Ellis Marsalis’ vision was that the Center serve as a multipurpose facility with a primary emphasis on the broad spectrum of New Orleans culture, with a special emphasis on the city’s rich musical tradition of jazz and blues. The center’s services will be provided to both the residents of Musicians’ Village and the broader New Orleans community, with programs intended to serve all ages and racial/ethnic groups. At the heart of the Center will be a 150 seat performance space equipped with movable chairs as well as state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. In addition, the Center will contain recording studio facilities and teaching space for individual and group instruction as well as offices for technical and administrative staff. The Center will also own five elder-friendly duplexes, to be rented exclusively to musicians. One of these units will be dedicated to visiting musicians/scholars in residence.