View source for Biology:Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

{{Short description|State agencies of Louisiana}}
{{Infobox Political post
|post            = Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

|native_name     = {{lang|fr|Département de la culture, des loisirs et du tourisme de la Louisiane}}
|image           = Billy Nungesser 2018.jpg

|incumbent       = Billy Nungesser
|incumbentsince  = January 11, 2016
|appointer       = Popular election
|termlength      = Four years
|formation       = 1846
|succession      = 1st
|inaugural       = Trasimond Landry
|body=}}

'''Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism''' is a state agency and department within the Office of the Lt. Governor. The department is composed of six offices, Office of the Secretary, Office of State Library, Office of State Museum, Office of State Parks, Office of Cultural Development, and Office of Tourism.

The Lieutenant Governor is the chief tourism official as commissioner of the department, involving the $18 billion tourism industry, and manages state parks, museums, and historic sites. In 2019 Billy Nungesser won a second term as Louisiana's lieutenant governor.

==Organization==
The Lieutenant Governor, second-in-command in the executive branch, is considered Louisiana's ambassador as Commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.house.louisiana.gov/housefiscal/DOCS_APP_BDGT_MEETINGS/DOCS_APPBudgetMeetings2019/Department%20of%20Culture,%20Recreation%20and%20Tourism.pdf
 | title = Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board| publisher = Office of the State Library | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.thehollywoodsouthblog.com/louisiana-dept-culture-recreation-tourism/| title = Louisiana Dept. of Culture, Recreation & Tourism| publisher = HollywoodSouth| access-date = 2020-03-30}}</ref> The position was created by legislative act by Article IV, Section 1(A), 6, and 15 of Louisiana State Constitution of 1974; Louisiana Revised Statute 49:202.1; Act 124 of 1986 and Act 13 Special Session of 1986.

===Office of the Secretary===
Ensures efficient, accountable and entrepreneurial operation of all agencies within the department as well as providing management and finance.

The Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board was created in 1981 By legislative act, statute R.S. 56:578.2(A)(1). The 14 member board is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and placed under the Office of the Secretary.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/boardsandcommissions/viewBoard.cfm?board=521 | title = Department Organization| publisher = Office of the State Library | access-date = 2020-03-30}}</ref>

===Office of State Library===
Created by Louisiana Legislature in 1920, the Louisiana Library Commission, now the State Library of Louisiana, has operations in all 64 parishes.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.state.lib.la.us/about-the-state-library | title = About The State Library| date= 2019| publisher = Office of the State Library | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

===Office of State Museum===
The Office of State Museum operates with the advisory "State Museum Board of Directors"<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/boardsandcommissions/viewBoard.cfm?board=301 | title = State Museum Board of Directors| date= 2019| publisher = Louisiana Division of Administration, Office of Information Services. | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref> tasked with overseeing nine state museums. The Museum Board of Directors is currently awaiting a study and possible future legislation, supported by the Lt. Governor, that will return the hiring and firing of the museum director back to the Museum Board.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.crt.state.la.us/news?NewsID=240 | title = State Museum Board of Directors Approves Study of Louisiana Museum System| date= 2019| publisher = Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

===Office of State Parks===
There are 21 state parks that are currently overseen by an Interim Assistant Secretary and a Director of Outdoor Recreation under the Office of State Parks.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/about-us/staff/index | title = Parks Administrative Staff | date= 2019| publisher = Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref> An 18-member State Parks and Recreation Commission<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=104918 | title = State Parks and Recreation Commission legislation| publisher = Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref> was created by legislation as an advisory body.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BoardMembers.aspx?boardId=129 | title = State Parks and Recreation Commission  | publisher = Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

Beginning March 24, 2020, all state park buildings will be closed as well as all buildings at all state historic sites. The closures will be in effect until at least April 13.<ref>{{Cite web | url =  https://www.crt.state.la.us/news?NewsID=344 | title = All Louisiana State Parks and State Historic Sites Temporarily Close to the Public | date= 2020-03-24| publisher = Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

===Office of Cultural Development===
The Office of Cultural Development (OCD) consists of four divisions:
* Division of the Arts (since 1977): Provides programs, services, and support to individual artists and a variety of arts and cultural organizations.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/arts/ | title = Division Of The Arts | publisher = Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref> The division is supported and advised by a 24-member Louisiana State Arts Council.<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BoardMembers.aspx?boardId=703| title = Louisiana State Arts Council | publisher = Louisiana Division of the Arts  | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref> and includes the ''Louisiana Folklife Program'' advised by a diverse 22 member ''Louisiana Folklife Commission''.<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://www.louisianafolklife.org/introduction.html| title = Louisiana Folklife Program | publisher = Louisiana Division of the Arts  | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref> 
* Division of Archaeology: Records, protects and distributes information about Louisiana's archaeological resources and heritage.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/archaeology/| title = Division Of Archaeology | publisher = Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>
* Division of Historic Preservation: Preserves and protects Louisiana's significant historic buildings, sites, districts and communities.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/historic-preservation/| title = Division Of Historic Preservation | publisher = Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>
* Council for the Development of French in Louisiana - Agence Des Affaires Francophones or CODOFIL proclaims the mission "to support and grow Louisiana's francophone communities through scholarships, French immersion and various other community and language skill-building programs.".<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/codofil/| title = CODOFIL - Agence Des Affaires Francophones | publisher = Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

===Office of Tourism===
The stated goal is to provide opportunities for education, conservation, interpretation and recreation, jobs, and economic growth through tourism.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.crt.state.la.us/tourism/| title = Louisiana Office of Tourism | publisher = Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

==Current==
The buildings at all ten welcome centers and all museums around the state were ordered closed by the Lieutenant Governor until further notice due to the [[Medicine:COVID-19|COVID-19]] pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://kadn.com/state-museums-and-welcome-centers-temporarily-close-across-louisiana/| title = State Museums and Welcome Centers Temporarily Close Across Louisiana | publisher = KADN News 15 | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

Mardi gras, a large tourist attraction, may have contributed to a surge in cases of the coronavirus.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/us/coronavirus-louisiana-new-orleans.html | title = New Orleans Faces a Virus Nightmare, and Mardi Gras May Be Why | work = {{wipe|The New York Times}} | access-date = 2020-03-29 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.louisianatravel.com/ Official site] 
* [https://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/history/index Louisiana State Park History]

[[Category:Crustaceans]]

{{Sourceattribution|Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation &amp; Tourism|1}}