Clarke Peters is in New Orleans (where a show he co-stars in, Treme, is shot) taping another TV show – this time a pilot – at Café Istanbul which he says will serve as the beginnings of a regular TV series that will focus on the city’s arts community, and more.

Tentatively titled Calling All Artists to Clarke’s Living Theater Room, Nola.com says that the project started taping last week, with invitations out to the public, local artists and performers, to attend.

Guests of the show include John Boutte, Donald Harrison, Jr., and Vernel Bagneris – all appeared in Treme – for the pilot.

As for the broader picture, here’s what Peters had to say:

“What we’ll have here tomorrow is, besides the usual suspects, interviews, belly dancers, we have the burlesque thing going on, puppets… We’ll switch out the art upstairs and interview the artists in front of the work. It will entertain the people who are here, but in its end form, it will be a magazine show… If you’re in the neighborhood and you have a talent you want to share, I want to put the camera on you.”

In addition, he’d love to expand the show beyond New Orleans, and take it to other cities, like Detroit, and Memphis, focusing on their art scenes, he mentioned, and he would love for PBS to pick up the show.

“Each of these places that I’m speaking of has an artistic center and an artistic history. Not just musicians. There are painters that come out of there, and dancers, and writers. That’s the magazine.”

Peters is also in New Orleans to co-star in a production of David Mamet’s Race, which originated on Broadway 2 or so years ago, and starred David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington and James Spader. Peters will likely be assuming the role played by Grier.

We’ll track movement on the arts show he’s developing, and report any news that needs to be.

Watch the video interview with Peters below about the show: