MEDIA CONTACT - Wendy Benscoter, executive director, Shreveport Common, Inc. 318-673-6537, Wendy@ShreveportCommon.com
RECENT IMAGES and NEWS RELEASES
Caddo Common Park
869 Texas Ave. Artistrees in the foreground, Outdoor Pavilion in the background
Historic 800 Texas Ave.
The ten historic buildings on the 800 block of Texas Ave. are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Ten buildings circa 1910 - 1920, were once inhabited by first generation immigrants and Black entrepreneurs, many who lived with their families on the 2nd floors. Today more than half of the buildings are repurposed to mixed-use and the remaining structures are in pre-development phase.
In the background, left, the Municipal Auditorium is also listed on the Register of Historic Places. It is most famous for being the home of the Louisiana Hayride through the 50’s, here Elvis Presley and many others started their professional careers.
Foreground, the New Caddo Common Park s Artistrees replace nine parcels of blighted concrete slabs and razor wire.
Caddo Common Park Outdoor Pavilion
869 Texas Ave. Through a public/private community effort, the new 1 acre park and outdoor performance pavilion replace 9 parcels of blighted parcels. Shreveport Regional Arts Council hosts free events throughout the year. Architect Mike McSwaine
CENTRAL ARTSTATION, ART the DALMATIAN and THE FLAME
Central ARTSTATION, 801 Crockett, is home to Shreveport Regional Arts Council. since their offices were burned their ground by a random act of arson in 2009. The community rallied to repurpose the 10-year un-used, 1920 Central Fire Station, listed on the National Registry for Historic Places to become the home of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council with the Engine Room black-box style theatre, gallery space, artist resource center, and administrative offices. These efforts were part of a nationally awarded, arts-led Vision Plan process to revitalize the historic yet long blighted, surrounding 9-block area through the precepts of Creative Placemaking.
ART THE DALMATIAN, Artist William Joyce., is a 20’ tall, LED lit sculpture guards the Central ARTSTATION.
THE FLAME, Artist Jim Hayes and Bruce Allen, a 19’ tall LED lit sculpture atop a former hose tower, now a 5-floor smallest, tallest Artist in Residence space, or when available, listed on Air B&B.