Don’t cut your culture, Louisiana

Published 12:02 am Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Town of Ferriday just can’t catch a break these days.

A decrepit water plant, years of mismanagement of the town’s water system and generations of extreme poverty — all of Ferriday’s problems have taken a toll.

Just about the only bright spot for the town in recent years is the Delta Music Museum, an entity with a brilliantly simple plan — play to one’s strengths.

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Ferriday is known all over the world as the birthplace of some of America’s best musicians.

State politicians are poised to kick Ferriday if proposed budget cuts become a reality.

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office, which operates the Delta Music Museum, says it will have to shutter the museum, along with 17 others throughout the state unless additional funds are located.

At the moment, the budget proposal calls for only $2.3 million to be provided for the museums under the Secretary of State’s Office. The current budget is $3.8 million.

From its inception the Delta Music Museum caused music lovers to make their way to Ferriday to see the place where some of the country’s best musicians cut their teeth.

That’s a pretty amazing accomplishment; of course, Ferriday has a pretty amazing history, too.

One would think that the State of Louisiana — steeped in history and generally near the bottom of every national “good” list and the top of most “bad” lists — could find $1.5 million in savings elsewhere in state government and keep centers of culture education and economic development open.