Marsala Cultural Fund

Little Palermo of New Orleans / Marsala Cultural Fund

The Marsala Cultural Fund was established in 2015 to expand, promote, and honor Italian Heritage and Culture.

MISSION: This Fund supports efforts to protect and preserve vulnerable elements of our culture related to our heritage, our traditions, and critical species.

NEWS: The Marsala Cultural Fund we have been selected to receive a Russo Brithers Grant of $8,000.00 to make a Documentary on the 1891 Lynching and enter it in the 2021 National American Italian Foundation's Film Competition. Out of 200 applicants 8 were chosen to receive the grant.

Our name is connected to May 11, 1860. On that day Giuseppe Garibaldi landed at Marsala,  located to the west of Palermo and began the process of Italian Unification.  The region is known for wine, oranges, and lemons. The first lemons brought to America were from the Marsala region to New Orleans. 

The fund makes videos to document the migration from Sicily to the New Orleans and beyond, with the mass migration occurring between 1894-1915.

The fund conducts interviews of celebrities on their cultural and family traditions. Videos are displayed on public broadcasting, Italian Cultural Organizations, and the You Tube Channel, AWE News.

30 Minute episodes on the Sicilian Immigration into New Orleans

1. Little Palermo, Mother Cabrini, The Sicilian History of 1890s in the French Quarter

2. Italian Festivals: Muffuletta, Opera, Jazz, Orange, Independence, and Kenner

3. Sicilian Military Contributions to New Orleans: The Zouaves & the Fighting Tigers,  The Italian Brigade of the European Guard, Salvador Catalano & Stephen Decatur

4: St. Joseph's day: Parade, Home Altars, Restaurant Altars, Church & School Altars

5. Italian Chefs: Creole-Italian and Cajun-Italian; Frank Davis, Andrea’s, Two Tony’s,  

6. Italian Sports Stars:  Franco Harris, Vince Ferragamo, Alex

7. Sicilian Contributions to Music: Lena Prima Swing, Nick Larocca turns “Jass” to “Jazz”

8. Italian Business and Political Contributions: Mayor Victor Schiro 1961-1970

9. The Apology by Mayor Cantrell in 2019 for the role of Mayor Shakspeare in 1891 in the lynching of eleven acquitted Sicilians in the murder of police chief Hennessy.

Italian Republic Day June 2, 1946.  The fund creates awareness of the Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana award for promoting the Italian Culture.  This award is often given out on the anniversary of Italian Republic Day, which is June 2, 1946. In 2015, the fund sponsored the first Italian Republic Day Celebration in the New Orleans Area, held at the Italian Bocce Club in Metairie, LA.

Here is a free self-guided tour app of Italian history in Louisiana.

New Orleans Insider Tours (d13i5ks0r2zvxy.cloudfront.net)