There is still time to respond 

How to Survive and Thrive in Today’s Economy

The recent recession is having a big impact on many sectors of the cultural and heritage tourism industry.  In response to this challenge, the National Endowment for the Arts has provided a Chairman’s Extraordinary Action Grant to the Heritage Tourism Program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation to create a new online survival toolkit on

“How to Survive and Thrive in Today’s Economy.” 

As part of this effort the Heritage Tourism Program will seek out and share creative strategies that cultural and heritage attractions are using to survive and thrive in a down economy.  The creation of this toolkit offers a pivotal opportunity to provide urgently needed assistance to the key fields that make up the cultural and heritage tourism industry including the arts, preservation, tourism, museums, humanities, and other related fields.  While impacts of the economic downturn will be noted, the focus of the toolkit will be on positive solutions and timely resources to address today’s challenges.  The Heritage Tourism Program will be surveying cultural and heritage organizations and attractions this fall as the first step towards creating this toolkit. 

Click here to respond to the online survey or for more

information, contact the Heritage Tourism Program.

The NEA Mayors' Institute on City Design

25th Anniversary Initiative

Since 1986, the Mayors' Institute on City Design (MICD) has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities. To build on the momentum created by the MICD over its history, a limited number of grants, ranging from $25,000 to $250,000, will be made to showcase and celebrate the goals of the MICD during its anniversary in 2011.

Click here for a list of eligible cities.

Deadlines:

• Statement of Interest:        March 15, 2010
• Invitation to Apply Issued:  April 8, 2010
• Formal Application:              May 10, 2010

Click here for more details.

 Show Me the Money!

In search of funding for cultural heritage tourism?

Click here for a blog that includes targeted list of federal grant opportunities for preservation and cultural heritage tourism projects culled from the comprehensive database of federal grants.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's federal grants office maintains this blog which also includes a calendar of upcoming deadlines and useful tips to help you navigate through the federal grant application process.  For more ideas check out the

                            funding section of this website. 

National Research on Cultural and Heritage Travelers

Released!

A new national study on cultural and heritage travelers by Mandala Research

was released on October 21, 2009. 

The study found that 78% of all U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural

or heritage activities while traveling, translating to 118.3 million adults a year. 

Click here to read a press release about this new study.

Heritage Travel, Inc., Announces Gozaic.com

Gozaic.com,

the website of Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the

National Trust for Historic Preservation, is for people seeking

heritage- and culture-rich travel experiences.   

Click here for more information or contact Heritage Travel, Inc.