New Orleans’ start as a port city back in the 1700s has continually informed its culture. International aspects abound in The Big Easy, from our multi-ethnic cuisine to our music to our European-influenced architecture.

Of course, art is another area of global influence, and with the start of Prospect.3 on Oct. 25, visitors and residents alike can witness a citywide celebration of international art.

Tokyo-based artist Shigeru Ban is a prominent participant of the biennial. Winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, Ban will showcase his models and design plans at Longue Vue House and Gardens.

Ban’s work is especially influential because it ties elements of modern art and architecture to humanitarian efforts: Ban creates beautiful, low-cost shelters for victims of natural disasters. What’s more incredible, he makes these shelters out of materials like cardboard and paper.

Shigeru Ban will display plans from his awe-inspiring buildings, such as the Cardboard Cathedral in Wellington, New Zealand, pictured above. (Photo courtesy Forgemind ArchiMedia on Flickr)

Another artist of note is Tavares Strachan from the Bahamas. From the Bahamas, Strachan pulls off incredible feats in his installation pieces. In 2006, Strachan created “The Distance Between What We Have Now and What We Want,” in which he harvested a 4.5-ton block of ice from Alaska and had it sent via FedEx to Nassau.

For Prospect.3, Strachan will create a special sign dedicated to our city. At fifty feet long and ten feet tall, the neon sign emblazoned “You Belong Here” speaks to us all – whether residents or tourists, anyone with an interest in our city is welcome.

Artists from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Iran, France, Suriname, South Africa, Uganda, and Peru (to name a few) will all present works at this international biennial. In order to create a central hub for all the visiting artists, Prospect.3 has partnered with the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

The AAA Four Diamond hotel will serve as official accommodations for the artists and press throughout the first week of the event, and will continue on as a prime hotel option for Prospect.3 visitors throughout the course of the event, which runs until Jan. 25.

Partnering with the hotel is an exciting development that shows the strong interconnectedness of arts, culture, and tourism. The relationship is mutually beneficial: without tourism, we would not have access as locals to such international events; without strong international events, tourists would not have such a compelling reason to visit.