Arts, Culture and Hanging Ten!

Chase Roberts cuts back on a wave during the 2010
Stuart Single Fin Showdown. Photo credit: Dick Hall.

There are many attributes that help define the marketability of a tourist destination. Among the most notable of these is a destination’s commitment to arts and culture. Some of the keybenefits of a strong arts and cultural component to a destination and community are:

(1) it generates clean industries;
(2) proliferates small enterprises;
(3) increases people’s pride in the place they live; and
(4) supports the tourism industry and improves the quality of life for residents.

Drilling down to the local level, Nancy Turrell, executive director of The Arts Council, will be in the studio to provide her thoughts on cultural tourism and share with listeners all the nitty gritty on the upcoming ArtsFest, which is produced by the Arts Council. Joining Nancy for this conversation will be Thomas Winter, the award-winning photographer, who is the festival's featured artist this year.

From arts and culture to surfing culture? Absolutely! We’ll bridge this gap with Ohana Surf Shop owner/operator Jordan Schwartz. On the very same weekend as ArtsFest, the third annual Single Fin Showdown surfing contest, which benefits the United Way of Martin County, will be taking place on Stuart Public Beach. A unique event among surf contests, in which competitors use 1970's era vintage surf boards, this competition will bring surfer dudes and dudettes from around Florida. Surfing tourism you ask? Cowabunga! Surfing and the surf culture has had an enormous role in the migration of enthusiasts to the coast and to destinations around the world in search of that perfect wave. Radio Man is looking forward to this conversation!

So, lots of art, culture and hanging ten are in store for you this week, along with the latest tourism info on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond!).

Tourism impact of Spring Training, Arts and Culture

In the first half of this week’s show, Radio Man (aka Gary Guertin) was outnumbered 4 to 1 as the ArtsFest team and Robin chatted up the now concluded 23rd ArtsFest. From the cadre of volunteers represented by Allison Wigley, the artists represented by this year’s featured artist Meg Winter, Martin County arts community represented by Arts Council of Martin County Nancy Turrell and History Lady, Talkin' Tourism’s co-host (Robin Hicks-Connors) who occupies the arts and culture board position on the Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, no stone was left unturned! It is clear that visitors that have a passion for arts and culture, and both are an important “segment” of our overall tourism product. Listen in and gain a clearer understanding of the inner workings of this hallmark event and the passion expressed by our outstanding guests.

Soon the tables were turned as former major league professional and local Martin County icon Rusty Meachum and his two sons Reese and Russell joined the show. Back to a 4 to 1, this time with the 'boys' in charge, the discussion centered around the sport of professional baseball and it’s impact on the Florida tourism scene. With teams moving from Florida, once the spring training mecca, our state has lost ground to other sunny and warm locations such as Arizona. So, at the end of the day, who will prevail, the Cactus League of Arizona or the Grapefruit League of Florida? Only time will tell. Each state’s commitment to promoting this sport in their respective locales will tell the tale. While the economic impact figures were not on the front burner, what was on the front burner was Rusty’s obvious passion for the sport and his commitment to assisting youth in our area excel in this American tradition.

If you missed the show, download it HERE. Talkin' Tourism's goal is to help you stay on top of all things tourism along the Treasure Coast and beyond!

Spring means ArtsFest and Baseball on Florida's Treasure Coast

Daylight Savings Time is back. Hooray! Now we can participate in fun outdoor activites after work, and believe it or not, Saturday is the first day of Spring!

Speaking of Spring, this week’s show will cover Spring Training, the sport of professional baseball, and its impact past, present and future like it has never been covered before. Talkin' Tourism hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors have the pleasure of welcoming Stuart’s own Rusty Meachum to the show. Rusty was born and raised in Martin County and played all his amateur ball locally. Spanning 18 season’s, Rusty pitched for more than 1,500 innings for teams including the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and Huston Astros. With numerous teams now selecting Arizona for their spring training, can Florida regain its crown of “Spring Training Capitol”? Robin will give more information on the Elliott Museum’s fabulous baseball memorabilia collection. Could the Elliott become the “Winter Baseball Hall of Fame?" Tune in to hear the discussion.

