Louisianans are blessed with a wealth of culture and history, and we are fortunate to have a wonderful selection of museums that celebrate these treasures and educate our citizens and visitors alike about what makes us so special as a people and as a place.
Our Louisiana State Museum system includes established treasures such as the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the collections of the Cabildo and Presbytere, six other museums across the state, and the future Louisiana Civil Rights Museum in New Orleans.
Unfortunately, state funding for our state museum system is significantly lower today than it has been in the recent past. Adjusted for inflation, the current $8.4 million in state funding for our Louisiana State Museum system is 42% less than in 2008, and there are more museums in our system today than there were then. The state would need to increase funding for our museum system by over $6 million to bring it back to 2008 levels, adjusted for inflation. This funding shortfall does not include the $35 million proposed for our Louisiana Civil Rights Museum.
Of course, restoring state funding to our already established state museum system and state funding for our upcoming Louisiana Civil Rights Museum must be a priority.
SUZANNE HAIK-TERRELL
Chairman of the Board, Louisiana State Museum System
BEN DUPUY
Chairman, Louisiana Museum Foundation
