Cultural Heritage Workshop to be held in Excelsior Springs

Cultural heritage tourism is a growing trend across the globe, with travelers seeking out authentic cultural experiences that offer insight into the local history and traditions of a community. As a result, many communities are looking to develop and promote cultural heritage tourism as a way to generate economic benefits while also preserving and promoting their unique cultural heritage.

However, understanding the complex issues and concepts involved in cultural heritage tourism can be challenging, and implementing successful strategies requires careful planning and collaboration across various sectors. That’s why the Missouri Humanities is hosting a cultural heritage workshop on April 15th, featuring an interactive presentation that provides clean and illustrated examples of key concepts and issues involved with cultural heritage tourism.

Led by W. Arthur Mehrhoff, Ph.D. (Emeritus), the workshop draws upon both community design and the humanities to help participants refine their working understanding of cultural heritage tourism and its proper place in their communities. Participants will also learn meaningful ways to make cultural heritage tourism happen in their own communities, with numerous opportunities to apply the concepts and strategies discussed in the workshop.

Mehrhoff is an experienced community designer and expert in cultural heritage tourism, with over a decade of experience in Main Street and downtown planning/revitalization in St. Louis and fifteen years in Minnesota. He holds an M.A. in Urban Affairs from Washington University in Saint Louis an a Ph.D. in American Studies (emphases on material culture) from Saint Louis University.

Arthur has also worked extensively on community design with Missouri communities through the Governor’s DREAM initiative, the Missouri River Communities Network, and Missouri Humanities. He served on the steering committee for the Missouri Humanities German Heritage Corridor initiative and authored “Explore Missouri’s German Heritage” for Missouri Life magazine in cooperation with Missouri Humanities.

Overall, the Missouri Humanities cultural heritage workshop promises to be an informative and engaging event for anyone interested in cultural heritage tourism and its potential benefits for their community. Participants will gain valuable insights from an expert in the field and have the opportunity to connect with others who share their passion for preserving and promoting local cultural heritage. Click here to register.