ST. JOSEPH — A local group has been recognized by the state for its contributions to the arts.

St. Joseph Arts, Inc., will be recognized as the outstanding small arts organization in Louisiana Oct. 29 at the Lieutenant Governor’s Louisiana Cultural Economy Forum in New Orleans.

“They gave us this in recognition of contributions made toward development of a cultural economy,” St. Joseph Arts Director Cecil Evans said.

The group injects approximately $120,000 into the local economy yearly through earned income from their concerts, ad sales and other events, Evans said.

“When it comes to a viable business wanting to locate in a community, they tend to look at what is available culturally, and we are trying to fill that gap in our community,” Evans said.

In addition to paying salaries to approximately 30 artists in the region, Evans said the organization gives orchestral music lessons to approximately 30 local children.

“We provide cultural enrichment and music education in one of the poorest parishes in Louisiana,” she said. “We service a 60-mile radius, so we affect more than Tensas Parish.”

St. Joseph Arts also serves at the parent organization for the St. Joseph orchestra, which will perform three concerts in December and will also appear with the Alcorn University Chorus at St. Mary Basilica later this year.

This weekend, St. Joseph Arts will have the Tensas Fall Music Festival at the Tensas Agricultural Arena on U.S. 65.

The event will include 11 different performing groups, including Hotel California, the official tribute band for the Eagles.

The festival will have 32 exhibitors or vendors, Evans said.

The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will cost $5.

The gate for the Hotel California show will open at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Hotel California show will be $20.