FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Please see the mid-Atlantic destination contacts noted in each section below. For
general Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance information, please contact:
Alicia M. Quinn
Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau
MATPRA Chairperson, 2012-13
(570) 421-5791 x 3121
[email protected]
The Mid-Atlantic Region Boosts Arts and Culture Venues and Attractions Sure To Please
(U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region, January 22, 2013) Discover stunning performance venues, explore unique
museums and enjoy live entertainment this winter with a trip to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United
States. The quaint towns and bustling cities are filled with one-of a-kind attractions and events for anyone
looking to experience the arts and culture of the Mid-Atlantic. Below is just a taste of what awaits visitors!
(For more information, please contact the state tourism office or the CVB listed.)
Delaware
The Plein Air Paint Out! is an opportunity for visitors to participate in a unique arts experience, interact
with local and regional artists and experience America’s Colonial and Victorian architecture and heritage.
Set in downtown Dover, Delaware’s historic district, from April 28 – May 5, 2013, new artists are welcome.
Kent County & Greater Dover Delaware Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lorraine J. Dion,
[email protected], visitdover.com.
The Delaware Art Museum is mounting an exhibition on American illustration titled “State of the Art:
Illustration 100 Years after Pyle”. This exhibit will be on display from February 9 thru June 1, 2013. The
museum is known for its collections of American art and illustration and British Pre-Raphaelite works.
Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lyn Lewis, [email protected],
VisitWilmingtonDE.com.
Maryland
The stage is set for crowd-pleasing performances at venues throughout Maryland while galleries and
internationally renowned museums offer a veritable feast for the eyes. Visit the Maryland Arts Council
website to learn more about our state-wide Arts and Entertainment Districts, venues, events and
individual artists. Maryland Office of Tourism, Connie Yingling, [email protected],
visitmaryland.org.
Performances by Annapolis Chorale, Annapolis Opera, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and Ballet
Theatre of Maryland make it easy to insert music into your day. Twenty-five downtown fine art galleries
are located within walking distance of one another. St. John’s College’s Mitchell Gallery is the area’s only
accredited fine arts museum. Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau, Susan
Steckman, [email protected], VisitAnnapolis.org.
The Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum will premiere a permanent, new 3-D film that reveals the genesis of
our national anthem being played at sporting events throughout America. Screened on an exciting, new
projection technology, the film will also feature a composite of renditions dating from the 1930s to the
present. Visit Baltimore, Moneé Cottman, [email protected], Baltimore.org.
Explore a special place where art and nature meet! Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in
Solomons, Maryland, features a walking path that meanders through the woods past permanent and
loaned sculptures. The award-winning Arts Building includes rotating exhibition space, a gift shop and
classes for all ages. Calvert County Department of Economic Development, Joyce Baki,
[email protected], choosecalvert.com.
Enjoy live community theater in this rural setting. Port Tobacco Players presents:” Brighton Beach
Memoirs,” which provides a portrait of the writer as a young teen in 1937 living with his family in a
crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. The show runs Fridays-Sundays, Jan. 25- Feb. 10, 2013.
Charles County Government Office of Tourism, Catherine Carroll, [email protected],
charlescountymd.gov.
Hagerstown is home to Maryland’s first Arts and Entertainment District and the first county Arts Council in
the state. Visit the historic Maryland Theatre (circa 1915) and the world-class Maryland Symphony
Orchestra. Also, see the finest small fine arts museum in the nation, the Washington County Museum of
Fine Arts. Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tom Riford,
mailto:[email protected], marylandmemories.com.
A unique twist on arts: al fresco! ARTsites creates a dozen new sculptures each year. Columbia Festival
of Arts brings weekend-long sidewalk chalk competition while Plein Air artists flock to Ellicott City each
July. Experience theatre under the stars with Chesapeake Shakespeare; Merriweather Post hosts huge
acts all summer long! Howard County Tourism & Promotion, Lori Paddy, [email protected],
VisitHowardCounty.com.
Enjoy music performances at the metro-accessible Fillmore in Silver Spring or Strathmore in Bethesda.
