New Orleans Musicians Clinic & Assistance Foundation

Founded in 1998, the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic and Assistance Foundation (NOMC) protects and preserves the unique music culture of New Orleans as the city's only organization dedicated to providing access to comprehensive healthcare, wellness education, mental health services, and social services tailored to the needs and interests of local musicians and culture bearers.

Since 1998, The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic and Assistance Foundation (NOMC &AF) have focused our efforts on incresing equity by improving the health outcomes and well-being for members of the New Orleans creative community: musicians, culture-bearers, performers, and other performing artists. Our musical and cultural traditions are unique - our distinct culture and traditions enrich our region and bring joy to our communities and tourists and visitors. Indeed there is a paradox, the very people who create and sustain our musical and arts culture are often the most vulnerable and underserved members of our community. The detrimental effects of unaddressed physical and behavioral health needs and lack of access to routine preventative and comprehensive healthcare is amplified in our senior population, the elders - primarily underserved - who are our original stewards of New Orleans musical and cultural entertainment and hospitality-based industry.

The NOMC clinic offers low-cost, patient-centered care to 800 local artists. This includes comprehensive medical care, disease management, specialist referrals, labs, and screenings, which amounts to over 2,100 patient visits annually.

Testimonials

"The Musicians' Clinic has eliminated the barriers. If musicians don't have access to money or transportation, they can still have access to good, quality medical care at the Clinic. It really is important for all of us: because when you are healthy as an artist, you are able to practice your art. I know that the elders in our community look forward to seeing me on Carnival Day, but I have to be healthy. So thank you to the Musicians' Clinic." - Cherice Harrison-Nelson: Big Queen Reesie, NOMC Patient, Co-Founder of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame