Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, HAMMOND, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: January 22, 1996
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  52i

FANFARE 1995 HAD $500,000 ECONOMIC IMPACT ON REGION

HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University's Fanfare 1995 had an estimated
$500,000 impact on the Hammond-Ponchatoula area and attendance jumped 41 percent during
the
annual October arts festival's 10th anniversary season.
    
 According to a report compiled by the Fanfare office, the festival sold 15,673 tickets to its
73
events, generating $62,537 in revenue. Using formulas provided by the Louisiana Division of the
Arts,
the SLU College of Business and the National Association of Local Arts Agencies, Fanfare
calculated
that the total economic impact of ticket sales was $344,454. Additional spending by ticket buyers
at
an average of $10 per person accounts for an additional $156,730, the festival estimates.
    
 "Those figures," said Fanfare Artistic Director Harriet Vogt, "do not include spending for
non-
ticketed events such as Jazz Downtown and Gallery Stroll and booksignings at the SLU
Bookstore and
B Dalton Bookstore in Hammond Square Mall. They also don't include spending by tourists,
visitors
and guest artists at local hotels, restaurants and businesses. If these were factored in, a
conservative
figure would be over $500,000."
     
"This report makes it clear that Fanfare has matured into a major regional celebration
reflecting positively on SLU and the Hammond/Ponchatoula area," said John Miller, dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences. "Harriet and I are particularly pleased with the growing positive
impact
Fanfare is having on the Hammond/Ponchatoula area. Fanfare programming provides a great
model
for university-community collaboration and cooperation."
     
According to the report, 31,072 people -- 9,031 more than in 1994 -- attended 73 Fanfare
events at 22 different venues. The attendance figures include some 7,400 Southeastern students,
more
than half of the university's enrollment. SLU faculty and staff presented or participated in sixteen
Fanfare events.
    
 Through Fanfare's education outreach program, 2,805 students attended Fanfare events
from elementary, junior high and high schools in Amite, Hammond, Independence, Robert,
Chesbrough, Tickfaw and Ponchatoula.
     
Vogt said that the number of people coming to Fanfare events from out of town also
increased
in 1995 and that the Fanfare office recorded attendees from Texas, Alabama and Mississippi.
     
"I am pleased with the enormous success experienced during Fanfare's 10th anniversary
season," said Southeastern President Sally Clausen. "I am particularly buoyed by the outpouring
of
community participation, especially among our elementary through high school aged children."
    
 "This cultural extravaganza offers something for everyone and I'm proud to say that our
community is a better place because of this event. Judging from the attendance numbers, our
community agrees." 
                                  -SLU-