'Arts for Everybody' Initiative Encourages Inclusivity in Baton Rouge's Renoir Cultural District

Originally released by East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority

[Baton Rouge, LA] The Arts for Everybody event, part of the national initiative to improve community access to the arts, celebrated progress in Baton Rouge’s Renoir Cultural District. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by BREC and The Red Stick Project at Tickie Saia Memorial Park, featured public art installations, poetry readings, and family-friendly activities.

Attendees appreciated murals by Elliott Guillory and a multilingual poem created by local Louisiana Creoles and Kouri-Vini language activists, Jonathan J. Mayers and Henry Johnson, curated by Ellen Ogden. Speeches were made by BREC officials, the Mayor of Baton Rouge, local artists, and the founder of The Red Stick Project. Family-friendly activities, such as music, snow cones, and health checks, attracted people of all ages.

The designation of the Renoir Cultural District by the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development has helped create a strong sense of place and pride in the community. Community developer and arts producer Evelyn Ware has worked with area stakeholders and residents to improve properties and neighborhood security while highlighting arts and culture. The redesign of the murals, incorporating input from local artists and children and including the Starry Night Over Red Stick mural, recognizes the unique North Baton Rouge heritage.

This collaboration serves as a model for addressing community, accessibility, and history, bridging cultural gaps, and fostering pride in the area's multicultural community. By recognizing the diversity in Van Gogh's influences and sharing Louisiana's Creole heritage, the new signage, poem, and murals educate the community on art history. This event not only celebrated progress in the Renoir Cultural District but also encouraged inclusivity in the Baton Rouge community overall.