Arts District New Orleans (ADNO) has announced Art BEYOND Arts’ Sake, a “charitable re-imagining of the annual Art for Arts’ Sake event.” The annual event has kicked off the art collection season in New Orleans for several years, with local galleries displaying their most prestigious and exciting exhibitions.  But this year’s festivities, which begin October 3 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. are taking it a step further.

The roots for Art for Arts’ Sake are based in the aesthetic philosophy, espoused by Victorian dandy Oscar Wilde and his mentor Walter Pater, that the value of art lies within the art itself and does not require further justification. However, Art BEYOND Arts’ Sake speaks to the global and national strife communities are facing right now. Reps for ADNO state, “This year we are promoting art for its ability to go beyond. As part of Art Beyond Arts’ Sakes’ mission to highlight the power of art to transcend, galleries in the Arts District New Orleans have partnered with local charities and organizations and will be contributing a portion of their proceeds during the month of October to these organizations.”

Notably, a portion of Jonathan Ferrara Gallery’s sales during the month of October will support House of Tulip, the nonprofit collective creating housing solutions for trans and gender non-conforming people in Louisiana. According to the US Trans Survey, 1 in 3 trans people in Louisiana report experiencing homelessness at some point in their lives. House of Tulip provides zero-barrier housing to trans and gender nonconforming people in need of a safe place to stay while growing the supply of affordable housing in New Orleans.

Other galleries participating include Ariodante Gallery (benefitting Bethlehem Lutheran Church), Arthur Roger Gallery (Krewe of Red Beans), Callan Contemporary (Ogden Museum of Southern Art), Gryder Gallery (Innocence Project New Orleans), LeMieux Galleries (Orleans Public Defenders), Martine Chaisson Gallery (KID smART), Octavia Art Gallery (New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter), and Spillman | Blackwell Fine Art (online-only benefitting Southern Solidarity).

JONATHAN FERRARA GALLERY is located at 400A Julia Street. For more information on the Art Beyond Arts’ Sake programming and partnerships, visit the ADNO site.