Cultural District designation opens doors for Ferriday

Ferriday, Louisiana, has long had a cultural story worth telling. Now, the town has another tool to help tell it — and, perhaps more importantly, to build upon it. The designation of Ferriday's Downtown Cultural District by the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism is unquestionably good news for the town and the surrounding community. The designation, which takes effect Oct. 1, places Ferriday among a network of Cultural Districts across Louisiana and opens doors to resources that can encourage historic preservation, commercial revitalization and cultural development. Those opportunities matter. Like many small communities, Ferriday faces the challenge of preserving what makes it distinctive while finding new ways to attract investment, businesses and visitors. Too often, communities believe they must choose between honoring their past and building their future. Ferriday has an opportunity to do both. Few towns its size can claim the musical heritage Ferriday possesses. Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart all trace their beginnings to this small Louisiana town. The Delta Music Museum and Arcade Theater already provide a foundation for celebrating that remarkable history. The Cultural District designation offers an opportunity to build upon it.