The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation has parted ways with Chief Executive Officer Blake-Anthony Johnson, just weeks before the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is set to open on April 23. Johnson, hired in January 2025, led the organization for roughly 14 months. The foundation has tapped longtime staffer Sarita Carriere as interim executive director while final festival prep kicks into high gear.
Board calls exit mutual, elevates veteran insider
Carriere, a finance and accounting pro who has been on the foundation staff since 2014, spoke on the foundation's behalf at a March 24 press conference, according to NOLA. Board chair Rachel F. Cousin described Johnson's departure as a "mutual decision ... as he transitions to other opportunities," while Johnson said he was "proud of what we have accomplished together over the past two seasons," the outlet reports. The foundation has not yet shared details on any severance package or a timeline for launching a permanent CEO search.
Festival cash fuels year-round culture work
The nonprofit uses Jazz Fest proceeds to underwrite cultural, educational and economic programs across Louisiana, with program details laid out on its site, according to the Jazz & Heritage Foundation. The 2026 festival is scheduled for April 23 to May 3, and organizers say the event remains the organization's primary fundraising engine. For many local arts groups and musicians, Jazz Fest income helps power grants, school programs and the foundation's archives.
Production machine and broadcast crew stay put
Production of Jazz Fest continues to run through Festival Productions (Quint Davis) in partnership with AEG Presents, a long-standing co-production setup that handles logistics and booking, according to OffBeat. That partnership oversees on-site logistics, booking and staging across the festival's multiple stages. The foundation also holds the broadcast license for community station WWOZ 90.7 FM, which has long provided live Jazz Fest coverage and serves as a key cultural outlet for the city, per WWOZ.
What comes next as the countdown continues
With fewer than four weeks until opening day, interim director Carriere is now steering final preparations while the board manages the leadership transition. The foundation employs roughly 18 full-time staffers and owns assets tied to its programming, and community partners and donors are watching for more information on leadership and operations, according to NOLA. The foundation has said it will share updates publicly and that festival production will continue as a joint effort with its co-producers in the weeks leading up to opening.
