BEAD and Visit Bloomington Win National Tourism and Arts Promotion Award

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 19, 2013

For more information, please contact:

Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, City of Bloomington Economic and Sustainable Development Department, 349.3534

BEAD and Visit Bloomington Win National Tourism and Arts Promotion Award

Bloomington, Ind. - The Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) and Visit Bloomington are recipients of the 2013 Arts Destination Marketing Award which was presented jointly by Americans for the Arts and Destination Marketing Association International at the National Arts Marketing Program Conference in Portland, Ore. The award recognizes destination marketing organizations and local arts agencies that work collaboratively to market their community as a travel destination.

The award acknowledges Bloomington's deliberate and highly focused strategy to leverage the significant arts and cultural assets in the community including arts and cultural sector-focused visitor guides, promotional grant program, partnered marketing and one-on-one event and attraction consulting, networking facilitation and training.

Bloomington has experienced tremendous growth in the number of visitors coming to the community to experience arts and cultural events; interest from visitors searching for arts and cultural information on the Visit Bloomington website has increased by 213% since 2008 and 57% of visitors attend a theater performance, visit a museum or enjoy live music while in Bloomington.

This increased visitor traffic brings direct benefit to Bloomington's arts and cultural organizations as well as to the overall local economy. As noted by Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts Miah Michaelsen, "Bloomington's arts sector currently contributes $72.3 million to the local economy annually through direct spending by arts organizations and their audiences - at local restaurants, retail, lodging and through wages paid and materials purchased. Getting more visitors to Bloomington's arts and cultural opportunities helps the sector expand and, in the process, ensures those arts-based organizations and businesses remain robust and vibrant into the future. We're delighted to have such a strong partner as Visit Bloomington in this effort."

For more information on the award, contact Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts Miah Michaelsen at michaelm@bloomington.in.gov or 349.3534.

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