BATON ROUGE, La. – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Office of Cultural Development’s Division of the Arts announced the creation of nine new Cultural Districts in Louisiana. These new Cultural Districts bring the total statewide to 115, representing 71 towns and cities and 41 parishes. Through certification as a Cultural District, these areas benefit from two, targeted tax incentives – rehabilitation of older buildings may qualify for state historic tax credits and the sale of qualifying works of original art sold within the district are exempt from local sales tax.
The designation as a Cultural District also allows a local government to designate a Cultural District for the purpose of revitalizing a community by creating a hub of cultural activity and allows income and corporate franchise tax credits for eligible expenses for rehabilitation of owner-occupied or revenue generating historic structures in a Cultural District.
“As communities across the state begin the task of recovering from the pandemic, the success of the Louisiana Cultural Districts program will prove beneficial as ‘culture means business’ in Louisiana,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “By incentivizing cultural development, these communities are positioned to see their cultural economy grow, create an enhanced sense of place, and deepen their cultural capacity. We are excited to welcome these nine new Cultural Districts as further proof that we will remain Louisiana Strong.”
New Cultural Districts for 2020 include:
Any municipal or parish government may apply for a specific geographic area to be considered for designation as a Cultural District. The proposed district must be geographically contiguous, distinguished by cultural resources, focus on an existing cultural anchor, be engaged in the promotion/preservation/educational aspects of local arts and culture, contribute to the public through interpretive and educational uses, and encourage opportunity for affordable artist housing and workspace.
Cultural District Boundary Changes for 2020:
Boundary changes can be applied for after a District has been part of the Program for two years. These changes should reflect a desirable improvement which contributes to the goals and plans for the District, benefit the overall District, and should be supported broadly by residents and cultural stakeholders.
The economic impact of Cultural Districts in 2019 showed:
Created by Act 298 of the 2007 Regular Session, the Louisiana Cultural Districts Program’s primary goal is to spark community revitalization based on cultural activity through tax incentives, technical assistance, and resources. The Louisiana Cultural Districts Program is considered a “place-based” cultural economy initiative and are defined by the Americans for the Arts as a “well-recognized, labeled, mixed-use area of the city in which a high concentration of arts and cultural facilities serve as the anchor attraction.” Each one is a unique and distinct reflection of local heritage, history, and cultural development.