ELLA Project Forum, August 16, 2017. Photo: Greg Lambousy, New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Mayoral Forum on Cultural Policy to be presented by The Ella Project

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The Ella Project will present the Mayoral Forum on Cultural Policy in September. This public event will bring together candidates in the upcoming mayoral election to share their visions for the future of arts and culture in New Orleans.

Moderators will include John Stanton, editor of The Gambit; Don Bartholomew, musician and producer; and Ashlye Keaton, Co-Founder of The Ella Project.

“A thriving local culture means a thriving New Orleans, and developing forward-thinking cultural policy benefits all our citizens,” says Gene Meneray, Co-Founder of The Ella Project. “We’re excited to hear from our city’s next Mayor on their policies and ideas to ensure the artists and culture of our city are nurtured, supported, and embedded into our city’s next administration.”

Topics include:

  • Effectiveness of Nighttime Economy Offices
  • Removing barriers to permitting
  • Support for street parades and neighborhood festivals as both an economic driver and quality of life issue.
  • Examples of work to support emerging local talent through professional development and live performance spaces with friendly policies.
  • Opportunities for collaboration with other cities and  regions around sharing resources, including economic analysis, policy development and innovative programming.
  • Opportunities around export programs for music, i.e. reviving the Music Ambassadors Program and other models
  • Effective use of 311 and proactive solutions to neighbor/venue disputes.
  • Workable tax incentives for small venues with regular live music performances.

“I’m looking forward to digging in with the candidates about how they intend to approach New Orleans culture when it comes to policies, regulations and investment,” said Ashlye Keaton, Co-Founder of The Ella Project. “We want the City to be laser focused on addressing real threats to our culture’s continuity.”

The event will take place Tuesday, September 9 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Avenue.

The event is free and open to the public, and will also be livestreamed on The Ella Project Facebook page.