Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center

Specialties

Zeitgeist Multi-​Disciplinary Arts Center has been bringing alternative art to New Orleans since November 1986 — 28 years and still counting! We are an entirely volunteer, artist-​run organization that does not receive grants or public funds. Presenting film, video, performance art, visual art and literary events seven nights a week, all year round, Zeitgeist is considered one of the premier alternative arts center in the South.

History

Established in 1986.

Founded in 1986 by Rene Broussard when he was a BFA student in the Drama & Communications Department at the University of New Orleans. Zeitgeist was initiated as an experimental theater troupe and derives its name from The Adventures of Phoebe Zeit-​Geist, a comic series which ran in Evergreen Review in the 1970’s.

In June of 1993, after some years abroad, Broussard returned to New Orleans to establish Zeitgeist as a full-​time alternative cinema doing regular programming at the Masonic Temple, The Latin American Bar, Muddy Waters and Pussycat Caverns eventually establishing their own screening room at the late Movie Pitchers.

After three more address changes on O’Keefe Ave (where we were partnered with Clinton Peltier’s X-​Art gallery) and Magazine Street, Zeitgeist found its current home, located at 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, after sharing a space on the boulevard with Barrister’s Gallery for eight years.