Today, the Sheraton Hotel hosts the Rex Ball, and the Mariott Hotel hosts the Comus Ball. Previously, the two balls were held together in the city’s Municipal Auditorium with a large curtain dividing the two balls. The large curtain would be drawn back initiating the Meeting of the Courts, making the tradition very simple and open to everyone (Hémard). Unfortunately, the Municipal Auditorium suffered severe damage from the levees breaking during Hurricane Katrina forcing the two old-line organizations to change venues to two hotels on Canal Street (Hémard). The change of venue brought about a new tradition of rolling out a red carpet on Canal Street making a pathway for Rex, his Queen, and the court to head to the Comus Ball at the Marriott …show more content…
Rex Organization’s public role in the city of New Orleans and the Mardi Gras celebration is evinced by their motto, Pro Bono Publico. When the founders of the School of Design wished to revive the unstable city and bring order to the chaotic, public Carnival celebration, the founders approached it with Pro Bono Publico in mind (Hales 148). Due to Mardi Gras being both a public and private event, many law officers and city officials contemplated canceling any future carnival celebrations because of the disruptive and riotous nature of the masked revelers and the crowds. However, the city needed to attract visitors, lift the spirits of locals, revive the economy, and solve the lingering political instability brought about the Reconstruction period. The Rex Organization proposed a plan in response to city officials’ potential ban and graciously received approval from the Mayor and Chief of Police for Rex to assume control of the Carnival celebration. The civic leaders hoped to attract tourists by creating a daytime parade, strengthening the Mistick Krewe of Comus’s nighttime parade …show more content…
In 1992, UNESCO established the World Heritage Centre to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage of countries all across the world, raise awareness globally, and encourage locals to participate in preserving their native cultural and natural heritage. For those not on the list, the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, which are updated annually, raises awareness of cultural practices and intangible heritage expressions.