The April 15 Missouri Humanities cultural heritage workshop will feature an interactive Powerpoint presentation to provide you with clear, illustrated examples of key concepts and issues involved with cultural heritage tourism, plus numerous opportunities to apply them to your own community. The workshop draws upon both community design and the humanities to help you refine your working understanding of cultural heritage tourism, its proper place in your communities, as well as meaningful ways to make it happen.
You will also experience Excelsior Springs’ cultural sites during a walking tour in the afternoon after a brief lunch break (on your own). Come learn how heritage and culture can benefit your community, and brainstorm ways to increase engagement and better utilize your community’s assets. This event is free and all are welcome to attend, but registration is required. To secure your spot, click here.
W. Arthur Mehrhoff, Ph.D. (Emeritus) will serve as your guide. Arthur holds an M.A. in Urban Affairs from Washington University in Saint Louis. He worked for over a decade in Main Street and downtown planning/revitalization in his hometown St. Louis and for fifteen years in Minnesota, where he received a Presidential Citation from the Minnesota chapter of the American Institute of Architects for his community design work with the award-winning Minnesota Design Team. His textbook Community Design: A Team Approach to Dynamic Community Systems (1999) for Sage Publications draws heavily upon those experiences. Arthur has also worked extensively on community design with Missouri communities through the Governor’s DREAM initiative (2007-2008), Missouri River Communities Network and, more recently, Missouri Humanities.
Arthur also holds a Ph.D. (1986) in American Studies (emphasis on material culture) from Saint Louis University. He has worked as a museum educator at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and served from 2006-2017 as the Academic Coordinator for the Museum of Art & Archaeology at the University of Missouri. 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.