Louisiana: Creative Communities Initiative

In a display of on-the-spot creativity to raise awareness of revitalization efforts, portraits of local artists, business owners and neighbors cover a building about to undergo a major renovation in the Mid City area of Baton Rouge. Image courtesy of Louisiana Division of the Arts Cultural Economy Initiative Program Manager Gaye Hamilton

This summer, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development (OCD), the parent agency of the Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA), is building the capacity of Louisiana community leaders to undertake place-based cultural, community and economic development projects. Through OCD’s Creative Communities Initiative, leaders from 10 communities are working with coaches trained by The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking to realize community-specific place-making goals related to supporting artists, arts entrepreneurs and the creative economy. The participating leaders—including elected officials and arts professionals—hail from communities large and small, including parishes, cultural districts and Main Street districts. Between March and September, coaches are meeting with local leaders every few weeks for trainings and advisory sessions. Ultimately, each community team will produce a cost-effective and sustainable strategic plan. In addition, each team that completes the program will receive a $3,000 seed grant from OCD for plan implementation. OCD sees the Creative Communities Initiative, which it launched this year, as a way to harness place-making approaches to make communities better through, and for, the arts. Contact LDOA Cultural Economy Initiative Program Manager Gaye Hamilton for additional information.