Who We Are
BYC is an artist community that provides opportunities for local makers and musicians to build health, wealth, and connections through events in the Greater New Orleans area.
Our Story
Bayou Yacht Club was a quarantine baby, an idea conceived in the pursuit of happiness during the days of lockdown while spending time along one New Orleans’ open-air greenspaces, Bayou St. John. Our resilient city as a whole has seen many challenges, many of which have brought us closer together through art and music, food and community. It’s the New Orleanian way. And during that time of mandatory separation, community support, love, and appreciation for art and music experienced a resurgence.
Collectively, we saw more open air art markets, porch concerts, and support for local restaurants in picnic form. When the City finally began to reopen, many venues and bustling areas were still shut down for an extended period of time, places where gig workers, artists and musicians made ends meet. We needed to foster an alternate space to keep ourselves afloat.
Bayou St. John proved to be an excellent location for popup markets for local makers and small business owners, as well as live music. It’s centrally located within the city of New Orleans, with lots of visibility — the perfect place for inclusive community events.
BYC events spark joy in our community while providing opportunities for makers of all backgrounds. Since 2020, we’ve held 50+ events around town. We support a growing network of 300+ local makers and musicians who pump love and creative inspiration into the community as a central part of New Orleanian culture.
Come visit one of our markets or join us for a parade. Don't be a stranger — y’all means all!
Anna Wilson Schnitzler
Founder & Executive Director
Board of Directors
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Founder, Executive Director
As a native New Orleanian artist, mom, & small business owner (Sassy Banana Design Co.), Anna holds the unique culture & creativity of this city in her heart. She is dedicated to preserving New Orleans’ spirit & community for the good of current & future generations.
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Secretary
Spencer is an artist & small business owner of NOLA City Portraits. He can be found in his natural habitat at the Frenchmen Street Bazaar & other local markets. His work can be found in select stores around town.
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Board Chair
Maya is a small business owner & designer at Lux + Orleans where she & her team craft everyday luxury jewelry by hand. Maya is originally from New Orleans.
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President
Victoria is a native New Orleanian, speech pathologist, designer & small business owner at Box of Pearls where she creates jewelry & ceramic pieces.
Balbancha &
Bayou Choupic
Land Acknowledgement
Bayou Yacht Club acknowledges that the land upon which the colonial city of New Orleans sits has been, and is known as, Balbancha. Balbancha is a Choctaw word for “a place of many languages,” and was commonly used by many nations such as the Acolapissa, Bayagoula, Chitimacha, Choctaw, Biloxi, Houma, and Tunica. We honor and respect the enduring relationship that exists between these peoples and nations and this land. We value the significant and historical contributions of these peoples and nations as original stewards of this land on which we come together.
We started our motley organization on the banks of Bayou St. John, originally known as Bayou Choupic. Time spent in nature is medicine for the soul, especially time spent near the water. The Bayou brings us together through its beauty, gentle sense of peace, and inner knowing that everything is alright.