Recreating a Place and Time Using Archival Materials and Collective Memory

When Covid-19 emerged in 2020, New Orleans was faced with the prospect of a springtime without the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival – a cornerstone of the city’s cultural life. In this presentation, Dave Ankers will explain how WWOZ, one of the only cultural outlets operating in the city during the shutdown, found itself in a unique position to fill the void in a virtual sense. Ankers will discuss his work creating Jazz Festing In Place utilizing archival recordings and materials, and the collective memory and imagination of the people of New Orleans. Also, we will explore the immediate impact of the broadcast, as the community and the city gathered virtually and reinforced identity. In the words of writer Michael Tisserand, “What WWOZ did these past two weeks was more than great radio. They took a void and transformed it into something joyful and musical, reminding us of who we have been and who we can be. They rebuilt a community around Jazz Fest. They let the past speak to the present and future.”