The Arts Judicata Kickoff and Cocktail Reception was held Thursday, March 30, 2017, at the Taylor Porter River Terrace atop the Chase North Tower in downtown Baton Rouge. Standing from left to right include: Renee Chatelain, Donna Buuck, Monica Vela-Vick, BRBA Executive Director Ann K. Gregorie, Richard Williams, and Linda Law Clark.

The Taylor Porter River Terrace, atop the Chase North Tower in downtown Baton Rouge, hosted a fundraising kickoff party for the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation's newest fundraiser/event - Arts Judicata, on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event was held to pre-plan for the actual Arts Judicata fundraiser that will take place Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

A silent auction will be held during the Sept. 14 event. Tickets to Arts Judicata will include access to appetizers and cocktails. Sponsorships are available for this event, and all proceeds of the event will benefit the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation. Contact Donna at donna@brba.org or 225-214-5556 for more information. 

At the kickoff party, reception attendees learned more about Arts Judicata event planned for the Fall. Lawyers with artistic talents signed up to participate. Still needed are more musicians, visual artists, jewelry makers, culinary artists, performing artists, literary artists / authors who are interested in participating. BRBA members can display or sell their artwork.​ Appetizers were donated by Capital City Grill and Simply. Other sponsors were Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Capital City Grill, Downtown Duplicating, Go Ya Ya’s / Simply, McKernan Law Firm, Taylor Porter, Geaux Rouge and PeRfect LA Events.

Established in 1973, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our community through the arts. In service of this mission, the Arts Council endeavors to promote cultural growth, economic development, and educational enhancement through the arts in and around the 11-parish region that it serves. The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge provides resources and professional development for creative professionals and educators; performance series; in-school artists’ residencies; and re-granting of private, municipal, and state funds for artists & arts organizations. The organization impacts more than 120,000 people annual through free public art events & series, including Ebb & Flow Festival and Sunday in the Park. These events spur economic activity in regions that they serve, through cultural tourism and dollars spent on retail, travel, lodging, food, child care and other local businesses. Through performing arts, education and community engagement programming, and administrative positions, Arts Council employs or contracts with more than 250 artists each year from the state of Louisiana.

In January 2016, Taylor Porter moved into its new space on the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of the Chase North Tower from the original Chase Building South Tower space. The new interior space features three floors of new offices, wireless and cable-ready conference rooms with big-screen presentation projectors, meeting rooms, kitchens, internal staircase, a large community board room, and an open-floor greeting area in the lobby. The interior project was designed by the architectural firm Coleman Partners Architects, LLC., which also provided the interior design services. The  artwork was curated by and purchased through Ann Connelly Fine Art who commissioned several custom pieces. Roof top gardens on the 8th floor river terrace were designed by Joseph Furr Design Studio Landscape Architecture. The outdoor space has allowed the firm to host outside events which capture the city’s best views of Capitol and the Mississippi River. The renovation includes sitting areas, wireless capable conference room and a putting green. The outdoor space, which was recently recognized with a Good Growth award by the Baton Rouge Growth Coalition, has been used for several client events, community organization meetings and employee gatherings. The general contractor was Cangelosi Ward.