Creative COVID-19 Vaccine Art Event Hosted by Where Y’Art Works, Louisiana Department of Health Showcasing Louisiana Artists Illustrating what it Means to ‘Bring Back Louisiana’

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced on July 21, 2022, that the LDH and Where Y’Art Works will host a COVID-19 vaccine event on Friday, July 29, 2022, showcasing artwork from Louisiana artists illustrating what it means to “Bring Back Louisiana” from the pandemic. The event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Where Y’Art Works gallery, which is located at 1901 Royal St. in New Orleans.

Xavier University and Ochsner Health will provide COVID-19 vaccinations, BMI and blood pressure screenings, and nutrition and cancer awareness information. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will be available to anyone over the age of 12.

The Bring Back Louisiana campaign collaborated with local artists from each of Louisiana’s nine public health regions to illustrate what it means to “Bring Back Louisiana” from the pandemic in their respective regions through a partnership with local art gallery and curator Where Y’Art Works and arts councils across the state. Guests will be able to meet the artists and learn about what inspired them to create their unique works during the vaccination event, in addition to ensuring they are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Bring Back Louisiana is the name of the Louisiana Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccine education campaign, which is a statewide effort to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get the vaccine so that we can get back to doing what we love about Louisiana.

Jessica Strahan (New Orleans), Antoine Mitchell (Baton Rouge), Mike Slage (Houma), Vergie Banks (Lafayette), Morgan Allain (Lake Charles), Leah Morace (Alexandria), Connie Stephens-Eaton (Shreveport), Vitus Shell (Monroe), and Adam Sambola (Slidell) are among the artists who created original works for this initiative.

Follow this link to view the full Bring Back Louisiana collection.

“As we transition out of COVID-19 crisis mode, we are committed to making sure residents know the importance of staying up to date on their vaccines, all while celebrating the rich, diverse cultures of our state,” said Region 1 (New Orleans) Medical Director Dr. Shantel Hebert-Magee. “This event is yet another example of our continued dedication to meeting people where they are.”

“Our creative communities statewide took a major hit these past two-and-a-half years. But we need art in times of crisis – to communicate, to inspire, and to bring people and ideas together. That’s what makes partnerships like ours with the Bring Back Louisiana campaign so important,” said Where Y’Art Works Co-founder and Creative Director Cat Todd.

Both the CDC and the LDH recommend that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated and that everyone 12 and older get a booster shot as soon as they are eligible.

If you have any questions about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, or if you require assistance, please contact the Louisiana COVID-19 Support Hotline at 1-855-453-0774. Visit vaccines.gov for a list of locations near you, or text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) in English or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish.