JAMNOLA – An Interactive Art Museum in New Orleans

New Orleans is full of art and music. You can find it scattered throughout the streets of the French Quarter or in some of the museums in the city. But if you want to immerse yourself in art from local artists, plan a visit to JAMNOLA.

JAMNOLA stands for Joy, Art and Music of New Orleans. And it’s exactly that. It’s the perfect venue for a date night or a group of friends. During a business trip to New Orleans, I arranged a group activity to JAMNOLA and we shared lots of laughs as we tested our creativity and cell phone photography skills.

Here’s a rundown of what you can expect, how to get tickets and what to bring with you to JAMNOLA.

Directions and Tickets to JAMNOLA in New Orleans

The best way to get tickets to JAMNOLA is to purchase them online in advance of your visit. From their website, pick the day you plan to visit. You can book up to a few months in advance, and the earlier you book, the more options you’ll have for start times. The hours vary based on the day of the week. As of now, they’re as follows:

• Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ($32 per person)
• Monday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ($29 per person)
• Thursday: 2 to 7 p.m. ($29 per person)
• Friday: 12 to 8 p.m. ($29 per person)
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($32 per person)

Keep in mind, JAMNOLA is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It’s also a little more expensive to visit on a Saturday and Sunday versus a weekday – as noted above.

JAMNOLA is just shy of two miles northeast from Canal Street (downtown New Orleans). Our group grabbed an UBER for our 6 p.m. start time, and I recommend going that route. Whatever your start time, I recommend arriving no less than 10 minutes before your start time, especially if you’re the last tour of the day.

What to Bring (and not Bring) With You

When I travel, I know I’m going to be taking a lot of photos. I often bring two – sometimes three – cameras, including my camera phone. If I’m wearing a jacket, then I end up carrying that around with me once I get inside. It can be really frustrating to be carrying around a lot of stuff with you when you’re in a selfie haven like JAMNOLA.

In fact, I once lost a $400 camera at a Madame Tussauds wax museum in Las Vegas because I set it down with the pile of stuff I’d brought with me and missed picking it up. Don’t let that happen to you. Here’s a list of what you should bring – and if it’s not on the list, I recommend NOT bringing it with you unless absolutely necessary:

• Camera phone (with plenty of battery and storage space)

It’s hard for me to convince myself that I can leave my nice, expensive and fancy camera back at the hotel. But with the low lighting in many museums like this, it’s so much easier to just use a camera phone that seems to have a faster shutter speed than what my Canon 6D can do (unless I up the ISO to get grainy photos). As you’ll see, all the photos in this article are from my iPhone.

A Brief Intro to JAMNOLA as You Get Started

After arriving at JAMNOLA and checking in at the front desk, they’ll let you know when they’re ready to get you started. You can hang out in the waiting area and chat with others in your group. When they’re ready, a guide will give you a brief intro to JAMNOLA before leading you into the first room.

Here, we found chandeliers made out of plastic bottles. The room looked swamp-like and as the guide explained how the decor was made of recycled materials, you’ll start to see how art can come from many mediums. Your group will then head into a little theater to watch a short film about the music and art of New Orleans.

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After those two rooms at JAMNOLA, the guide will leave you to your own devices. Those portions last less than 10 minutes. It’s here where you can start getting creative with your camera, posing for photos and snapping your selfies.

Take Your Time and Get Creative

During the next 30-45 minutes of your visit, I encourage you to take your time as you navigate through each room. You can interact with and touch the all of the art exhibits. For example, in the first room, you can do a little “Singin’ in the Rain” pose from the colorful lamppost. A few rooms later, you can wrestle with a bead-wearing crocodile.

We had a group of 10 making our way through JAMNOLA, with ages ranging from teens up to mid 50s. It was interesting to watch each person’s style and willingness to be silly. And with such a large group, people were willing to take a photo of each other so they didn’t all have to be selfies. That’s one of the reasons I recommend going with a larger group so you have friends to hand off the camera to.

Don’t be afraid switch your still camera over to video mode to capture your friends clawing in a pot of boiling water or jammin’ out on the piano.

In one room, you have the option of adding your own motivational quote to the walls. In another, you can don a baker’s hat and hold up a pie for a selfie. You can also have some fun in a shopping cart – because who doesn’t like riding in a shopping cart? 😉

Explore the Gift Shop

Throughout the museum, you’ll be able to explore much of the art and music of New Orleans. In the gift shop, which you encounter at the end of your tour, you’ll find lots of art you can take home with you. I found several amazing t-shirts that I wish I would’ve picked up for my kids as a souvenir. There were also hats, socks and much more, many featuring art from the rooms you just encountered.

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Don’t feel obligated to purchase something from the shop, but note that it’s your last stop in JAMNOLA. After exiting the gift shop, your tour is complete and you can make your way back into the city to experience more of the joy of art and music riddled across New Orleans.

The Details

Address: 2832 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117

Cost: Ranges from $29-$32, depending on the day of the week you purchase tickets.

Hours: Hours vary by day. JAMNOLA is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The hours are as follows: Thursday 2-7 p.m.; Friday 12-8 p.m.; Saturday 10-8 p.m.; Sunday 10-6 p.m.; Monday 11-4 p.m.

Website: https://jamnola.com/

Phone: (504) 233-9152

DISCLOSURE: I received one complimentary admission to JAMNOLA for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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