NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced that the Canadian government is dedicating funds to create a large public mural in downtown New Orleans. The agreement was signed, pictured above, by Mayor Cantrell; Consul General Rachel McCormick, Consulate General of Canada in Dallas; and Interim Executive Director Joycelyn Reynolds, Arts Council New Orleans. This mural will speak to the shared people-to-people history between Canada and New Orleans. Themes and storylines in the artwork will evoke references to Acadian history, French language, music, food and culture.
“The relationship between the City of New Orleans and Canada is part of our founding history, which still lives on even in our streets with the Le Moyne brothers, Bienville and Iberville. Being able to highlight this history through our shared culture is so important, particularly now during a time when we have had to remain separate throughout this pandemic,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “I am so excited to see a rebirth of New Orleans and Canada through this public mural project partnership with the Consulate General of Canada. I look forward to unveiling the mural and future collaborations with Canada.”
“The Arts Council is honored to facilitate this international artist collaboration through the creation of a mural which celebrates the connections between our two cultures,” said Joycelyn Reynolds, Arts Council Interim Executive Director.
“This project shows how the people of Canada and Louisiana remain connected over time, through history and culture,” said Rachel McCormick, Consul General of Canada to the South Central United States. “We are overcoming the limitations of working physically together during the pandemic through an amazing virtual collaboration amongst artists. The result will be public art and a lasting reminder of our connections in New Orleans.”
The artwork will be sketched by a Canadian artist and reproduced by a local artist in New Orleans. When completed, there will be a ribbon-cutting event to introduce the art to the city, organized by the City of New Orleans, the Arts Council and Canada’s Consulate General of Canada to the South Central United States.
This project will further strengthen the relationship between New Orleans and Canada as we move forward on a Sister City Agreement.
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