Virgin Islands
Humanities Council
"We the People" Project
2007
The National Endowment of the Humanities [NEH] supports a national initiative called We The People. Its goal is to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture through the support of projects that explore significant events and themes and advance knowledge of the principles that define America
In
September 2006, NEH awarded the Virgin Islands Humanities Council a grant of
$46,280 to support a state project entitled, “The
Future of the Past: The Business of
Cultural Heritage Tourism.” The
Virgin Islands is beginning to revitalize its culture and heritage: there is an
exploration of the economic benefits of preserving and promoting our culture and
heritage through tourism, the mainstay of the Virgin Islands economy. The Virgin
Islands Humanities Council in support of the territory’s need to enhance,
develop and manage a successful cultural and heritage tourism product will
execute a conference, VI Heritage Tourism Website and publication proceedings
for dissemination to tourism leaders, cultural organizations, public and private
sector leaders and members of the community.
September
14 & 15, 2007
2007 WTP Cultural and Heritage Tourism Conference: "The Future of the
Past: The Business of Cultural and Heritage Tourism"
Location: Carambola Beach Resort, St. Croix Time:
09:00:00 a. m.
In
order to develop trends in cultural heritage tourism and modes of economic
empowerment through the celebration of the cultural and heritage of the Virgin
Islands and the Americas, a Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Conference furthered the groundwork undertaken by local organizations.
Two international scholars presented keynote addresses.
The two-day conference also presented a multimedia exhibit entitled,
“My Neighborhood, My Virgin Islands,” showcasing V.I. social histories.
Approximately 18 scholars and entrepreneurs conducted workshops geared
towards the following topics: Arts and Humanities, Historic Preservation,
Education and Training, Economic Impact and Accountability, Promotion and
Marketing, and Policy. (Please visit our website
http://www.vihumanities.org/WTP2007_Conference_home.htm).
If you are interested in obtaining the DVD of the conference, please see ad.
January 2008
The
WTP 2007 Cultural and Heritage Tourism Conference Proceedings
The publication of cultural and heritage
tourism information and plans will be produced in the form of WTP 2007
proceedings. The professionally edited documents will include the presentations
of the scholars at the conference as well as a photographs and summaries of the
multimedia exhibit. The Humanities Council will disseminate the WTP 2007
proceedings territory-wide.
(Please visit our website
http://www.vihcwethepeople2007.org).
January 2008
The Virgin Islands Cultural and
Heritage Tourism Website
The Humanities will establish a site that details the various historical
churches, forts and plantation ruins on all three islands. The website will
map-out locations and list historical sites according to region and type of
heritage tourism product. It will be linked to the Virgin Islands Department of
Tourism website. (Please visit our website
http://www.vihcheritagetourism.org).
For more information, please call the Virgin Islands Humanities Council at 776-4044. The
The Virgin Islands Humanities Council is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. Its mission is to provide opportunities for the diverse population of the Virgin Islands to participate humanities programs, which promote a love of learning, encourage dialogue, enhance understanding and broaden people's judgment.
Funded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities (NEH), any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed
in this initiative do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment
for the Humanities.
