Preservation Hall Foundation Impact Report: Quarter 1, 2026
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Dear Foundation Friends,
In a city where culture defines who we are, access to arts & music education is still not guaranteed for every child. Where a student goes to school in New Orleans can often determine whether they ever pick up an instrument or see themselves celebrated in the musical culture around them.
That’s why we kicked off last year with one major goal: to expand our reach to local schools in Orleans Parish, by bringing more students to The Hall for field trips, and meeting them where they’re at for in-school workshops with Preservation Hall musicians.
In addition to subsidizing all educational field trips & programming for schools in Orleans Parish, we created a transportation fund, increased our presence at school fairs and community events, and deepened our relationships with local teachers.
Well, the stats are in, and in these past few months we’ve seen a record breaking engagement with local students in our 15 years of this work!
Just a few short months into 2026 and we’re reveling in the magic this year has brought so far. These past few months, students from all walks of life have been visiting us at The Hall to learn directly from legendary New Orleans culture bearers. We’ve seen an all-time high in intergenerational bonding, ‘aha’ moments, musical conversations, joyous dancing and big smiles.
In 2025, We Reached More Local New Orleans Students Through PHF Workshops, Summer Camps, School Visits, and Kids in the Hall Programs.
We supported & implemented over 200 experiences for New Orleans students to engage in intergenerational mentorship and learn about cultural traditions from Preservation Hall musicians.
Bruce Brackman’s Masterclasses at Chalmette High helped land Orlando Espinoza-Martinez a full scholarship to Loyola University of New Orleans’ music program.
This marked our 10th year with Stomp Troopers - New Orleans’ only Mardi Gras marching krewe for teens with Autism and related exceptionalities.
Student engagement during summer programming increased +1,333%, camp visits increased +825%, and the number of musicians we employed doubled from summer 2024.
We had a 288% increase in local students learning at The Hall this Quarter from Q1 2026.
892 local students visited Preservation Hall this quarter.
What began as a small portion of our programming has grown into a major access point: subsidized field trips increased from 11% to 25% of KIH programming in just one year—a 127% increase— opening the doors of Preservation Hall to more local students than ever before.
3,219 students from around the country visited Preservation Hall in just 3 months - an 86% increase from Q1 2025.
This quarter, our Kids in The Hall programming nearly doubled from past years.
We had 78 Kids in The Hall groups with 59 schools total - nearly double our 42 groups from Q1 2025.
15 Years of Passing it On: THEN / NOW / NEXT
Students second lining at Preservation Hall circa 1990
Kids in The Hall field trip 2026
Expanding our educational impact into the historic 730 St Peter Street
As we reflect on the impact of the past quarter, we’re also looking ahead to what’s next.
Through our Pass It On campaign, we are building a home at 730 Saint Peter Street to transform what was once an underutilized historic building into a center for music, education, and community. The new space will exponentially increase our capacity to host local students, allowing more young people to connect with and learn from the incredible musicians who grace our bandstand.
We are in year 4 of our 5 year campaign and have raised 75% of our goal on the capital part of the campaign. Our goal is to raise $2.5 million for the building by Fall 2026, so this is a perfect time to contribute and secure customized naming opportunities throughout the building. We will then focus the final year of our campaign on raising critical programming and operational funds that will allow us to fully animate this expanded campus.
The renovation work at 730 Saint Peter Street continues to make great progress, with electrical and plumbing systems installed, the elevator shaft completed, and the entrance and lobby exhibition space taking shape.
Completing this building will expand PHF's reach and impact by creating room for new programs, deeper partnerships with educators, and greater access to mentorship and resources for students and musicians alike. The space will celebrate discovery as we preserve and share stories, recordings, and family legacies for future generations.
Please support us in our mission to Pass it On.
More From This Quarter…
Class Got Brass
We partnered with our friends at Jazz & Heritage for the annual Class Got Brass competition during Congo Square Rhythms Fest!
Each year, student groups carrying on the New Orleans music tradition are invited to compete for more than $50,000 in gift certificates for instruments, clinicians, repairs, and supplies for their schools.
Preservation Hall musicians were thrilled to join New Oreans student brass bands in schools for in-person workshops ahead of the event. We also provided resources, including sheet music, arrangements, and classic recordings demonstrating proper tone and style to help the band directors prepare their students for the competition!
Jazz Education Network
We were proud to serve as a sponsor of the 2026 Jazz Education Network Conference right here in New Orleans, welcoming educators, students, and musicians from around the world to the place we call home.
Over the course of three days, musicians led more than six clinics and workshops, sharing the traditions, techniques, and living history of New Orleans music with the next generation.
We beamed when the Pres Hall Legacy Band took the stage, featuring 94-year-old Daniel “Weenie” Farrow, whose remarkable musicianship and spirit left a lasting impression on students from across the globe.
LEDE - “Ask Me To Remember”
Preservation Hall Foundation embarked on a new program this quarter with our longtime friends at LEDE New Orleans.
“Ask Me to Remember” is a community-centered, multi-phase archiving workshop series that began this quarter, spearheaded by Felli Maynard in partnership with LEDE.
Rooted in collective storytelling and shared stewardship, this multiphase series is designed to support participants in learning conceptual, technical, and hands-on tools for building and caring for community archives.
The opening session was a reflection on how collective memory has carried us and how living archives are tools of resistance.
Support us On GiveNOLA Day!
Support the Preservation Hall Foundation this GiveNOLA Day on Tuesday, May 5: a citywide day of giving that brings the community together to uplift New Orleans nonprofits. Hosted by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, this annual event amplifies local fundraising efforts and encourages donors to make an impact in just 24 hours. Early giving opens on Tuesday, April 28 and runs through Monday, May 4, giving you extra time to show your support before the big day.
Help us keep the momentum going by supporting Pass It On today.
Thanks for Staying Connected!
Keep up with the Foundation's day-to-day activities via our social media accounts below or check out our website.