Rep. Keenan Announces New Investments in North Shore Cultural Tourism
Salem—State Representative John Keenan of Salem will announce the release of $65,000 in state grants to generate new cultural tourism in the Essex County region at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Tuesday, March 20 at 8 a.m.
A $60,000 grant will support the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Escapes North program, which is designed to promote the cultural richness and natural beauty of the North of Boston region and encourage visitation to Essex County by tourists and residents alike. The grant is part of a new round of Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) Adams grants to organizations across the state. A separate planning grant for $5,000 will also help the city of Salem develop a new, unified, and effective marketing model for tourism growth.
"I’m delighted to announce this new state investment in the Escapes North program, which has already produced significant economic results for the region," said Keenan, a member of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. "I’m also pleased to help Salem build on its recent accomplishments and continue to expand cultural tourism to the city."
Last year the program, under the title Art Escapes, generated more than $400,000 in regional economic activity through hotel/lodging packages, increased visitation to cultural sites, and related expenditures on restaurants and retail. This year’s program will center on literature and architecture.
Massachusetts is home to more than 14,000 creative businesses that employ 78,204 people and play a significant role in building and sustaining economic vibrancy, according to a report published by the Americans for the Arts. Thriving museums, galleries, festivals, and performances bring visitors and, with them, the demand for restaurants, shops, and other services.
The MCC’s John and Abigail Adams Arts Program for Cultural Economic Development recognizes the pivotal role that arts and culture plays in driving the Massachusetts economy. Tapping into our state’s wealth of cultural assets, the Adams Program funds projects that create jobs and income, revitalize downtowns, and draw visitors. The program inspires innovative, progressive, and systemic approaches to economic development in communities across Massachusetts. Senate President Travaglini has supported the program since its inception.
A full list of Adams grants can be found at: http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/programs/adamsarts_funding.html
About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The MCC promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The agency pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. MCC receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources.