New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Reaffirms Commitment to the Central City Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Orleans, LA. (May 12, 2015) – The Board of Directors of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) is comprised of volunteers whose mission is the preservation of Jazz for future generations. Upon careful consideration of concerns raised about financial connections between NOJO and the New Orleans Public Library Foundation (NOPLF), the NOJO Board voted on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, to reimburse NOPLF for contributions provided to NOJO.

NOJO and its Board of Directors are disappointed in misperceptions about the appropriateness of a relationship between a public library and a musical heritage, cultural and performing arts center. However, it is critical to our Board and to our artists to remedy any misperceptions and we unanimously chose to aggressively move forward today, return the dollars from the library foundation and immediately refocus on our mission to put jazz musicians to work, celebrate our culture, and travel the world promoting New Orleans and performing jazz music.

Despite returning the dollars to the library foundation, NOJO, its artists and its Board of Directors remain committed to providing access for the entire community, our children and especially to the citizens living in Central City. Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market offers unique access to books, archival materials, recordings, digital media, and Internet that teaches our musical history and cultural heritage around the Jazz art form to which our city gave birth.

NOJO remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure the Jazz Market is a public space that provides programs and resources to spur the economic revitalization and social progress of Central City. As such, NOJO will continue to move forward with a variety of education, arts and culture, and economic development programs for the community.

About the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO)

NOJO creates Jazz to enhance life, transform place, and elevate spirit through the tenets of truth, love and beauty. Founded in 2002, NOJO is the first and only performing arts institution committed solely to the development of an Industry for Jazz in the city that created the music. For more information, please visit www.thenojo.com and www.PHNOJM.org.

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