Partner Spotlight: Jennifer Ward, Art Conscious
Within the St. Claude Arts Campus is the new St. Claude Arts Park at 6619 St. Claude Ave. in Arabi.
Driving along St. Claude Ave. near the parish line, you’ll pass a two-block stretch of galleries, studios, a theatre, and an arts park. Known as St. Claude Arts, the campus was developed by the Meraux Foundation to nurture the cultural economy in St. Bernard Parish. Once a collection of neglected buildings, the area is now a thriving hub for painters, musicians, and more. The newest addition to the campus is the St. Claude Arts Park. It opened last year and features space for performances, community meetings, arts markets, and other cultural events.
The outdoor venue at 6619 St. Claude Ave. in Arabi is next to Art Conscious, Jennifer Ward’s business that offers retail and commercial picture framing, fine art printing, design consultation, gallery and event rental space, and more.
Art Conscious includes gallery and event rental space.
For a number of years, Art Conscious has been a tenant of St. Claude Arts, and as of October, she’s been managing, programming, and booking events at the Arts Park next door.
“We are proud to have Jennifer at the helm of St. Claude Arts Park,” said Rita Gue, the president of the Meraux Foundation. “She brings with her a wealth of experience, energy, and a vision for arts and culture in St. Bernard Parish.”
Jennifer Ward has 30 years of professional experience in design and operations in art consulting specializing in the hospitality and entertainment markets.
Jennifer has always been an artist. She recalls painting with her mother from when she was as little as three years old–and she never stopped her artistic endeavors. Her passion found a nurturing ground at Georgia State, where her professors fueled her artistic journey. Teaming up with a seasoned art veteran, Jennifer dabbled in every facet of art processes, mastering skills like framing, photography, design, and curation for years.
Through her experience, Jennifer began to recognize a growing disconnect between people and the art they interacted with, as the onset of digital technology brought people to screens rather than studios. Drawing from her extensive experience and the unique space she occupied, Jennifer aspired to create an inclusive environment where artists could continuously refine their craft and share their skills with fellow creatives, fostering a vibrant community of artistry and individuals experiencing their art.
Art Conscious offers retail & commercial picture framing, fine art printing, designconsultation, gallery & event rental space, and more
In the meantime, Jennifer became a jack of all trades in the art world, traversing the nation and contributing to businesses of all sizes, museums, and renowned restaurants until she eventually landed in New Orleans, setting up shop in the old 7-Up factory. The factory served well as a raw space, but that was about it, and finding a new, permanent place to bring her vision to life was proving more difficult.
The pivotal moment arrived when she was stranded in the rain outside the factory due to a flooded parking lot. That was the last straw, so Jennifer called around to everyone she knew and eventually was connected with Bill Haines. Bill, a board member of the Meraux Foundation, was an hour away from leasing the former Arabi Theatre within the St. Claude Arts campus. Jennifer pleaded her case, and long story short, Art Conscious has been a tenant ever since.
Jennifer has become a leading champion for and poster-child of St. Claude Arts. In recognition of this, the Meraux Foundation selected Jennifer’s new nonprofit, Peers Arts Exchange, to manage the St. Claude Arts Park.
As is visible by the many events and activities already taking place there, Jennifer has quickly stepped into the role. She initiated "Second Saturdays," monthly events at the Arts Park that celebrate the fusion of food, drinks, and, of course, art. She is actively extending these events’ reach by supporting buses connecting other art studios along St. Claude Ave. in the Bywater. The Arts Park is also booked with private events like receptions, showers, and birthdays, with plans to channel the proceeds into a monthly musical series and a youth art program.
With exciting developments underway and a host of inspiring ideas in Jennifer's pipeline, we eagerly anticipate the boundless potential of the Arts Park, the entire St. Claude Arts campus, and the arts throughout St. Bernard Parish.
To learn about upcoming events and more about St. Claude Arts and the St. Claude Arts Park, visit stclaudearts.org.