The Virgin Islands Humanities Council Announces Plans For 2007 "We The People" Grant Initiative
Date: April 19, 2007 | Press Release: #07-002
The National Endowment of the Humanities [NEH] supports a national initiative called We The People. Its goal is to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture through the support of projects that explore significant events and themes and advance knowledge of the principles that define America.
In September 2006, NEH awarded the Virgin Islands Humanities Council a grant of $46,280 to support a state project entitled, "The Future of the Past: The Business of Cultural Heritage Tourism." The conference will assist the Virgin Islands in further realizing the economic benefits of preserving and promoting our culture and heritage through tourism the mainstay of the Virgin Islands economy, stated Mabel Maduro, Executive Director of the Humanities Council.
The Virgin Islands Humanities Council, in support of the territory's need to enhance, develop and manage a successful cultural and heritage tourism product, will execute a conference, VI Heritage Tourism Website and publication proceedings for dissemination to tourism leaders, cultural organizations, public and private sector leaders and members of the community by the end of 2007. The two-day Cultural and Heritage Tourism Conference will be held on September 14 & 15, 2007 on the island of St. Croix. "The Honorable Donna M. Christensen, Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, VI State Historic Preservation Office, Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association, Christiansted National Historic Site, and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism are cohorts of this project. Additionally, a 13 member advisory committee of St. Thomas - St. John and St. Croix community leaders, board members and staff have assisted with review of the Council's overall plans for the conference and provided input on various aspects, explained Maduro."
The purpose of the conference is to create trends in cultural and heritage tourism and develop modes of economic empowerment through the celebration of cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands and the Americas, link Virgin Islands hospitality industry leaders to renowned international experts and models for successful cultural& heritage development and conduct workshops to assist the creative sector, leaders, and school-age youth in becoming an integral part of a cultural heritage tourism product.
The Council is in need of additional funding to assist with this initiative and other education and community development programs. We certainly would welcome private/public sector sponsorship of this very significant event to ensure that the activity is adequately realized, the Council plans to unveil detailed conference plans by the end of April, stated Mabel J. Maduro, Executive Director of the Council.
For further information, call the Virgin Islands Humanities Council at 776-4044.