Arts Council Accepting Tourism Marketing Initiative Grant Applications

The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is currently accepting applications for the 2013 Tourism Marketing Initiative Grant.  This year the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau appropriated $45,000 to distribute for special projects and events staged in Calcasieu Parish. The Tourism Marketing Initiative Grants Program works to initiate and sustain the growth of cultural tourism in Calcasieu Parish.

As well as greatly improving the quality of life for the parish residents, one of the grant’s main goals is to ensure the stabilization of arts and humanities organizations through increased attendance and engagement of community members in local projects. The grant specifically funds the necessary marketing tools for local artists, organizations, and events.

Last year, a total of eighteen organizations in Calcasieu Parish were awarded funding, including Bayou Writers Group; Louisiana Theatre Festival by The Children’s Theatre; Lake Charles Symphony; Louisiana Choral Foundation; Mardi Gras Museum; Bulber Youth Orchestra; Common Ground; and Artists Civic Theatre & Studio (ACTS) just to name a few.

Applicants may submit one request, not to exceed $2,000 per year. All projects must take place between June 15, 2012 and June 14, 2013. It is important to note applicants compete only with other organizations in Calcasieu Parish, so decisions about cultural priorities are made locally.  

Applications may be obtained at www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org or in the Arts and Humanities Council office, located at 809 Kirby Street, Suite 202 in Lake Charles.  The deadline to apply is May 4, 2012.

For more information on this grant or other grant related opportunities, contact the Arts and Humanities Council at (337) 439-2787. 

Spring Art Walk Venues and Artists Announced!

While the event’s counterpart, September’s Gallery Promenade, focuses on the art space itself, the Spring Art Walk exposes the artist by concentrating Southwest Louisiana talent into a few square blocks across the Charleston Cultural District for a Friday evening in April. Coffee shops, businesses, restaurants, and even vacant buildings are transformed into trendy art galleries for the evening.

On Friday, April 13th, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., residents and visitors will be able to tour historic downtown properties and businesses while enjoying a tour of the best Southwest Louisiana art. Live music echoes throughout downtown, venues serve cocktails hors d'oeuvres, and this past year the Spring Art Walk hosted its first-ever Art Battle where teams of artists competed to create a mural live in front of an audience in only an hour. Art Walk participants can not only see the competition between local artists first hand in real time but also are able to choose the winners.

The Spring Art Walk is a great opportunity for artists and businesses alike, and this partnership between the arts and businesses has the potential to better sustain the downtown community through reinforcing its image as a gravitational center for arts, culture, and revenue.

2012 Spring Art Walk Venues and Artists Include

Gallery By the Lake
106 W. Pryce Street
Associated Louisiana Artists
Downtown Crawfish Festival Poster Entries

Sweets & Treats
411 Ryan Street
Linda Ritchie, Fred Stark

Sha Sha's of Creole
609 Ryan Street
Marc LeFevre

Muller's Lofts
624 Ryan Street
Richard Buckley, Paris Duhon, Stephanie Smith, C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center, Erin Casteel, Devin Heard, Kenneth and Trina Green, Joseph Suire, Molly Reed

Cedar Chest Antiques
210 Division Street
Steve Wilson

Formerly Social Denim
706 Ryan Street
Art du Lac: Monica Hebert, Rex Alexander, Valerie Smith, Tracy Friberg, Lyd Faquhaur, Heather Ryan Kelley, Jacqueline Segura, Lisa Myers, Erin Bee

Luna Bar & Grill
719 Ryan Street
Donald Williams, Carol Ann Loman

Luna Live
710 Ryan Street
Atomic Heart Tattoo: Christy Scothorn, Zach Brown, Maura Cole, Casey Page, Dreek Owen

Downtown Properties
721 Ryan Street
Ben Von Duke

Formerly the Fat Cat Cafe
723 Ryan Street
Zander Lampkin

Salon Lindsay
725 Ryan Street
Julie Arabie, Ali Hay

The Children's Museum
327 Broad Street
Jacob Dugas, Jeremy Price, Kelly Keith Royal, Cassandra Read, Kasey Prudhomme

Stellar Beans Coffee House
319 Broad Street
Beth Fontenot

505 Bazaar
314 Broad Street
Vickie Singletary

The Charleston Hotel Lobby
900 Ryan Street
Marilyn Wheeldon, Yelena Koehn, Cheri Cowen

Pujo Street Cafe
901 Ryan Street
Julie Dallas, Candice Alexander

Le Petit Cadeau
318 Pujo Street
Vickie Singletary

Historic 1911 City Hall Arts & Cultural Center
1001 Ryan Street
First Floor: Artisan's Gallery Group Show
Second Floor: Reflections on Water in American Painting
Third Floor: Monumental Detail: The Drawings of Gerry Wubben

Central School Arts & Humanities Center
809 Kirby Street
Second Floor: Alan Flattmann at Art Associates Gallery with lecture in theatre
Third Floor: Studio 347 Group Show

The Frame House & Gallery
1640 Ryan Street
Sean Hicks, Isable Coleman