VisArts Rockville has an award-winning art gallery and popular ‘Mud & Merlot’ classes. The Bethesda
Blues & Jazz Supper Club features live music, New Orleans cuisine. Mystery theatre and dinner abound
at the historic Blair Mansion. Conference and Visitors Bureau of Montgomery County, Maryland, Bethany
Mattocks, [email protected], visitmontgomery.com.
Pennsylvania
Though the weather outside is frightful, the arts and culture scene in Butler County, PA is delightful! Head
to Butler all winter long for fantastic performances by two cultural staples. Butler Little Theater will present
“Rabbit Hole” and ‘Italian American Reconciliation.” Butler Symphony will present “Passionate Russians”
and “Movie Night.” Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, Patti Jo Lambert,
[email protected], VisitButlerCounty.com.
Visual and performing artists line State College streets with art, dance, music… enveloping your senses
in a taste of the creative at the Central PA Festival of the Arts. Ranked second on the list of Best Fine Art
& Design Shows in America, it’s a July tradition for 100,000 attendees. Central PA Convention & Visitors
Bureau, Christie Black, [email protected], visitpennstate.org.
Art meets Culture at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art. This cooperative art gallery is modern in its decor'
and features pieces from stained glass to digital art. Elephant paintings from Indonesia and the world's
oldest working carousel also welcome visitors from around the world. Visit Clearfield County, Holly
Komonczi, [email protected], VisitClearfieldCounty.org.
Performing arts enthusiasts can experience Franklin County’s culture on the stages of the area’s historic
theaters. Built in 1927, Chambersburg’s Capitol Theatre is a converted movie house with a touch of
elegance that newer structures can’t recreate. Mercersburg’s Star Theatre, built in 1911, is now home to
The Pennsylvania Opry. Franklin County Visitors Bureau, Scott Hershberger, [email protected],
ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com.
Designed in 1902 in a Beaux-Arts style with Renaissance themes throughout, the Pennsylvania State
Capitol in Harrisburg is a “palace of art” with a dome inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica and sculptures,
murals and stained-glass windows handcrafted mostly by Pennsylvania artisans to reflect the Keystone
State’s culture and heritage. The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, Rick Dunlap,
[email protected], VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org.
Downtown Lancaster is home to a major regional theater that produces its own shows, a symphonic
orchestra, three art museums, a performance arts venue and an accredited four-year fine arts college.
Add numerous art galleries to the mix, and there’s no better arts scene in PA between Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, Joel Cliff, [email protected],
discoverlancasterpa.com.
There are countless ways to experience the unique culture of the Pocono Mountains. Whether it’s
stepping back in time to visit millionaires from the Industrial Revolution, taking-in some of the region’s fine
art or enjoying a top-notch musical performance, the Pocono Mountains is sure to enrich and engage
your senses. Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Alicia Quinn, [email protected], 800poconos.com.
Visit Reading, PA for a double dose of world class art and music. GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is a
whole city block where art happens. The annual Berks Jazz Fest offers 10 days of the best and brightest
jazz musicians. Art filled days; jazz filled nights; Greater Reading, PA. Greater Reading Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Lisa Haggerty, [email protected], gogreaterreading.com.
Experience Broadway-style productions, comedy performances, live music and family shows at a cultural
gem, the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center. This 1,200-seat Italian Renaissance-style theatre
welcomes big-name performers such as Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa; Gaelic Storm, Michael
Bolton; Ron White; the Glenn Miller Orchestra and more in 2013! York County Convention & Visitors
Bureau, Allison Freeman, [email protected], yorkpa.org.
Virginia
The century-old Old Town Theater returned to original splendor with its grand re-opening in December
2012. Built for vaudeville, it offers comedy revues (complete calendar coming soon). With shopping and
dining nearby, it is a rare example of a for-profit movie theater renovated back into a live performance
venue. Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association, Claire Mouledoux, [email protected],
VisitAlexandriaVA.com.
Explore creative Arlington, the vibrant arts and culture scene that the Washington Post called “a hotbed of
cultural abandon.” Arlington boasts more than 50 arts organizations, including a Tony Award-winning
theatre, dance companies, the Arlington Arts Center and Artisphere, which both feature unique spaces for
local artists. Arlington Convention & Visitors Service, Cara O'Donnell, [email protected],
stayarlington.com.
