Cultural master plan underway at Arnaudville

Submitted Story
Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation along with St. Landry and St. Martin parishes hired the New Orleans consulting firm Ardyn M. Thriffiley & Associates to develop the first phase of a cultural master plan for the town of Arnaudville.
Along with an assessment of cultural assets, Ardyn M. Thriffiley & Associates will prepare a facility and business plan for the vacant St. Luke Hospital for use as a French immersion center and cultural business incubator. The business plan will include usage guidelines and policies, as well as an operational matrix. Assessments of cultural assets shall include: surveys of artists, French speakers, cultural nonprofits, culturally-related businesses and businesses whose employees speak French.
Consultants are also charged with the engagement of community participation and input, especially among those who are traditionally left out of city and economic development planning.
The 25,000-square-foot vacant St. Luke Hospital building is located in the heart of Arnaudville, and both St. Landry Parish President Bill Fonteont and St. Martin Parish President Guy Cormier are supportive of the concept to repurpose the facility for cultural use. Both parish presidents served on the selection committee for this hiring.
In addition, a number of partners have already self-identified, including Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Tulane University. Students with LSU and Tulane have and continue to conduct French immersion and linguistic research/study programs in Arnaudville. Currently, there is no central location for these students to learn or stay, which is why the plan will focus on “centralizing” the program at the St. Luke facility.
Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation serves as a catalyst for the development and enhancement of distinct cultural industries of Louisiana by promoting the economic health and quality of life of its cultural economy workforce.
The final and complete cultural master plan will integrate the various components of the area’s cultural assets, programs, attractions, education and workforce, real estate, tourism destinations and development opportunities into a unified strategy to ensure the sustainability and vitality of Arnaudville’s cultural offerings. The full plan will be a coordinating tool to increase and deepen cultural participation, guide the work of community partners, and connect government entities and cultural business developers in a new and unique way.
LCEF fully expects this plan to provide a road map to new economic opportunities by creating and leveraging innovative collaborations.
The Arnaudville Cultural Master Plan is funded by a National Endowment for the Arts grant and matching funds through St. Landry and St. Martin Parish governments.
Master plan phase one completion is set for June 30.