Are we in Martin County or in the Caribbean? If you join the show this Friday and listen to our special guests representing the Arts Council and ArtsFest describing this weekend’s celebration of the arts in Martin County, then you just could be “limin’ under a palm tree” with your favorite boat drink in hand! This 23rd year of arts celebration will be described in great detail by this year’s featured artist, Meg Winter, Arts Council Executive Director Nancy Turrell and ArtsFest Committee Member Alison Wigley. What's the entertainment?  Rum and Martini Bar? Anything for kids? And, how many artists? Answers to those questions and more on Friday.

Also on tap:  Bahamas update, "This Week in Martin County History," the Treasure Coast's shuffleboard  center, and just about anything else that pops into Gary and Robin’s heads.

The adventure begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 19. On the radio, tune to WPSL 1590 AM; via computer, point your browser to http://www.wpsl.com/.

Show Three: Art, ArtsFest, The Beach Boys, and Nude Beaches

The third 'Talkin' Tourism' show took listeners from the new Faculty Student Art Program at the Elliott Museum, the Arts Council and ArtsFest, and whales off of Baja, to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, VISIT FLORIDA funding being restored by Governor Crist, and why some folks in Broward County claim nude beaches are good for Florida's economy.

Host Gary Guertin of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina was joined again this week by co-host Robin Hicks-Connors, president and CEO of the Historical Society of Martin County. Guests included Nancy Turrel, executive director of the Arts Council; artist Dan Mackin, who is the 2009 featured artist of ArtsFest; and Rozeta Mahboubi, executive director of the Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Interesting tidbits from the show:

• This weekend marks the 22 ArtsFest, which will feature 123 artists. Visit the Arts Council Web site for more information.

• Dan Mackin began sketching and painting tropical islands and marine life in 1971 when his camera fell overboard during a sailboat trip. He and a friend traveled in a 24-foot sailboat and he kept a journal of the day’s events and recorded what they saw with his illustrations. And he has helped raise over $1 million dollars for the National Kidney Foundation through his art donations.

• Brian Wilson and Dan Mackin have collaborated on four pieces of art, which are interpretations of four of the songwriter's lyrics, entitled "Surfing USA," "Surfer Girl," "In My Room," and "God Only Knows," all big hits and synonymous with the beach lifestyle. To learn more visit Dan's Web site.

• Rozeta Mahboubi loves tourism and the friendliness of Martin County is what kept her from taking another post she was offered, which was out of state. She and host Gary Guertin discussed Governor Crist for re-instating VISIT FLORIDA's budget this week. Check out http://www.martincountyfla.comto see first hand how the Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau markets the destination.

• According to an article on TCPalm, Richard Mason of the South Florida Free Beaches and the Florida Naturist Association, asked Broward's state lawmakers this week to oppose any legislation that would force nude beaches to close. Mason termed Haulover "the most successful beach in the state of Florida." He said it outdraws the Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins combined. Read the story here.

To learn more, listen the show by clicking HERE or selecting the January 30 show link under LISTEN TO THE SHOW to the right.

Guest update for January 30 show

"Which Way to Stuart" by Dan Mackin.

A couple of guest changes for tomorrow's Talkin' Tourism. Robin Hicks-Connors returns to co-host the show with Gary Guertin. Guests include: Rozeta Mahboubi, the executive director of the Martin County Convention & Visitors Bureau; artist Dan Mackin, who is the 2009 featured artist for ArtsFest; and Nancy Turrell, the executive director of the Arts Council. Topics to include: ArtsFest 2009, how Dan Mackin became an artist and his involvement with the Beach Boys, and Governor Crist's move this week to restore VISIT FLORIDA's funding for tourism marketing.