By Jaquetta White, The Times-Picayune

Musicians, writers, visual artists and other people whose jobs are tied to New Orleans' culture accounted for about 13.5 percent of the local workforce, or 30,400 jobs in 2011, according to a report released Thursday by Mayor Mitch Landrieu's office. The so-called cultural economy grew 6.7 percent in two years from 28,500 jobs in 2009 and returned to 2002 levels, according to the report.

 

Mayor Landrieu, Mayor Villaraigosa, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and International Officials Convene in New Orleans on Cultural Economy

NEW ORLEANS, LA- New Orleans Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu welcomed nearly 50 delegations representing cities and countries from around the U.S. and the world to New Orleans for the 2012 World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) this week.

Topping off the World Cultural Economic Forum, representatives of cities from across the globe will visit the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The festival puts theory into practice; and attendees will experience performances by more than sixty musicians, food from chefs and restaurants around Louisiana and a variety of cultural exhibitions.

Leaders of cities across the globe received invitations to the World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) this week. The Forum was created by Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu and is being hosted by the City of New Orleans in May.

The WCEF will serve as a marquee annual event attracting international delegates and showcasing New Orleans' cultural assets. The event will connect mayors to discuss issues of cultural economy and to develop international best practices. As a “city-to-city” event, participation is by invitation only for mayors and other high level officials.

New Orleans - Mayor Mitch Landrieu is in the nation's capital for a 2-day visit that includes lunch with President Obama.

Landrieu arrived in Washington DC Wednesday morning, headed for the White House. There, he joined a delegation of U.S. officials for a luncheon honoring British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is visiting the nation's capital with his wife.