Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism is a state agency and department within the Office of the Lt. Governor. The department is composed of six offices, Office of the Secretary, Office of State Library, Office of State Museum, Office of State Parks, Office of Cultural Development, and Office of Tourism.

Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism
Département de la culture, des loisirs et du tourisme de la Louisiane
Incumbent
Billy Nungesser
since January 11, 2016
AppointerPopular election
Term lengthFour years
Inaugural holderTrasimond Landry
Formation1846
Succession1st

The Lieutenant Governor is the chief tourism official as commissioner of the department, involving the $18 billion tourism industry, and manages state parks, museums, and historic sites. In 2019 Billy Nungesser won a second term as Louisiana's lieutenant governor.

Organization

The Lieutenant Governor, second-in-command in the executive branch, is considered Louisiana's ambassador as Commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.[1][2] The position was created by legislative act by Article IV, Section 1(A), 6, and 15 of Louisiana State Constitution of 1974; Louisiana Revised Statute 49:202.1; Act 124 of 1986 and Act 13 Special Session of 1986.

Office of the Secretary

Ensures efficient, accountable and entrepreneurial operation of all agencies within the department as well as providing management and finance.

The Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board was created in 1981 By legislative act, statute R.S. 56:578.2(A)(1). The 14 member board is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and placed under the Office of the Secretary.[3]

Office of State Library

Created by Louisiana Legislature in 1920, the Louisiana Library Commission, now the State Library of Louisiana, has operations in all 64 parishes.[4]

Office of State Museum

The Office of State Museum operates with the advisory "State Museum Board of Directors"[5] tasked with overseeing nine state museums. The Museum Board of Directors is currently awaiting a study and possible future legislation, supported by the Lt. Governor, that will return the hiring and firing of the museum director back to the Museum Board.[6]

Office of State Parks

There are 21 state parks that are currently overseen by an Interim Assistant Secretary and a Director of Outdoor Recreation under the Office of State Parks.[7] An 18-member State Parks and Recreation Commission[8] was created by legislation as an advisory body.[9]

Beginning March 24, 2020, all state park buildings will be closed as well as all buildings at all state historic sites. The closures will be in effect until at least April 13.[10]

Office of Cultural Development

The Office of Cultural Development (OCD) consists of four divisions:

  • Division of the Arts (since 1977): Provides programs, services, and support to individual artists and a variety of arts and cultural organizations.[11] The division is supported and advised by a 24-member Louisiana State Arts Council.[12] and includes the Louisiana Folklife Program advised by a diverse 22 member Louisiana Folklife Commission.[13]
  • Division of Archaeology: Records, protects and distributes information about Louisiana's archaeological resources and heritage.[14]
  • Division of Historic Preservation: Preserves and protects Louisiana's significant historic buildings, sites, districts and communities.[15]
  • Council for the Development of French in Louisiana - Agence Des Affaires Francophones or CODOFIL proclaims the mission "to support and grow Louisiana's francophone communities through scholarships, French immersion and various other community and language skill-building programs.".[16]

Office of Tourism

The stated goal is to provide opportunities for education, conservation, interpretation and recreation, jobs, and economic growth through tourism.[17]

Current

The buildings at all ten welcome centers and all museums around the state were ordered closed by the Lieutenant Governor until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Mardi gras, a large tourist attraction, may have contributed to a surge in cases of the coronavirus.[19]

References
  1. "Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board" (PDF). Office of the State Library. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  2. "Louisiana Dept. of Culture, Recreation & Tourism". HollywoodSouth. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  3. "Department Organization". Office of the State Library. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  4. "About The State Library". Office of the State Library. 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  5. "State Museum Board of Directors". Louisiana Division of Administration, Office of Information Services. 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  6. "State Museum Board of Directors Approves Study of Louisiana Museum System". Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism. 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  7. "Parks Administrative Staff". Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism. 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  8. "State Parks and Recreation Commission legislation". Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  9. "State Parks and Recreation Commission". Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  10. "All Louisiana State Parks and State Historic Sites Temporarily Close to the Public". Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism. 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  11. "Division Of The Arts". Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  12. "Louisiana State Arts Council". Louisiana Division of the Arts. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  13. "Louisiana Folklife Program". Louisiana Division of the Arts. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  14. "Division Of Archaeology". Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  15. "Division Of Historic Preservation". Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  16. "CODOFIL - Agence Des Affaires Francophones". Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  17. "Louisiana Office of Tourism". Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  18. "State Museums and Welcome Centers Temporarily Close Across Louisiana". KADN News 15. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  19. "New Orleans Faces a Virus Nightmare, and Mardi Gras May Be Why". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
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