The LSU Museum of Art (LSUMOA), in partnership with The Consulate General of France in Louisiana, Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, and LSU’s Center for French and Francophone Studies, is pleased to present a Night of Ideas program, L’AIL: Languages of AI in/and Louisiana, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 5:30–8:00 p.m. at the Shaw Center for the Arts.
Part of the international Night of Ideas initiative—an annual global event that brings together thinkers, artists, and communities to explore contemporary issues—this program considers the evolving relationship between language, culture, and artificial intelligence.
At the center of the evening is a panel discussion featuring artist Olivain Porry, a 2026 Villa Albertine "Arts in the Age of AI" Resident, and Jonathan Mayers, Creole scholar, artist, and former Baton Rouge Poet Laureate. Together, they will examine how AI models are reshaping how we speak, write, read, and think—often privileging a dominant, standardized English. The conversation, moderated by the Director of LSU's Director of the LSU Center for French and Francophone Studies Dr. Jeffrey Leichman, will explore how Louisiana’s diverse vernacular traditions offer playful and critical ways to disrupt these systems, challenging assumptions embedded in artificial intelligence and reclaiming linguistic humanity.
Following the discussion, guests are invited to a reception featuring a collaborative student project developed during Porry’s residency with Professor Brendan Harmon, Emerson Womack Professor of Landscape Architecture in LSU’s College of Art & Design. Titled Creolization of Large Language Model Workshop, the project engages directly with the themes of language, technology, and cultural hybridity, and complements Porry’s installation currently on view at LSUMOA, Lies Language Models. The evening will also include music and refreshments.
The discussion begins at 6:00 PM on the third floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts (100 Lafayette Street, Baton Rouge, LA). The event is free and open to the public, registration via the Night of Ideas website (www.nightofideas.org) is recommended.
About the Partners
Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, is an arts institution that supports cultural exchanges between the United States, France and beyond. Present in 10 American cities, Villa Albertine offers innovative programming nationwide, including 50+ residencies each year for artists, thinkers, and creators across all disciplines; a series of cross-cultural dialogues and events; grants, resources, and incubator programs for professionals in the cultural sphere; and a magazine States.
LSU’s Center for French and Francophone Studies promotes the study and understanding of French language, literature, and culture, with a particular emphasis on Louisiana’s unique Francophone heritage. The Center supports interdisciplinary research, public programming, and cultural initiatives that connect local and global perspectives.
The LSU Museum of Art (LSUMOA), located in the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting regional, national, and international art. Through exhibitions and public programs, the museum serves as a vital cultural resource for the university and the broader community.
Night of Ideas 2026 is presented by Villa Albertine and Albertine Foundation thanks to the leadership support of the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation. It is coordinated worldwide by the Institut Français. Media Partner: TV5MONDE.
