Roland and Mary von Kurnatowski: benefactors to New Orleans, Shreveport, Alexandria and the state's economy via Tipitina's Musician Co-ops

Tipitina's
Originally uploaded by bamaphan79

The NY Times' Andrew Park checks in with New Orleans scatty cultural economy in an article entitled "The Katrina Effect, Measured in Gigs."

Life is none too healthy for Crescent City musicians, reports Parks. Gigs are soft and many musicians are having trouble returning to the Crescent City.

One of the bright spots is Tipitina's Foundation. That's where Roland and Mary von Kurnatowski, founders of the foundation, move the profits from the nightclub to the musicians' aid society.

At the Tipitina's Music Office Co-ops, operating in New Orleans, Alexandria and Shreveport, players have cheap access to computers and aid from savvy office managers - like Dan Garner, in Shreveport. They build web sites and find out how to use the web in general. They record and collaborate on their neighbors' recordings. They edit video and design posters.

Tipitina's Foundation has donated some $1.5 million to musicians in the wake of Katrina. It has provided attorneys a place to help musicians in a pro bono effort.

But, says Park, Louisiana's efforts to restart the music business in a larger way have been mixed.

The NY Times says, "Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu unveiled a new strategy for developing what was described as the “cultural economy.” Since then, the state has pushed through tax breaks for arts districts, musical and theatrical productions and sound recordings and made sure that events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, which provide work for many musicians, survived.

But a separate individual tax break for artistic earnings failed in the State Legislature because of concerns that it wasn’t fair to other working people, and other large-scale attempts have languished because of a lack of financing."

Landrieu will visit Minden and Shreveport on Aug 24 to talk about his vision for Louisiana’s economy through culture, recreation and tourism, says the Lieutenant Governor's web site. Musicians, artists and culture mavens will certainly want to see whether an effective coalition might be formed around his efforts.