Forum ties culture, economy
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NEW ORLEANS — With the North American Leaders Summit now in New Orleans’ rearview mirror, the Big Easy is preparing for yet another big international event — Louisiana’s second-annual World Cultural Economic Forum.
While trade was the target of last month’s summit between the leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico, the World Cultural Economic Forum will draw ambassadors from around the world this fall and focus on what Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and the state Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism like to call the cultural economy — arts, music, film, food and more.
Landrieu met Friday at the World Trade Center of New Orleans with several dozen international delegates and Louisiana elected officials, including parish presidents and mayors, to begin mapping out the forum in an effort to improve the cultural economies of all involved.
Landrieu — who is meeting again today with ambassadors and commercial attachés from Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovinia, Brunei, France, Guatemala, Panama, South Africa, Spain, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Tunisia and others — said Louisiana’s cultural economy was a $10 billion-a-year industry that accounted for 144,000 jobs before Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.
Landrieu said the cultural economy essentially achieved that status by accident.
“If it got there by accident, imagine how much bigger and better it can get if we really pay attention to it,’’ he said.
The World Cultural Economic Forum is all about paying attention to what Landrieu describes as a “big deal’’ — the cultural economy.
The WCEF is a three-pronged initiative that includes:
- A three-day (Oct. 29-31) forum that will explore the true potential of the economic and social value of an economy fueled by culture.
- A World Bazaar and Expo, a two-day (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) marketplace featuring artisans and vendors from around the world where visitors can find unique and exotic keepsakes and fine arts. It also will provide an opportunity for participants to establish new markets worldwide by showcasing their cultural assets.
- Louisiana Passport events spanning the entire month of October in nearly every community across the state. The communities will showcase their unique cultural assets, allowing visitors to travel throughout the state creating their own itinerary for exploration.
“It’s more than just tourism,’’ he said of the cultural economy. “It all ties together.’’
The WCEF is patterned after the World Economic Forum, held every year in Davos, Switzerland.
Schreiber said New Orleans is the ideal location for the WCEF.
“What a great place to bring people to,’’ he said.
Landrieu said he wants to make Louisiana “the international meeting place.’’
