Bulbancha Residencies
Bulbancha Residencies support Indigenous artists with a deep connection to Louisiana. 2022 - present.
Since 2022, these residencies have supported artists with a deep connection to the Indigenous cultures of Louisiana and Bulbancha. Artists can choose to be in residence for up to three weeks. For 2026-2027, former residents of the program will nominate applicants who will be selected by an external jury.
Bulbancha, the original name for New Orleans, is a Choctaw word meaning “the place of other languages.” It refers to the historical and enduring nature of our area as a crossroads of waterways and a place of trade and cultural interaction between nations. Through this program, we aim to support the continuation of this legacy of cultural exchange and bolster the unique place of Indigenous Peoples in discussions of climate change and its aftermath. The residency was conceptualized in partnership with a steering committee composed of Indigenous leaders, scholars, artists, and former Studio residents.
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Bulbancha Residents
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Rain Prud’homme-Cranford Literary Arts, 2026, Louisiana Rain Prud’homme-Cranford is a FATastically queer (dis)Abled #UnapologeticallyLouisisanaCreole Interdisciplinary Artist centering dialogues within Louisiana Creole/Indigenous/Afro-Indigenous/post-contact Indigeneity exploring issues of gender, landbase, environmental sustainability/justice, fat/body, and disability/chronic illness. She strives to work in symphony and reciprocity with her Gulf homeland as… -
Mariah-Rose Marie Literary Arts, 2026, Louisiana Mariah-Rose Marie is the author & artist behind COOK LIKE YOUR ANCESTORS: An Illustrated Guide to Intuitive Cooking with Recipes from Around the World (Silver Sprocket, 2023) and A Quick & Easy Guide to Healthy Relationships (Oni Press, 2025), with… -
Ozone 504 / Koni Achafa Performing Arts, 2026, Louisiana Ozone504/DJ Koni Achafa is an east Tennessee Melungeon of Saponi, Monacan, and Lenni Lenape descent who found himself magically transported to Bulbancha through a trick of fate at the end of the 20th century. He is a social practice artist,… -
Amy Bluemel Multidisciplinary Artist, 2025, Texas Amy Bluemel is Chickasaw, an award-winning storyteller, artist, and co-founder of the stomp dance troupe Chikashsha Hithla. Amy travels around the country storytelling and educating about Southeastern tribal culture. She used her residency to research a story documented by Spanish… -
John DePriest Performing Artist and Scholar, 2025, Louisiana John DePriest is a linguist, musician, educator, and songwriter based out of Bʋlbancha (New Orleans, Louisiana) and is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He earned a PhD from Tulane University studying language and music in the… -
Michelle Joan Papillion Multidisciplinary Artist, 2025, Louisiana Michelle Joan Papillion is a grower, creator and builder who works conceptually. Her current work is centered around shared economics and cultural heritage preservation. She is a steward of her ancestors’ native land and created Royal Queen Farms as a… -
Maaliyah Papillion Interdisciplinary Artist, 2024, Louisiana Maaliyah Papillion is a Creole and Indigenous actress, singer, model, third-generation healer from a long line of Indigenous leaders, and an enthusiastic enrolled member of the Atakapa-Ishak Nation of Southwest Louisiana. She infuses her unique experience into her art expression… -
Ida Aronson Multidisciplinary Artist, 2022-23, Louisiana Ida Aronson (they/them) is an activist, theatre maker, herbalism student, cultural apprentice, and active member of the United Houma Nation. Their activism is informed by their multiple identities and first found form in the theatre, where they have worked to… -
Tanner Menard Bulbancha, 2023, Louisiana Tanner Menard is a multifaceted artist – a poet, composer, and Kundalini Yoga instructor. He is the visionary behind UBU Yogic Tech, an innovative online coaching platform that collaborates with artists to bolster creativity and further human evolution. With a…
