Since 1994, the city has been a catalyst for
much of the tourism growth and for the resurgence of community pride in New Orleans. We
have developed and partnered with others in the coordination and improvement of numerous
local, national and international music, art and entertainment projects. These projects
have had a dramatic impact on the economy. Among some of the more well-known: Mardi
Gras, an over $1 billion industry, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage
Festival, the nationally recognized Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp,
two Super Bowls, the annual Essence Festival and
thousands of movie and television projects shooting on location in New Orleans.
Music
The Music and Entertainment Commission played
an important role through its initiation of a number of projects involving the local,
national, and international music and entertainment community. These efforts solidified
New Orleans as a community that supports its music industry, fosters and promotes jazz
education and advances jazz history projects. Some of the highlights include:
- Essence Music Festival, which
draws 180,000 people over three days and generates a cumulative economic impact of more
than $700 million.
- Secured a development agreement with the National Park Service
to construct the New Orleans Historical Jazz Park. The City of New
Orleans donated property for the park's Visitors Center, which will be located in the
complex near Perseverance Hall. Louis Armstrong Park with its refurbished statue of Louis
Armstrong and bust of Sidney Bechet will be a centerpiece of the National Jazz Park,
scheduled for completion in 2004.
- Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, the first
government produced jazz education program in the city's history. The camp provides music
education to youth. In its seventh year, more than 700 young people have had the
opportunity to learn jazz music in the city that it was created. Staffed by a stellar
group of musician educators, the program has received national media
attention.International artists in residence have lent their skills to the program, making
the Jazz Camp one of the most distinctive music education programs in the country. While
Jazz Campers primarily live in Orleans Parish, students have traveled from Pennsylvania,
Georgia, Texas, New York, as well as from Aruba, France and Norway to attend.
Film
The Film and Video Commission aggressively markets the city as a
location-shooting destination for national and international film and video projects.
Since 1994, those efforts have resulted in an increase in the average number of direct
annual expenditures to $40.6 million with an estimated annual economic impact of $136
million.
|
