To view online go to: http://www.emarketingmd.org/Tourism/07_11_07/index.htm

IN BRIEF: TOURISM, FILM AND THE ARTS NEWS

Margot Amelia named Director of Tourism
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Margot Amelia as the new Director of Tourism, effective July 9. After an extensive search, a panel of DBED and industry stakeholders selected Ms. Amelia as the tourism marketing professional most poised to help strengthen and increase tourism in Maryland. As former vice president for the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association, Margot knows first hand the industry's issues and opportunities and has the management experience and marketing background to lead our tourism team to great success. Prior to BACVA, Margot worked the agency side of travel marketing, developing an award-winning national hotel marketing and advertising campaign. Welcome aboard, Margot!

Maryland Tourism Development Board appointees announced
Governor Martin O'Malley appointed eight new representatives to the MTDB for three year terms effective July 1, 2007. The new board members are: Cindy Wolf, an accomplished restaurateur and renowned chef with portfolio of "destination dining" sites; Andy Vick, an arts and heritage advocate who developed Cumberland's Arts & Entertainment district as one of the region's premiere sites; Michael Haynie, General Manager of the Tremont Hotel and industry leader working in Baltimore; Peggy Maher, Veolia Transportation's senior executive with extensive background in ground travel; Terry Prather, Park President for Six Flags and nationally recognized theme park expert; Sheldon Suga, recently named as Vice President and General Manager for National Harbor, Maryland's newest and largest attraction in Prince Georges County; Khaled Said, international hotel consultant; and, Kathy Sher, founding executive with the National Aquarium in Baltimore and recognized marketing executive.

Public Relations staff attends OWAA Conference
The public relations unit attended the Outdoor Writers Association of America's annual conference. Nearly 400 journalists, supporting members and spouses attended the event in Roanoke, Va. on June 16 - 20. Connie Yingling was tapped to be a speaker for the seminar "Working with Tourism Agencies to Get the Best Stories" along with professional peers from Florida, Alaska and North Dakota. The National Park Service and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network also attended and set up side-by-side booths on breakout day to market the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail among Maryland's many outdoor recreational opportunities.

MSAC celebrates 40th Anniversary and Individual Artist Awards
MSAC's 2007 Individual Artist Awards Celebration was held on June 19 at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park. The program opened with a performance by Nilimma Devi's choreography performed by the Devi Dance Company. Remarks by Hannah Byron, Dania Blair (MSAC Chair), Theresa Colvin and the center's director, Susie Farr were followed by recognition of each of the 86 artists that received an award. This event was one of several commemorating MSAC's 40th anniversary and an anniversary cake was cut during the reception after the ceremony.

Maryland Cultural Data Project workshops attract more than 100 attendees
Maryland Cultural Data Project workshops were held at the Howard County Community College on June 23 and the Maryland Institute College of Art on June 27. Representatives from the Pew Charitable Trusts, administrators of the project, spoke to approximately 100 attendees about the creation of the Cultural Data Project and its goals to provide an easier application process for potential grantees through the development of a standardized system for reporting organizational data; and the creation of a consistent, reliable and useful source for comprehensive data on arts and culture in Maryland. Attendees also had a virtual tour of the project and instructions on how to enter their data and create grants reports. On the Net: Maryland State Arts Council .

Governor O'Malley and Senator Mikulski team up for increased arts funding
Governor Martin O'Malley asked Maryland's senior Senator, Barbara Mikulski, to support full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. In a June 26 letter to Senator Mikulski, the Governor encouraged her vote as a member of the Appropriations committee to support the $35 million increase for the NEA already approved by the House Appropriations Committee. The move would help the NEA recover from deep cuts made over the past decade. Forty percent of the increase would directly increase block grants to the states and support such programs as Maryland Traditions, Challenge America, ARTvantage and American Masterpieces. On the Net: Americans for the Arts

IN THE NEWS

City's chief of tourism taking over job for state
Margot Amelia, who will step into the executive director role Monday, spent three years at the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association. Before that, while at a local advertising agency, she coordinated the marketing for a hotel chain. A Baltimore native, Amelia said she has enjoyed the opportunity to sell the city and is looking forward to widening her reach.

A 'Die Hard' locale you'll know well: Charm City
Bruce Willis sightings. Traffic jams that left drivers fuming. Helicopters whizzing through the city sky. A heavy dose of moviemaking razzle-dazzle, right here in Charm City.

BACVA hoping homemade videos will lure tourists
With Tuesday’s launch of VisitMyBaltimore.com, the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association is hoping to capitalize on the phenomenon of posting videos online to help lure tourists. BACVA officials say they believe potential visitors will respond to seeing videos made by residents highlighting the best of the city.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Office of Tourism hosting July two press trips

  • July 10-12: Harford County will partner with OTD to host six writers on a Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network themed trip. Journalists representing Home and Away, Journeys, Insider Magazine, Philadelphia Sun, sportsology.net, and Maryland Life will tour sites in Havre de Grace and Aberdeen.

  • July 17-19: Calvert County is co-sponsoring a sportfishing trip to Chesapeake Beach for active members of the New York Metropolitan Area Outdoor Writers Association. Writers from Hudson Valley newspaper syndication, The Trentonian, ESPN.com, The Fisherman and the Lebanon (PA) Daily News will go out with Captain Russ Mogel on the Mary Lou II.

Maryland State Arts Council FY2008 grants deadlines

  • Arts in Communities Grants: September 19, 2007; January 16, 2008
  • Community Arts Development/Technical Assistance Grants: August 8, 2007, October 17, 2007, February 21, 2008
  • Community Arts Development NEA/Challenge America: August 15, 2007, October 25, 2007, February 15, 2008
  • Grants for Organizations/Technical Assistance Grants: August 16, 2007; October 18, 2007; February 7, 2008
  • Individual Artist Awards: July 26, 2007
  • Grants for Organizations: October 11, 2007

    More grants information

Events on the horizon:

Garrett Lakes Arts Festival , McHenry, July 14
Artscape, Baltimore, July 20 – 22
25th Annual Crab Days, St. Michael's, July 28 – 29
Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival, Sandy Point State Park, August 4 – 5
Art Walk, Annapolis, August 16