The City of New Orleans announced on March 25 that it will hold a public lottery for qualified artists seeking permits to sell art in Jackson Square. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m. at City Hall, located at 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1W15.
This lottery process is important because city code requires artists selling their work in or around Jackson Square to obtain both an Occupational License and a Mayoralty Permit from the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Revenue. The system ensures that only eligible applicants are permitted to operate in this popular area.
According to the city’s announcement, the upcoming lottery is open only to qualified applicants who either currently hold a Pirates Alley “Artist B” permit or have an application on file for a Jackson Square Artist Permit submitted by February 2. All candidates must attend the lottery in person and enter City Hall through the Perdido Street entrance.
Applicants interested in participating must apply in person between Monday, March 30, and Thursday, April 9. Applications will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Bureau of Revenue office on the first floor of City Hall (Room 1W15). Applicants are required to present valid photo identification; those upgrading from Pirates Alley must also show their current “Artist B” permit.
For questions about the Annual Jackson Square Artist Lottery, individuals can contact Todd Ecker or Wendell McCall via email or reach out to the Bureau of Revenue Application Unit by phone or email as provided by city officials.
The outcome of this process will determine which artists receive new “Artist A” permits for one of New Orleans’ most iconic locations.
