Coast to coast support for FIL directed at council
Ahead of next week’s vote by the Lafayette Consolidated Council on whether to phase out funding for non-governmental organizations, support for the Hub City’s most visible and celebrated non-profit organization/event — Festival International de Louisiane — is pouring in from around the country. News of FIL’s $72,000 in city-parish funding being in jeopardy has been widely publicized by local media since the LCC voted unanimously last week to advance the funding phase-out ordinance. Since then, at least two out-of-state pleas to keep the funding intact — one from a California couple, the other from a Florida man — have been e-mailed to the council.
“Between hotels, restaurants, entertainment costs and assorted local buying I have spent many dollars over these past 12 years of my regular visits to Lafayette,” writes Clearwater, Fla., resident Chuck Peterson in a message sent today to council Chairman Purvis Morrison and obtained by The INDsider. “I think I have a valid reason to speak out on this issue.” Peterson, who identifies himself as a “Cajun at Heart,” characterizes the annual April event as a first impression of Lafayette that has led to subsequent visits to the city for Acadiana’s unique culture. “The Lafayette community, the unique Cajun/French culture it embraces and perpetuates and its support of the arts is unlike any I’ve found in my extensive travels through the U.S.,” Peterson concludes. “Please keep your community treasures intact.”
Peterson’s missive comes just days after a similar plea sent to the entire council from Nevada City, Calif., residents Tony and Karen Loro (pictured with Geno Delafose and Steve Riley at a California music festival), who have attended FIL twice in the last five years:
Our love of Cajun and Zydeco music originally got us to New Orleans but after one visit to the festival’s Web site we saw who was playing and how much music there was available during the festival we decided to extend our next visit and we stayed in Lafayette for 6 days. The next time we went we set the record for the longest stay at the bed and breakfast we were in, eight days. We eat out lunch and dinner every day. ... We attend all kinds of music festivals in California and we have two of them in our own hometown. But I have to say that the amount of fun and good times available in Lafayette during Festival International pretty much slaps the #@$ out of anything else we go to. As it stands next year we have two vacations planned: Thailand for six weeks, Festival International for two weeks.
The LCC will vote July 21 on the ordinance by William Theriot and Jared Bellard that would shift more than $450,000 in direct city-parish funding for FIL and 30 other non-governmental organizations — arts/culture groups as well as social service agencies like Big Brothers/Big sisters and Volunteer Instructors Teaching Adults — to the Community Foundation of Acadiana and phase out that funding over a three-year period. Do Theriot and Bellard have the votes to push the ordinance through, and why is City-Parish President Joey Durel — a longtime supporter of cutting external agency funding — against the ordinance? Read more about the NGO funding dilemma in Wednesday’s edition of The Independent Weekly.
... written by confused , July 13, 2009 - 01:05 pm
your article says (to paraphrase) support is pouring in from around the country. At least two out of state pleas have been forwarded to Council members. If comments were "pouring in" I would hope they could send two thousand pleas/comments.
... written by Esty Dinur , July 13, 2009 - 01:47 pm
I am the Chair for Artistic Selection of the Madison World Music Festival. As such I’ve been coming to Festival International de Louisiane for several years. Having the opportunity to see international and Louisiana-based artists there has been a tremendous help in our programming. Since I started going to the festival, we’ve booked a good number of Cajun and Zydeco bands. We work in conjunction with other festivals and venues in the Midwest so we always suggest those bands to them too. This, obviously, has helped Lafayette artists make a living—and spread your wonderful culture throughout the Midwest.
Furthermore, I understand the economic impact of festivals. I meet people from all over the country each time I attend your wonderful festival. These people stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, buy t-shirts and memorabilia, and spend money in other ways. Lafayette and county residents, too, spend at the festival, helping the local economy.
Please know that this festival is considered a gem among professionals and laypeople both. It has helped Lafayette become somewhat of a household name throughout the country and beyond. Without the festival, your city is a nice Cajun place. With it, it’s a famous, vibrant, amazing place which people can’t wait to visit again. It is inconceivable to me that you might be thinking of canceling funding to this wonderful event. To many throughout the world, it’s what defines Lafayette. I very much hope you drop that proposal. It makes no sense whatsoever.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Best wishes for many more years in Lafayette in April,
Esty Dinur Director of Marketing and Communications, Wisconsin Union Theater Chair for Artistic Selection, Madison World Music Festival
... written by IMJacquemo , July 14, 2009 - 04:25 pm
Two letters constitute coast to coast support? That is pure propaganda Walter. Give us a break. We all love Festival International but when, if ever,will it stand on its own two feet? Besides, it has made some money yet chooses to keep it in "reserve". I was under the impression it was a non-profit. Ask a board member.
... written by Walter Pierce, Managing Editor , July 14, 2009 - 04:56 pm
Yes, IMJacquemo, two letters constitute coast to coast support. California is on one coast, Florida is on the other. ;)
... written by C Walters , July 14, 2009 - 11:13 pm
I have been coming to FIL from upstate NY for many years. There is nothing like it anywhere. The LCC is cutting off its nose to spite its face. I know budgets are tight, but why damage something that generates not only lots of revenue for scores of local businesses, but worldwide publicity and good will? Makes no sense.
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“Between hotels, restaurants, entertainment costs and assorted local buying I have spent many dollars over these past 12 years of my regular visits to Lafayette,” writes Clearwater, Fla., resident Chuck Peterson in a message sent today to council Chairman Purvis Morrison and obtained by The INDsider. “I think I have a valid reason to speak out on this issue.” Peterson, who identifies himself as a “Cajun at Heart,” characterizes the annual April event as a first impression of Lafayette that has led to subsequent visits to the city for Acadiana’s unique culture. “The Lafayette community, the unique Cajun/French culture it embraces and perpetuates and its support of the arts is unlike any I’ve found in my extensive travels through the U.S.,” Peterson concludes. “Please keep your community treasures intact.”
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