Massachusetts: State Legislator Listening Tour on Arts and Tourism

There is a unique effort under way in Massachusetts to develop the potential of cultural tourism. State legislators have embarked on a listening tour in an effort to learn about local cultural tourism prospects and develop policies that strengthen the arts and arts-driven tourism. By the end of 2014, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development—in partnership with the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism and regional tourism councils—will visit all of Massachusetts’s cultural districts and tourism regions. Through community forums, legislators aim to learn more about the state’s cultural heritage and how policymakers can leverage the attraction and economic benefits of the arts. They are seeking feedback from the cultural and business communities as well as the general public. The listening tour is an example of how a state can engage multiple stakeholders in developing a cultural tourism agenda. It also illustrates a method for cultivating legislative leadership for the arts and creative economic development. For more information, contact MCC Communications Director Greg Liakos.