Area Attractions Receive Tourism Marketing Grant

Two area arts attractions have received grant funding from the Martinsville-Henry County EDC’s Tourism Division. Piedmont Arts and Patrick Henry Community College’s Patriot Players both applied for grants through the Tourism Division and were awarded funding to promote their programs.

Piedmont Arts used the funds for advertising and creation of high-quality bi-lingual marketing materials to promote their program: “¡Celebración de las Artes!” The program will highlight Latin American culture through a series of visual arts, performing arts and educational outreach.  Featured exhibits include “Aura” by Buenos Aires native Juan Francisco Adaro and “Ten Days in Havana” by David Spear. Performances include the Latin Ballet of Virginia on October 29 and music by Andes Manta on November 19.

Ample opportunities for hands on family fun will also be offered from the Dia de los Muertos Family Day, a traditional Hispanic Halloween celebration on October 31, to the Feliz Navidad Family Day on December 12.

The promotional post cards and a magazine-style booklet to promote the program were designed in-house by Bernadette Moore and printed by Quality Printing of Martinsville. Information on “¡Celebración de las Artes!” can be found online at PiedmontArts.com and copies of the promotional materials can be picked up at the Martinsville-Henry County Visitor Center.

According to Bernadette Moore, Director of Marketing, Communications and Design for Piedmont Arts, “We are so excited to be able to produce a bi-lingual guide for “¡Celebración de las Artes!”, through the support of the Martinsville-Henry County EDC’s Tourism Division. This guide will be an invaluable resource, helping to engage our Spanish-speaking community through Piedmont Arts programs.”

Patrick Henry Community College’s Patriot Players used the grant funds to develop a website to promote the organization’s upcoming shows and to engage both students and the public to get involved in theatrical arts through acting, volunteering and attending performances.

The colorful website was designed by HD Web Studio and features information on the upcoming performances, which include “The Addams Family” this month, “Love, Loss and What I Wore + MOMologues” in March and “Tarzan” in April. The site also details information on volunteer opportunities and fundraisers.

The new website can be seen at PHCCPatriotPlayers.com. Tickets to “The Addams Family” are on sale now through the website and also at the MHC Visitor Center.

The Tourism Marketing Grants program is offered twice each year by the EDC’s Tourism Division. Funds are to be used by area attractions, lodging providers, restaurants and retail venues to promote their offerings to new audiences and out of town visitors.

Area tourism generated more than $66 million for Martinsville-Henry County in 2014 and supported 735 jobs. According to Jennifer Doss, Director of Tourism for Martinsville-Henry County, “Our office relies on area partners to create high-quality events, venues and exhibits in order to attract visitors to the area. Both Piedmont Arts and The Patriot Players used their grant funds to create exciting marketing pieces that will be valuable additions to our current marketing efforts.”

Additional information about Piedmont Arts, PHCC’s Patriot Players and other area attractions is available online at www.VisitMartinsville.com and at the state-certified Martinsville-Henry County Visitor Center at 191 Fayette Street in Martinsville.