Cultural survival amid disaster: support for artists in New Orleans

ABSTRACT

Based on data from qualitative interviews and participant observation with those involved in artistic production in New Orleans, this paper considers the effect of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic on cities and artists. It investigates the supports available to artists before and during the pandemic and the relationship between cultural workers and tourism in New Orleans. This relationship creates a paradox: New Orleans is unique because it is the site of enduring local cultural traditions and emerging creative production, and yet the city must sell its culture to tourists to remain economically solvent. Left to fend for themselves by larger institutions, arts communities and nonprofit organizations came together to mutually support each other. The paper concludes that what we can learn from this case is how people ‘make do’ and survive during an extended period of crisis – especially when the lessons of survival have been taught and tested through preceding crises.

KEYWORDS:

• New Orleans
• pandemic
• cultural policy
• artists
• tourism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

IRB Details

Approved for human subjects research, University of Scranton IRB #1739716–2.

Notes

1. By polyglot I mean both creole culture, a term commonly referred to as a mixture of Native American, African American, Spanish, French, and Anglo cultures, and the contemporary mix of cultures due to the multitude of cultural communities that overlap in the city, with a mix of races, religions, sexualities, classes, city tenure, and cultural activities.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by funding from a University of Scranton Faculty Grant and a fellowship from the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities.

Notes on contributors

Meghan Ashlin Rich

Meghan Ashlin Rich is Professor of Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Scranton. She studies urban redevelopment, gentrification, and cultural policy. Her research has been published in International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Journal of Urban Affairs, and Urban Affairs Review.