MCC Adams Grant Task Force

Economic Development Council

Meeting: September 27, 2006, 1:00 pm

Judge Welsh Room, Town Hall

 

Present:  Acting Assistant Town Manager/Grant Administrator Michelle Jarusiewicz, Steve Melamed/EDC, Ellen Burbank/PMPM, Bill Schneider/Administrative Director of Tourism, Hunter O’Hanian/FAWC/EDC, Chris McCarthy/PAAM, Gabby Hanna/EDC & Film Fest, Andy Reynolds/Castle Hill, Guy Wolf/Provincetown Theater

 

 

Streetscape: meeting with ICON architecture scheduled for Friday, September 29, 2006 at 9:30 am at PAAM to review preliminary findings and plan outreach and charrettes.

 

 

Packaging subcommittee report: recommendation [see memo below] to move forward with focus on marketing the core business of the cultural institutions with packaging defined as not only the marketing effort to get visitors to Provincetown but the creation of specific relationships between the cultural institutions and businesses. Also under discussion is the collaboration with the PBG and the VSB on hosting a workshop or series of workshops on packaging along with an education and outreach program to facilitate these partnerships.

 

The task force members all agreed that they recommend dual tracking on packaging to include the focus on the core businesses as described as well as to work with the Monument’s Centennial celebration.

 

Survey: Based on the recommendation of the survey subcommittee, the presentation by UMass on the draft report for the Spring 2006 & Summer 2005 Visitor Survey will be postponed and combined with the Fall report – that survey is happening now. The report will be available at the town’s website or contact AATM/GA Jarusiewicz for a hard copy.

 

 

MCC Adams 2007 application: All present agreed to move forward with a 2007 application as outlined by Acting Assistant Town Manager/Grant Administrator Michelle Jarusiewicz [estimated at approximately $100,000 over 2 years] under the Adams grant for the continuation of the current activities as follows:

(1)    Streetscape: program development [year 1] and implementation [year 2] for story telling – the Streetscape project will tell Provincetown’s stories with regard to the arts, fishing, history, etc. – this project will plan the stories – the who, what, where, when and how? What stories do we want to tell? Where and how? Narration within the virtual cultural center – where? What? Who? The stories can be reflected in art – sculptures, photos, murals, tiles [think of those on the house floated over from Long Point], photos, etc. directly involving the artists. There may be 50 or 70 tiles scattered around town identifying points of interest. Think treasure hunt, walking trails.

(2)    Packaging and Cultural Coordination: building on the work done in the fall of 06, conduct additional packaging workshops and education; teach businesses why it is to their benefit to package with cultural institutions; cross-marketing; follow through on setting up packages.

 

 

Adjourned 2:00 pm

 

MCC Adams grant activities funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council Adams grant and a grant from the Cape Cod Economic Development Council.

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:       MCC Adams Task Force

From:   MCC Adams Task Force – packaging subcommittee

RE:       Consideration of Agreement regarding Packaging focus

Date:    September 22, 2006

 

 

In response to the goals outlined in the last MCCTF meeting (see notes from September 15th) the packaging subcommittee met to discuss the focus of the packaging and to set a course of direction for the project. 

 

I. Focus:

The packaging subcommittee is requesting consideration by the MCC Adams Task Force to formally adopt the following decision that was reached at our meeting September 22, 2006

 

The focus of our packaging energies will be on marketing the core business (see attached document outlining them) of the cultural institutions (as defined by the MCCATF) rather than on a single event.  The sub-committee feels this is a prudent course of action that will support the organizational infrastructures rather than draining their limited resources.

 

II. Packaging Strategy/Plan 2006:

As a summary to this summer’s committee and sub-committee discussions, a strategy has emerged to execute this project.  The following plan will continue to evolve through the committee process.  External elements such as bad weather and a declining national economy have clearly had an impact on the local economy presenting an additional challenge to the project.  We have explored basic visibility issues with the marketing partners and the Task Force is now re-energizing through the facilitative process.

 

1. Packaging defined: 

Packaging is defined as not only the marketing effort to get visitors to Provincetown but the creation of specific relationships – the visitor to the cultural institutions and local businesses.

 

Example: A student participating in weeklong classes is provided with a list of discounted lodging options before coming to Provincetown and once they are here they receive coupons for discounted meals at a partnering restaurant. 

 

2. Packaging workshop: Educational Outreach – workshop with local businesses

The subcommittee is working on a plan to host a workshop or series of packaging workshops through the partnership that will educate the business community about the activities of the cultural institutions; the amount of people they bring to Provincetown; the specific needs of these visitors and how to create packages to meet their needs.  The workshop will be called “How do I get more business?” (tentatively)

 

3. Implementation: Educational process – implementation plan

An implementation plan will arise from these workshops with the ultimate goal of creating self perpetuating relationships between the business community and the cultural organizations. The sub-committee will continue to focus on the development of this plan in keeping with the grant’s goals.  Some of the expected outcomes include: facilitation of direct contact and the building of new relationships between the organizational leadership and business owners; identification of matches between organizational needs and the provision of goods/services; and the inclusion of more partners in the planning process. 

4. Marketing:

As previously stated the Task Force has explored visibility issues and we continue to do so by exploring the following ideas: 

 

  • We are proposing that the marketing organizations consider adding a question to their application processes:  Are you packaging goods/services with our cultural institutions and other businesses? If so with whom?

 

  • The creation of an “arts pin” with the design coming from the community.

 

  • Marketing collaboration with the partners to reach visitors, trade fairs and new business partners.

 

5. Attachments:

The partnership will continue to work to refine the information contained in the following attachments:

 

  • Grid of  the Core businesses of the cultural institutions
  • Provincetown Cultural Organization participation numbers
  • “One time” events list