La. culture and economy linked to global projects

• By CYNTHIA V. CAMPBELL
• Travel editor
• Published: Nov 16, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Last week, I listened to two Baton Rouge couples as they talked about trips taken far beyond the borders of Louisiana. One couple (the husband on an LSU sabbatical) spent months in Spain, where they absorbed the history and timeless traditions of the country. The other couple visited a son in East Africa, where they viewed ancient ruins and met with a Masai warrior chieftain. Both couples are well aware of the value of international travel. They’ve brought home to Louisiana a better knowledge and understanding of other cultures that can be shared with friends, neighbors and business cohorts.

The conversation was just one example of how important the World Cultural Economic Forum can be for Louisiana. Put together by Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu’s office, the recent two-day forum in New Orleans was without doubt a success. Thirteen ambassadors to the United States and a number of ministers of culture representing countries around the world attended the conference. Altogether more than 60 countries were represented. Sessions ranged from developing cultural industries to investing in cultural projects as keys to global understanding.

Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres of France, ambassador of cultural affairs to the European Union, talked of the importance of changing the way we look at the realities of global exchanges.  “Culture is not simply a matter of entertainment, distraction, pleasure or, indeed elegance, said Donnedieu de Vabres. “Politically, it is a key factor in ensuring peace, combating terrorism, for reasons of respect, pride and equality among peoples, cultures and religions. And, economically, the emergence of robust, audacious strategies of international influence and power based on major cultural and artistic projects, is clear for all to see.”

Following the opening session, I was able to spend a small amount of time with two respected guests at the conference.

The Caribbean view
Rene M. Baptiste, minister of urban, culture, labor and electoral matters, of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines said, “This forum is now a world culture calendar event. If you’re not here, you are not in the world.”

Baptiste said her country is  in the process of trying to retrieve its Carib culture in order to drive tourism. She said St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a medley of Europe, Asia, the rhythms of Africa and the home-grown lyrics of the Caribbean.

She said that her county has made its culture and arts a part of public policy. Baptiste said the French government is helping her country in retrieving its history by lending diaries written by French soldiers who were in St. Vincent during its colonial era. They are going to be put in a UNESCO data base.

“We want to use culture to empower communities, but at the same time preserve our culture.”

Like Louisiana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines observe Carnival. However, the festivities have grown from a pre-Lenten celebration to a summer festival. Baptiste noted, “When you look at the value of Carnival, you see its importance. “We changed it from 10 days. Next year it will run from the first Saturday in May to the middle of July.”

While attending the WCEF in New Orleans, Baptiste said she plans to look at how Louisiana capitalizes on its culture, Carnival and jazz, and find what she can get to increase the culture to drive tourism in her country.

Liberia’s perspective
M. Nathaniel Barnes, ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to Washington, D.C., talked of his country’s recent emergence from a bitter civil war. “We now have the first democratically elected president in the continent of Africa — President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.” He said Liberia and Louisiana have something in common. “The civil war was a significant human disaster. We are now rebuilding. We are rebuilding attitudes … a spirit of reconciliation and changing behaviors.”

“Everything is broken, except our spirit,” said Barnes. “We have a rich culture in music, dance, oral history and art. One thing is the warmth of our hospitality. We are very embracing, welcoming people.”

Barnes said, “Our food is similar to Louisiana cuisine. It’s spicy, and we have three different types of gumbo.