Cultural tourism is what, in sports terms, might be called the Hudson Valley”™s sweet spot; history and art all wrapped in a lovely natural setting.
To leverage the region”™s diverse attractions and boost tourism, a local wine magazine is teaming with Hudson Valley wineries and artists for a yearlong celebration that will culminate with an art show and wine tasting event in May 2011 at Lyndhurst national historic site in Tarrytown.
The event was announced last week at the close of the Connecting Arts and Tourism conference co-sponsored by Dutchess County Tourism and the Dutchess Arts Council.
“We will be promoting Hudson Valley artists, wineries, galleries and historic sites specifically to metro New York travel and culinary writers, art critics event planners and tourism professionals,” said Linda Pierro, managing editor for Hudson Valley Wine magazine, based in Greene County.
Artists are invited to submit proposals to be selected as part of 35 professionals to be paired with Hudson Valley wineries and vineyards to create their own wine-themed artwork in whatever medium they choose.
Artists must submit ideas by May 7 this year to be eligible for consideration by the art jurors. Â Selected art will be featured in events leading up to next year”™s event at Lyndhurst followed by a traveling exhibit to four venues in the Hudson Valley. Â Â Â Â Â Â
That broad approach resonates with travel professionals who attended the conference.
“This whole day has been about building partnerships,” said Mary Kay Vrba, director of Dutchess County Tourism.
The push comes against an economy that has discouraged tourism and art sales, said Carl Van Brunt, of Van Brunt Gallery in Beacon. “Beacon has been affected very strongly by the poor economy,” said Van Brunt, adding that galleries “are trying to be creative about what we are doing. We are trying to find a lot of different ways to reach people.”
He said the partnership needs to extend beyond one discipline or one city or county.
“When you come here you are not coming to just one place,” he said. “Each locale has its own character and that has its own charm.”
While the Hudson Valley is ideally set up for cultural tourism, it needs to pay more attention to strengthening  “tourism infrastructure,” said Barbara Steinfeld, vice president for the Oregon-based group Travel Portland.
She explained that meant ensuring properly marked taxis meet trains and trained hospitality workers guide tourists. “We have found little things make an big difference,” on visitors”™ views of a region, she said.
This was her first trip to the Hudson Valley and she took Metro-North from Manhattan along the river to Beacon. “It was beautiful,” said Steinfeld. “I couldn”™t believe the minute you leave the city you are immersed in tranquility.”
On a whirlwind trip to address the conference, she said she had time only to visit the collection of modern art at Dia Beacon. “I was blown away,” said Steinfeld. “It was world-class amazing.”
