Feedback from the Candidates
In addition to the thirteen candidates who attended our presentation of the platform on January 20th at the CAC, Mayoral and Councilmanic candidates submitted the following statements in support of New Orleans’ cultural community and economy:
Councilmanic Candidates:
STACY HEAD
New Orleans’ greatest resource is it culture — music, art, food, architecture, history and its soul. One of my hopes for the next four years serving on the city council is to propel the cultural economy to the forefront of economic development models. And to sustain our culture, we must invest in our natural talents and assets, particularly our youth.
CYNTHIA HEDGE-MORRELL
New Orleans and Culture are synonymous. This city is known for many things, but its music, art, and culture stand out as the most durable symbols of New Orleans.
I am very proud that the Norman Mayer Library currently being rebuilt in Gentilly will be the New Orleans Public Library’s “Jazz Branch.” The design of the library will focus on Jazz and other New Orleans music, and will incorporate performance space and practice rooms to bring music into the library. I am also proud that I have been able to support Gentilly Fest the past 2 years, as a way to foster local artists and bring the community together around the arts. My district is also home to the Gentilly Fest Marketplace and the Renaissance Marketplace of Eastern New Orleans, both of which provide local artists and artisans the opportunity to increase their visibility and market their products in their neighborhoods.
I have made it a priority to support the wonderful arts and culture of our city, and I will continue to do so during my next term as the City Councilwoman for District D.
Mayoral Candidates:
JOHN GEORGES
John Georges’ Platform on Arts, Culture, and Economy
Preface
My family has long recognized the creative arts and culture as an important quality of life issue, and has long supported visual and performing artists. Arts in the schools foster creativity, build self-esteem, motivate students for higher academic achievement, and provide a positive lifestyle.
We need visual and performing arts and cultural institutions to help rebuild our economy. A strong arts and culture environment is a key indicator for individuals and businesses considering relocating to New Orleans. I also understand and have supported the movie industry locally and the jobs and economic opportunity it has created.
Platform
- Create citizen commissions in Performing and Visual Arts, Music and Film as a way to involve the industry in the governing process including budgeting, policy and programming.
- Protect New Orleans’ cultural legacy while investing in the economic potential of our creative producers.
- Utilize the arts and culture in the City’s overall marketing efforts, including participation by arts and cultural organizations in trade missions and in visits with our sister cities .
- Seek a dedicated funding source that can be used for cultural programming, support for cultural entities, development of cultural venues and marketing cultural programs.
- Aggressively identify and secure monies from national non-profits, corporate and public financial sources.
- Encourage existing and potential New Orleans businesses to partner with arts and cultural organizations.
- Encourage public/private partnerships to help develop neighborhood based cultural districts and venues where individual artists and arts organizations can work together.
- Determine what city-owned but unused buildings could be leased to non-profits for $1 a year.
- Sponsor Workforce and Business Development training for artists in all mediums. Visual, performing and cultural artists often need assistance to develop business skills to run a good business.
- Educate the community about career potential in the arts, culture, film and new media and the professional level schools that are available.
- Establish a data collection project to map the actual size and scope of the industry, determine economic impact, and produce a needs analysis for creative and cultural professionals.
- Establish a directory of visual and performing artists and cultural organizations
- Work with the medical community to establish health care options for the underserved creative producers.
- Establish a new alliance between the hospitality industry and the arts community
- Work with Governor Jindal to ensure that the State’s Department of Economic Development provides maximum inclusion of the cultural and creative sector in state economic development initiatives, programming and funding.
- Encourage the New Orleans legislative delegation to expand the state’s tax incentive program to all creative industry disciplines.
- Support the inclusion of arts and cultural education programs in primary schools and after school programs.
- Develop a pilot program modeled after the Musician’s Village concept for creative producers perhaps utilizing properties owned by NORA.
Conclusion
As Mayor I will invest in the strength of our cultural community by seeking new funding, new public/private partnerships, true citizen participation in the governing process, and opportunities for youth. Let us all work together to development of the city’s cultural capacity, economy and programming.
MITCH LANDRIEU
As Lt. Governor, I have supported the development of creative industries as an important sector of Louisiana’s economy. I have helped drive incentives for workforce skills development to support creative and cultural industries. My office also promotes use of new technologies to support the arts and culture.
My office began the Cultural Economy Initiative, which supports individual artists and artisans who are active in their disciplines, cultural originators applying as small businesses, and galleries, museums, collectives and nonprofit cultural organizations. The cultural economy in Louisiana accounts for 144,000 jobs, many of which are located in New Orleans.
Since 2007, my office has hosted the World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) here in New Orleans. In October 2009, we hosted more than 70 delegates from 30 countries. The forum focused on how leaders can embrace the economic and social roles of culture to help recover from the recession.
New Orleans has one of the world’s more unique and exciting cultures. I will ensure that we invest in this precious asset through city, state and federal grants.
Historic preservation is not only an important part of securing our cultural past; it can be a driver for economic development. My office secured $22 million for homeowners in New Orleans to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Over 500 homeowners in New Orleans were able to rebuild because of this grant program.
I have championed the Broadway South and Hollywood South tax credits, and my administration will make sure these credits are used to enhance our cultural economy.
As Lt. Governor, I launched the Cultural Districts Initiative. This effort creates hubs of cultural and economic activity and supports indigenous businesses in neighborhoods by offering smart tax incentives. Original artwork sold in these cultural districts is exempt from local and state sales tax. There are now 20 cultural districts from Magazine Street to New Orleans East.
My administration will be a true partner for artists. Thank you for your contribution to our city. I look forward to working with all artists in New Orleans.
Sincerely,
Mitch Landrieu
