Economy Initiative Conference Lays Framework
for New Economic Engine in Louisiana
Over 1100 Gather to Discuss the Business of Arts and Culture
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| Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu opening the inaugural Cultural Economy Conference December 9, 2004 |
"Welcome to Louisiana's First Annual
Cultural Economy Initiative Summit and Showcase where we
the people of
Louisiana convene to capture and add
value to our raw talent and culture - we reach back to
our roots, our past, our heritage to secure a more
prosperous future for our children and for generations
to come."
National experts joined leaders in arts, culture, business, economic and workforce development and academia December 9 and 10, 2004 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans to discuss how to structure and market Louisiana's creative and cultural industries. During the state's first annual Cultural Economy Initiative Conference, over 1100 attendees delved into developing strategies and fresh ideas to create a new sector of the state's economy.
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| Michael Olivier, Secretary of Louisiana
Economic Development, spoke of how the Cultural
Economy Initiative supports the State's economic development plans. Photo by: Brad Edelman |
"We gather today to reassert and claim ownership of Louisiana as the cultural capitol of the South, to declare that Louisiana is the music capitol of the world," Landrieu said. "When we promote economic growth and development - every voice that speaks of tourism, healthcare, aerospace, military and biomedical research technology and development will now also speak of the business of culture and recognize that the cultural economy is at the table of economic development as a full partner in making Louisiana a great place to live, work and play."
Following a rousing opening by Shades of Praise, a multicultural, nondenominational musical group, Landrieu gave an energized and inspired speech about the potential that exists in building a business infrastructure that supports the state's arts and cultural industries.
"From the Louisiana Crossroads music development effort in Lafayette, to Shreveport's revitalization of its Downtown West Edge through the arts, to the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, to the pre-professional arts training ground at NOCCA/Riverfront in New Orleans, Louisiana's arts and cultural community is primed for the work of the Cultural Economy Initiative," Landrieu said.
"From our uniquely Louisiana historic preservation to our world-renowned culinary industry, we must move our state forward by capitalizing on these important assets. From Main Street communities to our urban centers, the time for newly charged development and growth is now."
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| Mayor C. Ray Nagin joins Landrieu at his Cultural Economy Conference to show New Orleans' support of the Cultural Economy Initiative. |
After his speech, Landrieu welcomed Michael Olivier, Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development and New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin. Both spoke to the importance of bringing the business and arts communities together to nurture Louisiana's economic growth.
The conference was placed in the context of the larger Cultural Economy Initiative sponsored by the Office of the Lt. Governor and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism by Michael Kane and Beth Siegel, principals in the consulting firm of Mt. Auburn Associates. Kane and Siegel are two of the country's leading consultants on helping cities, states and regions study and quantify the economic value of the arts. Their work, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, includes hosting focus group meetings across Louisiana to get input from various stakeholders. A full report is expected in June 2005.
Landrieu believes the time has come to capitalize on Louisiana's rich cultural background. "For too long we have separated art and culture from what the business community calls economic development," Landrieu said.
"Our citizens are finally recognizing that we are underutilizing our natural assets and raw talents and we are limiting our own potential to create more jobs and growth."
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| Charles Landry, an expert in urban renewal and development, sees great cultural foundations and creative potential in Louisiana. |
Panel discussions moderated by CRT Secretary Angèle Davis, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Cultural Development Pam Breaux, and Val Marmillion, head of Marmillion and Company, explored Louisiana's new creative business avenues and ways to sustain and build upon the state's existing cultural foundations.
Film Executives Join Landrieu at Conference to Assess Louisiana
Landrieu moderated a discussion of the burgeoning film industry in Louisiana with executives from 20th Century Fox, a film producer and two native New Orleanian actors. "The film industry continues to pave the way for economic growth based on arts and entertainment," Landrieu said. This model will serve our state's other cultural areas well in the future."
