Gov. Jindal attacks Louisiana art, culture with cuts

Louisiana wouldn’t be Louisiana without music and culture.

Arguably, no place possesses its uniqueness without some semblance of culture, but this state — and more specifically, New Orleans — wouldn’t be home to some of the greatest music, art and culture the world has ever known.

Obviously, Gov. Bobby Jindal either has no rhythm or has never been to Jazz Fest.

The biggest travesty to ever hit the state made itself known through Jindal’s 2009-2010 budget, which includes a debilitating 83 percent cut to a grants program that aids small arts programs across the state, along with a 31 percent cut to another program that assists local symphonies and theaters, according to The Monroe News Star.

The arts community wouldn’t let this stand, and they made their voices heard the best way Louisianians know how.

Hundreds of people took to the streets Wednesday in what was dubbed a “jazz funeral for Louisiana arts and culture.” Beginning in Lafayette Park, armed with drums, guitars and voices, the crowd mournfully danced through the streets and in front of the state Capitol in protest of the funeral of what makes Jindal’s home state as incomparable as it is.

In total numbers, the 83 percent cut seems small — a reduction from $3 million in funding to a little more than $500,000 — considering the $239 million expected cut in higher education.

But this struck a chord with Louisiana residents, who decided to do something about it.

Susan Brunner, art gallery owner and chair of the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts, told The News Star the 31 percent cut — $798,628 — from the $2.4 million Statewide Arts Grants would have a $4.8 million negative impact on state finances, while the arts and culture activities provide jobs to 144,000 people.

“It shows what a huge impact culture has on Louisiana,” Brunner said. “We bring money to the state. We’re the second largest employer in the state. There’s a $10 billion industry at stake.”

Ten billion dollars says Jindal’s never heard the Rebirth Brass Band rock Tipitina’s until four in the morning.

I doubt he’s ever even heard of Dr. John.

The governor doesn’t know what makes his state thrive. It isn’t the work ethic or the empowerment of working-class citizens.

Jazz great Wynton Marsalis knows what makes it unique, as he, along with pop legend Linda Ronstadt and opera singer Josh Groban, lobbied Congress on Tuesday for $200 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

For Marsalis, in the world of music, basic rules of math and science are out the window.

“One plus one equals three — me, you and the two of us together,” Marsalis told The Times-Picayune last week. “I’ve got my thing, you’ve got your thing and we come together.” It’s that intangible feeling we get whenever we go to Mardi Gras, dance in the rain or listen to anything from Fats Domino to the Funky Meters.

The jazz funeral shows our dedication to the lifeblood of our culture. Joyfully combining the sadness of losing a fellow friend with the greatness of knowing that person in the first place, jazz funerals are our way of saluting our dearly departed by saying, “It’s sad to see you go, but we loved having you here.”

Our music and culture are adventures in self-discovery, consuming our souls and spirits into one mean expression of life and heritage that will never be taken from us, no matter how big the budget cut.

Louis Armstrong once said, “My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that horn.”

If Jindal knew anything about that, he would get off his high horse, stop trying to please his own supporters and show some real dedication to the state that elected him.