The city of Slidell was recently recognized with a honorable mention award from the Louisiana Municipal Association for the city’s “Art is Life” cultural enrichment program. The award was presented Aug. 9 at the LMA banquet in Lafayette.

Slidell’s cultural enrichment program includes free concerts like “Some Enchanted Evening” with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bayou Jam concerts, Kids Fest, Shakespeare in the Park, the many art exhibits and many other events.

The city won in the category of Community Development for municipalities with a population of more than 25,000. Slidell’s award was the one for actual arts programming. Kim Bergeron, director of the Cultural Affairs and Public Affairs for the city, has done an excellent job providing citizens with cultural opportunities close to home.

And she is aware of how important culture and arts are to a community.

“Cultural events have a significant impact on the quality of life in our community, especially in these post-Katrina times,” Bergeron said. “One attendee described our cultural events as the ‘Band-Aid for our post-Katrina wounds.”

Bergeron said the cultural arts have also become an important force in the city’s economy, and she added the cultural economy is now the state’s second largest industry.

By offering so many cultural events, Slidell has positioned itself as a leader in the state. Those who support the local programs are to be commended, and to those who help make them possible, we offer a huge thanks.

When times have been tough, the city’s cultural arts program has provided an outlet. And now that times are better, the program continues to flourish and adds another dimension to the area’s quality of life.

Congratulations, Slidell.