Louisiana: Music-Infused Creative Placemaking Pilot

The Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA) has a new creative placemaking pilot using music to enhance the vibrancy of its cultural districts and influence the “meaning” of place. Sound Places—a partnership between LDOA, Chamber Music America and Project for Public Spaces and funded by a National Endowment for the Arts grant—is supporting residencies of small music ensembles in two of LDOA’s certified cultural districts. The Rivertown Kenner Cultural District is hosting The Westerlies, a Brooklyn based brass quartet, and the Opelousas Cultural District is working with WindSync, a Houston based wind quintet. The musicians in residence, cultural district leaders and other community stakeholders will collaborate to design and realize music-infused placemaking projects addressing local goals. Anticipated activities include community engagements, interactive performances, artist seminars, school outreach and innovative public-space activations. Project for Public Spaces will facilitate placemaking workshops and offer technical assistance. Grant funding will help cover associated costs. In addition to developing the capacity of participating cultural districts, the Sound Places pilot is testing a placemaking model designed to be adapted by communities throughout Louisiana. Find out more from LDOA Cultural District Program Manager Gaye Hamilton.