Art purchases in downtown Lafayette are now exempt from state sales tax thanks to its new status as a Cultural Products District.
Just in time for what is expected to be the first Second Saturday ArtWalk of the year with really pleasant weather, downtown Lafayette has been designated a Louisiana Cultural Products District by the State Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. The status went into effect March 1. What that means is that original works of art as well as crafts are exempt from the 4-percent state sales tax. More importantly for the future of downtown revitalization, the designation expands the tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings within the district.
The Acadiana Center for the Arts will host a ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday to celebrate the downtown's new status. ArtWalk officially begins at 6 p.m.