At the Garth Newel Music Center in Hot Springs, music is the key that unlocks a world of experience.
From classical to jazz and more, inspired music-making is just the beginning. Gourmet meals, musical
performances within an exquisite Bath County setting. Bath Weekends Are Better Than Yours. Find Out
How. County of Bath Office of Tourism, Maggie Anderson, [email protected],
DiscoverBath.com.
This April-August, Hampton University Museum, the oldest African American museum in the U.S., hosts
The Journey of Hope in America: Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama. The exhibition, featuring
the works of 95 fiber artists, commemorates a historic milestone in American history, the election of an
African American president. Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau, Ryan LaFata,
[email protected], visithampton.com.
Inspire yourself! Visit eleven private working studios and discover how artists create their works along the
scenic Lexington Rockbridge Studio Tour (third weekend of April; April 20-21, 2013). Meet artistproprietors and guest artists, see them at work, enjoy refreshments from local eateries and take home a
masterpiece. Free admission. Lexington & the Rockbridge Area Tourism, Beth Homicz,
[email protected], lexingtonvirginia.com.
Opening this summer at The Mariners’ Museum, America’s National Maritime Museum, is “Fragile
Waters.” This traveling exhibition features three iconic photographers and environmentalists: Ansel
Adams, Ernest H. Brooks II and Dorothy Kerper Monnelly. Enjoy compelling photographs of seascapes,
marshland, icebergs, shorelines, underwater scenes, Yosemite waterfalls and Yellowstone geysers.
Newport News Tourism Development Office, Rebecca Cutchins, [email protected], newportnews.org.
Explore the Hylton Performing Arts Center where local, national and international artists perform. The
facility, which also houses a stunning art gallery, boasts 85,000 sq.ft. accommodating everything from
orchestra and theatre groups to ballet companies and musical productions. Come Feb. 9, 2013, for the
China National Symphony Orchestra. Discover Prince William & Manassas, Jennifer Buske,
mailto:[email protected], visitpwc.com.
Recognized internationally as a premiere cultural event, the annual French Film Festival in Richmond,
Va., celebrates its 21st year March 21-24. Screenings of the newest French features, as well as short
films produced by talented up-and-comers, are accompanied by an official reception and question-andanswer sessions with the actors and directors. Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau,
Erin Bagnell, mailto:[email protected], VisitRichmondVA.com.
Reopening in May 2013, Center in the Square, is a one-stop cultural center for the region showcasing
science, history, African-American heritage, theatre, aquariums, rooftop adventures and a butterfly
pavilion, equaling a hot spot for family fun located in the heart of downtown Roanoke near the Taubman
Museum of Art. Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, Catherine Fox, [email protected],
visitrvablueridge.com.
Downtown Smithfield, an Arts & Culture District, is alive with the arts! Smithfield Music offers Americana
Roots concerts, “Sundays at Four” features chamber concerts in intimate settings and the Smithfield Little
Theatre presents a variety of theatrical productions in their state-of-the-art theater. Smithfield & Isle of
Wight Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lois Tokarz, [email protected],
VisitSmithfieldIsleOfWight.com.
Let us entertain you in Winchester-Frederick County, VA! Cultural opportunities are plentiful and include
live theatre, musical performances of all kinds, dance, museums and art. Be sure to check out Wayside
Theatre, Shenandoah University’s Conservatory, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah
Summer Music Theatre and the Shenandoah Arts Council. Winchester-Frederick County Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Sally Coates, mailto:[email protected], VisitWinchesterVA.com.
West Virginia
Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg has operated as a regional center for the visual and performing arts since
1983. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, and one of only four Carnegie's in the world, notable
performers such as Taj Mahal, Isaac Stern, Ralph Stanley and George Winston have graced its historic
stage. West Virginia Division of Tourism, Jacqueline Proctor, mailto:[email protected],
wvtourism.com.
About Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance The Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance
(MATPRA) is a cohesive unit of regional tourism partners encompassing Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The group serves travel journalists by creating a regional resource that ignores
geographical boundaries. The Alliance promotes common threads and offers saleable stories to journalists about the
mid-Atlantic destination as a whole. For more information, visit matpra.org.
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