Shaw Center for the Arts!

Shaw Center for the Arts

The Shaw Center for the Arts, is a unique partnership between the City of Baton Rouge, the State of Louisiana, Louisiana State University, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to create a vibrant art center. This city block, overlooking the Mississippi River is the home of the Douglas L. Manship Sr. Theater for the Visual and Performing Arts , the LSU Museum of Art, and LSU School of Art classes, a digital studio and gallery space. Also in the Shaw Center for the Arts the Arts Council manages the Community School for the Arts.




Douglas L. Manship, Sr. Theater for the Visual and Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Theater is named in honor of the late Douglas L. Manship Sr., community philanthropist and leading patron of the arts.

The Douglas L. Manship, Sr. Theater for the Visual and Performing Arts is bustling with both visual and performing artists day and night, seven days a week. The programming of the Performing Art Center includes:

  • A 300 seat state of the art theater for musical performances, dance, and plays.
  • Two large rehearsal rooms: one acoustically designed for musicians; the other technically designed for dance.
  • Both rehearsal rooms double as Black Box Theaters that can seat audiences of 100 each.
  • The theater is equipped to show a variety of art and foreign films.
  • The Visual Art Gallery will exhibit Louisiana professional artists, folk artists, personal collections of local art patrons, and middle and high school art students.
  • This multi-use building will provide lecture space in the theater, gallery and rehearsal rooms.

The Shaw Center for the Arts has been created by visionary public and private funding partners. The Douglas L. Manship, Sr. Performing Arts Theater, a part of the Shaw Center for the Arts, will be a regional attraction for students, audiences and artists. The Shaw Center houses restaurants, retail space, interactive fountains, commons areas, and more! Art is alive in downtown Baton Rouge!

Project Partners and Funders

Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
East Baton Rouge Parish Government
Louisiana State University
State of Louisiana

Douglas L. Manship, Sr. Family
Paula Garvey Manship
The Shaw Group, Inc.

Support the Arts Downtown!
If you are interested in making a financial contribution
to this project call 225-344-8558.