Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism
Holds Cultural Ecomony Summit III February 2, 2007

Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu hosted the Cultural Economy Summit III in New Orleans on February 2, 2007. Over 650 people came together to celebrate the progress of the cultural economy initiative and take action to build on that progress.

Just before Hurricane Katrina hit, Lt. Governor Landrieu and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism presented the Cultural Economy Summit II with the ground-breaking report Louisiana: Where Culture Means Business, a study that demonstrated for the first time that the cultural economy generates more jobs than any other industry except health care. The cultural economy of Louisiana has an enormous impact on the overall economy of the state, accounting for 144,000 jobs or 7.6% of the employment base. Cultural economy jobs were growing over twice as fast as job growth statewide before the Katrina and Rita. A concise Executive Summary of that groundbreaking report was released.

After the storms, Lt. Governor Landrieu and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism created "Louisiana Rebirth: Restoring the Soul of America, a plan to rebuild Louisiana's tourism and cultural industries. At the third cultural economy summit, economist Michael Kane of Mt Auburn Associates, presented the 2007 Status Report calling for renewed strategies to catalyze cultural enterprises, producers and products as a way to boost the state's economic future.

Opening Reception:

Thursday, February 1, 2007
6:00 pm
The Presebytere
751 Chartres Street, Jackson Square, New Orleans

Blues legend Henry Gray and the Treme Brass Band, both 2006 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award winners, entertained summit guests at the Presbytere on Thursday evening before the Summit. The crowd was treated to appearances by Jon Hornyak of the Grammy Foundation and several of Louisiana's numerous 2007 Grammy nominees, including the legendary Irma Thomas and Cosimo Matassa.

Summit III Highlights:

• An exciting video presentation featuring the intrinsic, artistic and economic value of Louisiana's rich culture.

• Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu's launch of the world cultural economic forum, reclaiming August 29 as an international opportunity for growing the cultural economy of Louisiana

• Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden discussing the value of a thriving cultural economy on a city's development and growth

• A esteemed panel of international representatives from France, the Netherlands, Japan and Trinidad Tobago sharing their support and ideas about building the gateway to a World Cultural Economy

• Michael Kane, Mt Auburn Associates, presenting the Louisiana Cultural Economy 2007 Status Report and Action Plan to move Louisiana's cultural industries forward

• Lt. Governor Landrieu's keynote address
  

  Video from the Louisiana Cultural Economy Summit III February 2, 2007 - New Orleans
  Video Clip	Windows Media
  Introductory Video and Lt. Governor's Keynote Speech (57:36)	Streaming Broadband	Streaming Dial up
  Lt. Governor's Keynote Speech - only (47:43)	Streaming Broadband	Streaming Dial up

  
  Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

  • Tourism & the Cultural Economy- How Louisiana tourism can thrive through its cultural economy
    Notes Available (16 KB PDF)

  • Clinic-Louisiana Small Business Retention Program- A workshop on the new Small Firm Loan & Grant Program [http://www.lded.state.la.us/business-recovery-grant-and-loan-program.aspx] (deadline February 16th) offering $140 million in loans and grants for small businesses and non-profit organizations

  • Legislate! - 2007 Legislative Agenda for tax incentives to cultivate the cultural industries.
    Notes Available (15 KB PDF)

  • World Cultural Economic Forum-getting involved, connecting the arts leadership in developing a Louisiana world cultural economic forum.
    Notes Available (68 KB PDF)

  • World Cultural Economic Forum Discussion with International Representatives
    Notes Available (32 KB PDF)

  • Speak up! Giving preservationists a voice in creating Louisiana's new comprehensive five-year plan for historic preservation-encompassing Preservation, Archaeology, and Main Street programs including the new Urban Main Street projects.
    Notes Available (798 KB PDF)

  • Addressing quality of life NOW-housing and healthcare. A panel presentation on opportunities and resources available NOW and in the future. -Introducing a variety of options for funding, healthcare, housing, and insurance.

  • Libraries- Now dynamic centers of community activity providing venues and a depth of resources for cultural events and practitioners
    Notes Available (54 KB PDF)