Katrina struck at the very heart of the Deep South’s cultural community, and while some individual organizations may have escaped relatively unscathed, the rebuilding effort for the arts will take many, many years. The head of the National Endowment for the Arts points out that “culture is the second largest industry in Louisiana,” and across the Gulf Coast, venues have been damaged or destroyed and artists themselves are scattered to the winds. And while overall relief efforts are well underway, priorities of safety and livability are necessitating a “hurry up and wait” approach for many arts organizations.