Louisiana Office of Cultural Development

09/04/2026

Two weeks from today we will celebrate Louisiana's musical gifts to the American story as part of America 250. Come out to this incredible live performance at the historic Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Can't make it in person? A livestream will also be available thanks to Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Louisiana’s Gift to America: A Musical Legacy Celebrates the State’s Lasting Influence on American Music. Free admission.

09/03/2026

Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana and the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, Division of the Arts are thrilled to announce Louisiana’s newest Cultural District - Ferriday Downtown Cultural District!

The Ferriday Downtown Cultural District has officially joined the Louisiana Cultural Districts Program, bringing the statewide total to 128 Cultural Districts across 78 municipalities and 43 parishes. The Louisiana Cultural Districts Program uses arts, culture, and historic preservation as tools for community revitalization and economic development.

Located in Concordia Parish, the new district has a strong focus on Ferriday’s musical heritage and includes the Delta Music Museum, Delta Music Hall of Fame, and Arcade Theatre. Ferriday was also once home to Haney’s Big House which was part of the Chitlin’ Circuit.

Welcome to the program, Ferriday Downtown Cultural District! We’re excited to see what’s next. 🎶

08/21/2026

2027 Rose Parade float: "Bienvenue en Louisiana"!

Codofil -Agence des Affaires Francophones de Louisiane

📢 🌹 🎉 JUST ANNOUNCED!

I am SO excited to officially unveil our 2027 Rose Parade float: "Bienvenue en Louisiana" - "Welcome to Louisiana"!

This year's Rose Parade theme is 'Welcome', and I don't know any place in the world more welcoming than Louisiana. I always say that the thing that makes Louisiana such a special place is you, the people. Visitors to Louisiana leave here with friends to last a lifetime, and it's all thanks to your generosity and welcoming spirit.

Louisiana will once again be providing the mid-parade entertainment, and I am so proud to announce that this year's performer will be Robin Barnes, the Songbird of New Orleans! We are so excited to travel to Pasadena and share the traditions, culture, and spirit of Louisiana with a worldwide audience.
Explore Louisiana | Rose Parade | Robin Barnes Music | Louisiana Travel Association

08/21/2026

Partners in Place is back!

As you may remember, the Louisiana Cultural Districts Partners in Place pilot Initiative launched last year. This month, we will be accepting applications for its second year! Three Louisiana Cultural Districts will be selected for an 18-month opportunity to work with consultant Dr. Sharbreon Plummer. Together, they will develop a customized strategy for using arts and culture to strengthen public spaces and support community revitalization.

Selected districts will receive:
- Tailored strategic planning support
- A plan for activation, sustainability & long-term impact
- A $5,000 grant to support an arts and culture focused project at the end of the planning process

📅 Applications open August 24–September 28, 2026.

Visit https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/arts/cultural-districts/resources/index to learn more and find the guidelines.

06/17/2026

Baton Rouge's Dave Cano of Iron Design led the 2026 restoration of Anthem by Lin Emery, 1983. This Brushed Aluminum work of art is a part of the Louisiana State Arts Collection and can now be proudly seen in front of the State Library of Louisiana.

Lin Emery (1926–2021) was a nationally recognized sculptor based in New Orleans whose pioneering kinetic sculptures united abstract form, natural movement, and mechanical innovation. Her public artworks can be found throughout Louisiana and across the United States, and she is widely regarded as one of Louisiana's most important modern sculptors.

05/16/2026

Reminder: The Division of Historic Preservation grant application period is open! Louisiana Main Street Restoration Grant applications are due by Friday, May 29th, and Historic Preservation Fund grant applications are due by Sunday, May 31st.

Follow the links in our bio to find grant application guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application instructions.

05/15/2026

The Louisiana Art Educators Association announces its Summer Retreat, featuring a keynote speech by Leea Reese Russell, Executive Director of the Division of the Arts, and a hands-on ceramic presentation by Sarah House.

📆 June 13, 2026
📍Lafon Performing Arts Center - Luling, LA
💰Free for LAEA members, $25 for non-members
➡️Learn more and register here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laea-summer-retreat-2026-tickets-1988829147518?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser
Louisiana Art Education Association
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Partnership for the Arts
Arts New Orleans
Arts Council of Greater Baton RougeBayou Regional Arts Council
Acadiana Center for the ArtsArts & Humanities Council of SWLA
Arts Council of Central Louisiana
Shreveport Regional Arts Council
Northeast Louisiana Arts Council
St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs

05/04/2026

The Louisiana Office of Cultural Development and Division of the Arts are pleased to announce that the cycle for the Louisiana Cultural Districts Program opens today, May 4, 2026. Communities are invited to take the first step toward becoming an officially recognized Cultural District by submitting a Letter of Interest, which is the initial part of the program’s two-stage application process.

Existing Cultural Districts may also apply for a boundary change.

Learn more here: https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/arts/cultural-districts/forms-applications/index

Photo ID: Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans exhibition at The Historic New Orleans Collection, located in the French Quarter Cultural District, 2025.

04/29/2026

Mallory Lott advances to the finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition. Watch the livestream tonight beginning at 6:00 pm central on www.arts.gov.

Meet Mallory!
https://nationalendowmentforthearts.app.box.com/s/av864qp9qcz8a7x221m2jlnvx4h7fqxd/file/2213596180354

Congratulations Mallory!🎉

04/27/2026

This week, Mallory Lott of Covington High School will be representing the state of Louisiana at the national Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C. Champions from 56 U.S. states, jurisdictions, and territories will compete for a chance to win up to $20,000 in awards. You can support Mallory from anywhere in the world by livestreaming the competition at www.arts.gov.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

National Semifinals 2 - 1:00 p.m. ET (12:00 pm central time in Louisiana) —Champions from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

The state and jurisdictional champions will compete in one of three National Semifinals between 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC. Each poem recitation will be judged on criteria including physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. The top three students from each semifinal, nine in total, will move on to the National Finals on April 29.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

National Finals - The National Finals, hosted by actress Justine “Icy” Moral, will take place at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 pm central time in Louisiana), also at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, and will culminate with the announcement of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

Closed captioning in English and Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for both the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals and Finals.



St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise Senator John Kennedy U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest