I’m so happy to be chosen as one of the 25 professionals to be sent on a trip to New Orleans, where I’ll get a tour of the city, meet people in my field, and maybe even decide when/if I’m moving there in the future.We’ll also have a documentary crew following us around and the film will premier in New Orleans during the film fest in October. I’m kind of mouthy when is comes to economic development and the arts lately, so you know this will get interesting!
New Orleans, with its unique opportunity to restructure its economy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, is embracing the cutting-edge industries that rely on highly-committed, enthusiastic thinkers who are ready to move past brick and mortar. These industries (Digital Media, Arts-based businesses, Sustainable Industries and the Biosciences) are at the frontier of the new American economy, and companies in this industry are uniquely equipped to serve their customers from anywhere in the world using digital communication. This versatile new economy is a perfect for a versatile “new” New Orleans.
As you probably guessed, I’m an arts-based business (and so is the record label in my mind), I’ll be going down in mid March for this whole shebang. You can view all the other winners and more about the program here: http://www.benolabound.com
Between this, and selling all three of my paintings chosen for the Surreal Salon in Baton Rouge, I’m starting to think Louisiana and I are going to get along just fine.
Arty Farty 
Congrats!
I’d love to be a fly on the wall and see whatever the difference is between now and pre-Katrina.
I hope it spared the charming, historic parts of the city…visually, it really WAS just like ‘Interview with the Vampire.’ Like a time-warp.
I’d hate to think that’s been lost (or worst, fake-ily replaced.)
Hope I can catch the documentary, but you’ll take and post pics, right?
Congrats, again…I can really see you falling in love with it.