Madisonville is ready for its art badge.

Town officials are publicly in support of having their riverside town deemed a cultural district.

It began late last year when Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu’s office named Lacombe, Old Mandeville, Olde Towne Slidell, Abita Springs and downtown Covington cultural districts, a designation he first introduced last year as a way of attracting tourists to the area. The designation allows original works of art to be sold tax-free. It also provides tax breaks on the restoration of historical buildings 50-plus years old.

Being the oldest settlement in the parish, nearly 200 years of age, and with the most listings on the National Register of Historic Places in the parish, Madisonville seemed a shoe-in for the special designation.

However, because of some misunderstandings with the paperwork, town organizers missed the initial deadline.

Headed by residents like Gail Perry and Susan Kierr, the information was finally gathered and sent into the lieutenant governor’s office last December. Perry also received written statements from local establishments committing their support for the designation.

All that was left to file before the deadline was a resolution from the town vowing to support their efforts. At first officials were skeptical and wary of the burden it would place on the town but eventually, Perry said they came around, and at January’s council meeting, they passed the resolution.

“It’s definitely a good thing for Madisonville,” Perry said, adding if designated an art district, the town would be included in more state advertising spots.

Perry said it will likely take several months before the lieutenant governor’s office notifies her if Madisonville will become the sixth community in the parish deemed a cultural district.

To qualify, a community must meet several criteria, Perry said, including being distinguished by cultural resources that play a key role in the town.

Perry is certain though, Madisonville’s art markets, festivals, museums and historic locations meets the qualifications.

Perry said there are currently 29 cultural districts in the state with 17 of those in Orleans Parish.