional arts association in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the state arts agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee – supports artists and organizations through grants, fellowships and programs that elevate the region and increase access to arts and culture for communities.  

At the meeting, representatives from the nine states learned from others in the field and shared best practices and resources, according to Hanemann. “As an organization, we believe that art elevates the region in which we live, that it increases connectedness between community members and that it can serve as a catalyst for meaningful change.”  

Hanemann, who has a doctorate in theatre history, literature and theory from Louisiana State University, has directed Banners at McNeese since 2018. For 30 years, this annual spring series of concerts, exhibits, lectures and educational programming has provided Southwest Louisiana with access to exceptional arts and humanities events unique to this area. 

She also organizes Rouge et Blanc, the annual fall wine tasting event that is a fundraiser for the Banners series and its off-season educational components. This year’s sold-out event is Oct. 7.  

Recently, Hanemann helped lead the development of a Specialty Louisiana License Plate to raise funds for the arts through the nonprofit Louisiana Partnership for the Arts. The plate is scheduled to be released this fall.