New cultural district to be discussed

The manager of the state cultural district program will be in Morgan City Wednesday to explain the benefits of the city’s new cultural district, according to a news release.
Gaye Hamilton, cultural district program manager for the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, will make the public presentation at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium, the release stated.
Morgan City is one of eight new cultural districts that were certified effective July 1, bringing the total to 75 districts in 47 towns and 32 parishes across the state, according to the release.
The Morgan City initiative was led by Lucien Cutrera, a Morgan City native, and Herman Hartman, a Morgan City resident, the release said. Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi and the Morgan City Main Street Program embraced the idea, the release stated.
The cultural district program provides incentives for specific areas identified by local governments for cultural development based on existing arts and cultural assets and the potential to build hubs of cultural activity, the release said.
Local governments are using the cultural district designation to attract artists, businesses, renovations and cultural activities to the districts. State law provides two tax incentives for cultural districts, which include the rehabilitation of older buildings may qualify for state historic tax credits and the exemption from state and local taxes for the sale of original, one-of-a-kind qualifying works of art, the release stated.
Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said in the release that the findings of the 2013 Cultural Districts Annual Report strongly support the premise that incentivizing art and cultural development of a community contributes to the diversity of activities and develops new economic opportunities.
In 2013, the 67 districts hosted 2,800 art and cultural events that served about 3.9 million people, the release stated.
The report also found that 594 new businesses opened within the boundaries of cultural districts during 2013. Of total businesses, 141 were art/cultural businesses, according to the news release.