By Richard Thompson

Although 40% of small businesses in New Orleans are owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), these businesses are currently generating only 2% of the city’s total revenue which means there are still significant hurdles faced by BIPOC businesses. In addition, Black founders face greater difficulty accessing loans and funding, limiting their growth and competitiveness.

That’s why GNO, Inc. launched Startup Noir NOLA (SNN) in November, an initiative designed to tackle the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs in New Orleans and create pathways to generational wealth. Startup Noir NOLA aims to boost the economic landscape in New Orleans by building an ecosystem that connects Black entrepreneurs with essential resources and capital.

There is already a considerable amount of positivity in New Orleans when it comes to BIPOC-owned business. According to Startup Noir NOLA, a foundation of a rich entrepreneurial ecosystem already exists in New Orleans and is rapidly growing to build wealth and cultivate the reality of prosperity for Black founders in Greater New Orleans.

Examples of BIPOC business success abound, including the recent naming of Todd McDonald, Liberty Bank and Trust Company President, to the Forbes BLK 50 List for 2024, a list of the country’s fifty richest and most impactful Black entrepreneurs and executives. Liberty Bank and Trust Company initiatives include assisting in the implementation and support of community-based endeavors to improve quality of life, expanding access to secondary and higher education, and increasing the availability of affordable housing.

With a strong community and density of Black residents, a powerful cluster of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, an internationally recognized creative culture built by Black culture bearers, and a startup support system that can scale, the Greater New Orleans region is a prime destination for Black founders to establish and scale their startup businesses.

The Startup Noir NOLA initiative seeks to foster a more equitable economy and position New Orleans as a national leader in supporting Black innovation. By addressing disparities impacting BIPOC businesses in New Orleans, Startup Noir NOLA is paving the way for a stronger and more inclusive business community.

By April Lanux

A cathedral nave has been transformed to replicate life underwater in a new art installation.

The exhibition features whales hanging from the ceiling of Winchester Cathedral.

It has been designed by Oxfordshire based artist Tessa Campbell Fraser with the aim of highlighting the impact humans have on the environment.

The month-long exhibition will also host events for the public including silent discos, date night events, concerts and immersive sound experiences.

The whale exhibition made its debut at the Messums West Gallery in Wiltshire and attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

Dean of Winchester, the Very Reverand Catherine Ogle, said the whales would create a "richly evocative and unforgettable experience".

She added: "We will inevitably be led to reflect on our connection with creation and all God's creatures and the call to live in harmony and justice. Whales are familiar yet mysterious and wonderfully 'other'."

The installation features three sperm whale sculptures and calls on visitors to reflect on the environmental challenges facing marine life.

It will run until 26 February and events featuring the installation will include a folk concert by The Norfolk Broads, a talk by biologist and filmmaker Tom Mustill on animal communication and a talk with artist Tessa Campbell Fraser.

The Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute at University of Southampton is supporting the installation.

Institute director, professor Damon Teagle, said: "Whales are the giants of our oceans that play extraordinary roles in shaping the world's ecosystems and cultures, and even legal landscapes.

"Research continues to reveal fascinating insights into the significance of these majestic creatures."