La. Admin. Code tit. 25 § I-301

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-301 - Introduction: Arts Programs in Louisiana

A. Believing that public support for the arts is in the public interest, the Louisiana Legislature has created the Louisiana State Arts Council (the council) and the Louisiana Division of the Arts (the division) to administer state arts programs.

B. The Louisiana State Arts Council, composed of 22 members appointed by the governor, is an advisory body to the division regarding matters relating to support of the arts in Louisiana. The council is responsible for making recommendations on cultural policy, for preparing an annual state plan for the arts, for initiating and coordinating statewide arts programs, for providing technical assistance to community and state arts organizations, and for promoting other artistic activities in the state. Further, the council is responsible for the allocation of arts grant funds.

C. The Division of the Arts, the official state arts agency, is in the Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. The division administers state and federal funds appropriated for arts grants in Louisiana.

D. Philosophy of Assistance. The Louisiana State Arts Council has formally adopted the following policy statement: The arts are an essential part of life in Louisiana. Each citizen has the right to the arts. The Louisiana State Arts Council is a catalyst for participation, education, development, and promotion of excellence in the arts. It is our responsibility to support established arts organizations, nurture emerging organizations, and assist individual artists.

1. The council and division, aware that funds are not sufficient to address all the needs of the arts in Louisiana, agree that their resources are best used to:

a. support organizations which have demonstrated their ability to present or to sponsor programs of demonstrable quality and professionalism with significant impact on the community and the state;

b. support quality arts activities which are the result of community-based effort and planning;

c. support individual artists in their creative work;

d. promote consideration for the aesthetic quality of the physical environment;

e. initiate arts activities which are statewide in scope and impact;

f. further, the division and council believe that their role is to supplement the resources of existing arts organizations. Grants are not to serve as the primary source of funds for an organization.

2. Goals. The council and division have adopted the following goals as appropriate means of achieving the ends set forth in their philosophy of assistance:

a. provide access to quality arts experiences to the people of Louisiana;

b. promote a variety of artistic activities within the state and make the arts available to every segment of the population;

c. assure the equitable distribution of grants to all of the arts and to all areas of the state;

d. encourage private-sector support of arts activities so as to enable the arts and artists to flourish;

e. develop partnerships between state and local arts agencies as these bodies determine arts policy and implement projects;

f. emphasize the importance of the arts as an integral part of basic education;

g. aid in the identification, conservation, and presentation of Louisiana folk culture;

h. promote professionalism in the arts.

3. Each of the goals established by the council and division is important to the state and its citizens.

E. Advisory Panels

1. The council and division have established advisory panels to assist in administering arts grant programs. Panelists are experienced artists, arts administrators, and other professionals knowledgeable in the arts, and are recommended by individuals, organizations, and division staff. The council approves panelists selected by the division to represent all geographic areas and differing aesthetic and cultural perspectives. Appointments are for one year and may be extended to no more than three consecutive years. Contact the division for instructions on nominating panelists.

2. The specific functions of advisory panels are:

a. to advise the council and division concerning the appropriateness of levels of support requested in grant applications;

b. to provide ratings relative to the artistic and administrative merit of proposed projects; and

c. to evaluate the work of applicants for fellowships.

3. Panels review proposals in the following areas: dance, design arts, folklife, literature, media, interdiscipline, music, theatre, visual arts and crafts, arts in education, local arts agencies, and major arts institutions.

La. Admin. Code tit. 25, § I-301

Promulgated by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Office of Cultural Development, Division of the Arts, LR 7:625 (December 1981), amended LR 8:510 (October 1982), LR 9:684 (October 1983), LR 11:341 (April 1985), LR 11:1137 (December 1985), LR 13:740 (December 1987), LR 14:845 (December 1988), LR 15:720 (September 1989), LR 17:1202 (December 1991), LR 18:1115 (October 1992), LR 19:1536 (December 1993).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 25:894 and 25:896.