John Villani visit

[Bill London <london@wsu.edu>]

I am forwarding this message from Mary Blyth, Moscow Arts Commission director.
	The topic of cultural tourism (economic development by attracting visitors
to cultural events) is a fascinating one.  Moscow doesn't have the
traditional tourist draws (lakes, rivers, etc), but it does have a full
arts calendar.
	Moscow could benefit (as have other towns like Ashland OR or Leavenworth
WA) from a coordinated marketing program in cultural tourism.
	Of course, that is not a new idea.  Susan Davis (arts volunteer) and John
LoBonno (chamber director) wrote a series of grants that funded the Heart
of the Arts campaign in the mid-late 1980's.  They printed a bunch of
posters and paid for ads in Westside media and tried with some success to
bring tourists to Moscow. 
	Discussions have begun with the EDC and Moscow Arts Commission to
resurrect that marketing program.  I sure think it's a good idea.  It's one
of the most benign economic development plans possible, and if successful,
fosters and strengthens the arts here for all of us to enjoy.
	BL



>Return-Path: <cityarts@moscow.com>
>Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 10:05:16 -0700 (PDT)
>X-Sender: cityarts@207.141.26.22
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>To: london@wsu.edu
>From: cityarts@moscow.com (City Hall Annex)
>Subject: John Villani visit
>
>Hi Bill! 
>         Just wanted to extend an invitation to you and everyone on the
>Moscow 20/20 list serve to attend the slide show and lecture presentation by
>John Villani, the author of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America.  Moscow
>has been selected for the 2nd year in a row and has moved up the list from
>#58 in 1996 to #38 for the 1998 edition!  John will be speaking on cultural
>tourism, readaptive uses of public spaces for community use, public art as a
>revitalization tool, and innovative communtiy festivals.  This free
>presentation will take place Saturday July 18, 1998, at 11:00 a.m. in City
>Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall at the corner of Third and
>Washington.  Anyone interested in the cultural and economic life of our
>community won't want to miss this.  Hope to see you there!  mary blyth
>mary b
>
>