Four local professionals from the performing-arts, visual-arts and marketing worlds will comprise the panel at a special presentation that will teach downtown businesses how to connect with nonprofit and private sector arts and culture venues, forming a destination network to attract tourists.
The breakfast seminar, The Business of Art: Round 3—Arts & Culture as a Tourism Destination will be hosted by North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the town’s Business & Tourism Development Corportation (BTDC) on Friday, Sept. 16, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Harbor Links Club House at 1 Fairway Dr. in Port Washington.
“The arts are an important part of North Hempstead’s rich culture,” said Bosworth. “This seminar will serve as an excellent resource in teaching our local businesses how the arts can be used to boost our local economy and serve as a driver for the tourism market.”
The panel will be moderated by BTDC Executive Director Kim Kaiman and Bosworth will provide the opening remarks. The seminar will feature four speakers who are familiar with making arts and culture a tourist destination on Long Island:
• Alexandra Ainatchi, owner of SUS Gallery on Middle Neck Road in the Village of Great Neck Plaza, will discuss her role as an art gallery owner, selecting art and marketing her business to customers.
• Sharon Maier-Kennelly, former executive director of Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington and current general manager and director of programming initiatives at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post in Brookville, will discuss how performing-arts venues attract patrons, and team up with local restaurants and businesses to attract and serve customers.
• Theresa Statz-Smith, executive director of Long Island Arts Alliance (LIAA), will discuss the LIAA Tourism Initiative and its goal to turn the region’s creative economy into a tourism market.
• Kristen Jarnagin, president and CEO of the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (LICVB) and Sports Commission, will discuss the history and funding of the LICVB as well as promoting Long Island’s tourist assets to local residents and visitors from outside the region.
The seminar is sponsored by Albrecht, Viggiano, Zurech & Company, PC (AVZ); Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana, LLP; Long Island Development Corp/Long Island Small Business Assistance Corp (LIDC/LISBAC); and PSEG Long Island. To register, visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/btdc/onlineregistration or call 516-869-7614.
