As an arts and antique dealer, Slidell’s John Giraud makes his living haggling prices.

Everything from the Victorian era rocking chairs to the vintage stoves are negotiable at the Gran’s Haus in Olde Towne, Slidell, the store he co-owns, he said.

“But the artwork is the one thing we really can’t haggle on,” he said. “We’ve agreed on a price with the artist. They’ve entrusted us to sell their work, but when people haggle they feel like they are really getting something, they feel like they are getting a bargain. But we just can’t do that with art.”

John Giraud, co-owner of Gran'€™s Haus, an arts and antique shop in Olde Towne, Slidell, believes a tax incentive in the works for art sales would boost profits. It would also help him with renovations to his building'€™s second floor. (Staff Photo by Matthew Penix)

By September that could change.

Slidell, Lacombe, Covington, Abita Springs and Mandeville are five of 30 towns and cities statewide slated for review to become state approved cultural districts, a move that offers tax incentives to buy local art as well as restore and renovate older properties.

The program, born out of an initiative by Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and approved by state lawmakers last year, will cut local and state sales tax from any art sold in the districts. Homeowners and developers will also see a 10 to 25 percent tax break to restore buildings 50 years old or older.

Hailed by local art insiders, developers and governmental officials as a sure shot financial jolt, the program’s “goal is revitalization based on culture,” Gay Hamilton, program director, said.

“That’s the reason local governments had to endorse this first,” she said. “We believe any lost revenue will be offset by people shopping at these places.”

Art gallery owner Jonathan Ferrara, who hosts shows in Covington, called the initiative a win-win situation.

“In a certain sense it’s a no brainer to benefit the arts and the community,” he said. “The impact, you have to imagine, would be nothing short of amazing.”

While it’s too early to tell how much money the cultural districts would reap, similar initiatives, such as Downtown Development Districts and Main Street Community designations, have “sparked millions of dollars in renovations,” Hamilton said.

In 2000, St. Tammany’s art scene alone was worth $18 million, and if these local communities are approved for such a district millions more could flow into the parish, said Suzanne Parsons Stymiest, a parish spokeswoman who helped state officials organize the effort locally.

“People want to live and work in an area with good cultural and recreation assets,” she said. “And those reputations help us grow. A street alone doesn’t make a community.”

Kim Bergeron, cultural arts director for the city of Slidell, agrees.

“Cultural arts is the second largest industry in Louisiana,” she said. “So many businesses contribute to the cultural economy without even realizing it.”

On Wednesday, Giraud smiled at the thought. After his family bought Gran’s Haus on First Street in Slidell two years ago, he quickly found products flying out of the shop. It was so encouraging he hopes to one day refurnish the gutted upstairs of the 107-year-old building, possibly converting it to an art studio. With a 10 to 25 percent tax incentive, the renovation would be a no brainer, he said.

But on this day he continued to haggle more vintage furniture, selling a fold out table for $119. No art work, however, was sold.

In fact, some customers have opted not to buy art when he adds tax, he said.

“Absolutely this would make a difference,” he said. “We would be able to make people who collect art feel like they are getting something for nothing, like this furniture.”

With that, he hoisted the table and carried it outside to his customer’s car. Walking back inside, holding his back, he said, “I’ll have to use that extra money we’ll make to buy some aspirin.”