Court 13 Arts

Court 13 Arts is a New Orleans-based 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our mission is to grow and sustain New Orleans' cinema culture by advancing visual literacy, fostering creative education, and inspiring community-driven collaboration.

In 2012, Beasts of the Southern Wild was filmed in Louisiana. Together with a small professional crew, dozens of local, Louisiana artists came together to create this work of art. They called themselves Court 13.

Off the back of the 4 Academy Awards nominations the film received in 2013, along with numerous other accolades including the Caméra d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Beast's writer and director Benh Zeitlin founded the Court 13 Arts organization to give back to & forge space for Louisiana artists like those who were instrumental in making his film.

Through cultural, educational, and mentorship programs, artist residencies, festivals, events, and the provision of affordable studios for artists who would otherwise not have access to fabrication space, we have been dedicated to the guiding principle of giving back since the organization's official inception in 2015.

Testimonials

"From the start, Court 13 Arts has been a local idea generator, thinking big and crossing disciplinary boundaries. When they hosted our signature screening of Stop Making Sense, they encouraged us to transform the entire space to make for an unforgettable experience, which is what they're all about." - Travis Bird, founder, Shotgun Cinema

"Brilliant. Innovative." - DeCarlton Wooton, fan

"I think the world of everyone involved with Court 13. The inspiration, creativity, and meaning are shared with love." - Levy Easterly, actor and artist