The Office of the Lt. Governor has received several reports from those in the film and music industries that new projects will occur in Louisiana as a result of the Cultural Economy conference. According to a recent report by the Times Picayune, Panavision, a company that rents and services cameras and other equipment to filmmakers, will soon announce plans to open an office in Louisiana.
Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu
moderates a panel discussion on the
burgeoning film
industry in Louisiana. Left to right: Mark Smith, Director of
Entertainment, LA Economic Development; Lt. Governor Landrieu;
Dama Chasle, 20th Century Fox; Stuart Benjamin, producer of
the movie Ray; Russ Nissen, 20th Century Fox; actor Harold
Sylvester; actress Rene Wilson.
"The overwhelming attendance by film and music executives demonstrated that Louisiana is taken seriously by the leaders of the entertainment industry, and that they are interested in working with me and others to take arts, culture and entertainment to greater heights in Louisiana," Landrieu said.
Showcasing Louisiana's Cultural Economy
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| Lt. Gov. Landrieu interviews Louisiana music legend Allen Toussaint during a special one-on-one interview called Inside the Artist's
Studio. Photo by: Brad Edelman |
An intimate interview called Inside the Artist's Studio featured Louisiana music legend Allen Toussaint. Based on the popular Bravo program Inside the Actor's Studio, Toussaint shared insight and advice about what it takes to have longevity in the music business. He also applauded Lt. Governor Landrieu for his efforts to elevate Louisiana's music industry and to build a cultural economy.
National and local models of cultural economy success were presented, including Loretta Harrison - owner of Loretta's Pralines, Shirley Trusty Corey - head of Louisiana Artworks, Georgina Gutierrez with the Manchester Craftmen's Guild and Cheryl Hargrove with Handmade in America.
The conference's first day ended on a high note, that of a New Orleans second-line brass band, which led Lt. Gov. Landrieu and the conference participants out of the Convention Center's grand ballroom and into the Cultural Economy Showcase, a sampling of the talents and assets that make Louisiana a world-class destination.
Louisiana's finest chefs provided tastings of Louisiana cuisine while participants visited spaces that included a Creole Jazz Club, a theatrical production produced and performed by New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts students, an art gallery, a fashion show, a Louisiana bookstore, a Hollywood and media experience, candy-making, preservation exhibits, Folk Roots, Louisiana tourism and a concert by Louisiana Crossroads, broadcast live, by New Orleans radio station WWOZ, in New Orleans and Lafayette.
Thursday night's Showcase
featured tastes of Louisiana's cultural treasures. Pictured
left to right: Lt. Gov. Landrieu and the NOCCA students;
Landrieu introduces Louisiana CrossRoads for the live WWOZ
broadcast; Louisiana artist Vergie Banks and Landrieu dance in
the Creole Jazz Club.
The second day of the conference featured workgroup sessions covering the following cultural industries: cultural institutions, design, film, folk and traditional artforms, literature and publishing, historic preservation, theater and dance, music, culinary foodway, visual arts, crafts, jewelry and fashion. Professional facilitators guided local and national participants through an analysis of each cultural industry and formed findings and directions for each sector. The information collected will be given to Michael Kane and Beth Siegel, to further inform the Cultural Economy Initiative study that began in September.
Jon Hornyak, of the National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the GRAMMY Awards,
was one of many industry professionals who traveled to
Louisiana; pictured with Governor Kathleen Blanco and Lt.
Governor Mitch Landrieu.
Governor Kathleen Blanco attended the conference on Friday, and addressed attendees about the connection between tourism and Louisiana's unique culture. "Lt. Gov. Landrieu and Louisiana have a great opportunity to fully develop the performing and visual arts and all of our cultural assets," she said.
A full report of the conference events and
findings will be available January 10 online at the Cultural
Economy Initiative website,
www.crt.state.la.us/culturaleconomy.
"The participation from international and national experts with leading industry officials provided a great foundation for our initiative," said Landrieu. "This, coupled with the Louisiana experts that participated from every region of the state, successfully kicked off our efforts to create this important sector of Louisiana's economy."
