In a previous blog post, we introduced you to Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County's Acting Executive Director Dani Bottcher, and you got the chance to learn more about the recent initiatives of our local Destination Marketing Organization. Consider supporting their efforts by participating in their latest marketing campaign, "Remember When...
Read More
The Maryland Day celebration event originally scheduled for March is now back with free events during the month of June. You can enjoy virtually with your family and friends at no cost. There are also a few in-person activities that you can enjoy with your family. This new collection of events is called Maryland Day: Unpaused. Maryland Day: Unpaused will take place June 5-29. With so many things placed on hold, we are here to highlight our Maryland Day partners' re-openings post Covid-19, with new online content, virtual experiences, and outdoor places to...
Read More
As you begin thinking about reopening, an important category to consider is membership. Your members are the heart of your organization, your loyal visitors and donors. But how do you continue to engage with your members while your organization is closed, or while they choose to remain "safer at home"? How will you continue to retain and attract them in the midst of post-COVID-19 uncertainty? Below are a selection of free, recorded (and easy to access) webinars offered by Cuseum, many from their Membership Mondays webinar series, that can help guide and...
Read More
Businesses across Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are beginning to reopen, which means nonprofits, museums, and other cultural sites should also be planning now for when they’re able to open to the public. In past blog posts we have shared some of the beneficial webinars, publications, and other resources from the American Alliance for State and Local History (AASLH). The below comes straight from them to help you! To help museums share thinking as they navigate the challenges and uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alliance is compiling examples of...
Read More
The City of Annapolis is asking members of the public to help make masks for #Masks4Annapolis. If you or one of your staff members or volunteers is handy with a needle, thread, and a little flair, here's an opportunity to not only help the community, but raise awareness for your organization. Are you proud of your historic gardens? Represent them with some bright florals. Is your mission dedicated to supporting artists? We're sure they know how to make a unique statement. Your masks could even win you a prize! Grab your...
Read MoreThe Hogan administration recently announced that the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) has awarded 59 matching grants totaling $600,440 to heritage tourism nonprofits located in Maryland’s 13 Certified Heritage Areas. These grant funds support emergency operating costs that will help keep nonprofit organizations operational, as the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic ramifications continue. We are pleased to share the official announcement here. “As we gradually begin to open carefully across Maryland during this pandemic, it is critical that we support struggling nonprofits to help maintain the state’s heritage tourism economy,”...
Read MoreIn a previous blog post, we shared Anne Arundel County's Small Business Customer & Employee Protection Grant. We're pleased to announce the grant is now available to nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate sufficient need in order to comply with regulations, enact safe and healthy best practices and maximize customer engagement opportunities. The grant program is administered through Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC). About the Grant Organizations can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 that can cover the following purchases: PPE for employees Protective shields/dividers Sanitation products and services such...
Read More
[caption id="attachment_27894" align="alignleft" width="163"] Dani Bottcher, Visit Annapolis[/caption] In yesterday's blog post, we talked about some of the great work Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County does as the Destination Marketing Organization for the Four Rivers Heritage Area. Today, we get to know Dani Bottcher, Acting Executive Director, and learn more about her ideas for the organization's future. FR: People may not realize you’ve been with the Visitors Center for a while, what most appealed to you about going to work there? DB: I have worked at the Visitors Center for 9 years....
Read MoreDid you know every county in Maryland (and every heritage area) has a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO)? Ours is Visit Annapolis! Its full marketing name is "Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County" (VAAAC). Much more than a visitor information center, they are responsible for generating revenue for the local economy by promoting Annapolis, the county, and the Chesapeake Bay to leisure and business travelers across the country and around the world. Even during these challenging times, their team has been hard at work marketing our area, whether it’s engaging us from home...
Read MoreOver the past weekend, Historic London Town opened their gardens to the public at limited capacity. In anticipation of further reopenings in the future, here are some other sites in the Four Rivers Heritage Area that feature historically and environmentally significant gardens you'll want to discover as soon as you get the chance. Located in Annapolis, the Carroll House offers unparalleled views of the water from one of the most intact 18th century garden designs in the Chesapeake region. In addition to the house itself, the garden contains three terraces and...
Read More