|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Acquisitions Releases Press Release Archive |
Devonshire Exhibition Big Success for Tyler Museum of Art and East Texas Area Tyler, TX—The Tyler Museum of Art’s recent exhibition, The Devonshire Inheritance: Five Centuries of Collecting at Chatsworth, had significant economic impact on Tyler and the entire East Texas area, drawing visitors from all over the country and outside the United States, according to TMA Director Kim Tomio “We’ve had time to review the data we collected during the exhibition, and we are very pleased with what this means for tourism for this area,” Tomio said, adding that the final count totaled 13,319 visitors. “Considering that during the exhibition we contended with not one, but two, major hurricanes that affected travelers, especially scheduled tours, we feel this was an excellent response for this event.” Tomio said the Museum’s income for the event, based on sales from exhibition tickets, lectures, special events and gift shop and caf proceeds totaled $98,709, not including private donations and underwriting. In addition, 183 new members joined the TMA during the exhibition, bringing in additional revenue of almost $9,000. “We’re still gathering data from the Tyler Hotel/Motel Association concerning the number of their guests who came to Tyler to see the exhibition,” Tomio said. “We can tell from our registration that a significant number of attendees were not from East Texas. And of course, not only did these visitors stay overnight, but they also ate in local restaurants and shopped in local stores.” Tomio quoted tourism industry statistics that show overnight visitors spend an estimated $100 per person, while daytime visitors (those who live out-of-town but do not stay overnight in the city) spend an average of $40 per person while they are in town for their visit. This economic impact is in addition to the Museum’s income, and doesn’t include the benefit to the city and state of additional sales tax revenue. Visitors from outside the U.S. included a large contingent from South Korea as well as attendees from Great Britain. While the largest number of out-of-town visitors came from Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, there were also visitors from Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wyoming. “There were quite a few hurricane evacuees who toured the exhibition while they waited out the storms,” Ms. Tomio added. “We were pleased we could make their stay here in Tyler more pleasant during such a stressful time.” Tomio said that Tyler was not the only city to benefit economically from the event. Coordinated events in surrounding towns, like Dallas, Kilgore, Longview, Nacogdoches and Marshall, were also promoted to tourists through Museum publicity. Visitors to the area could choose from an array of events touted as “England in East Texas” that included, not only the visual arts, but also music, theater, lectures and children’s activities. “I can’t say enough about the cooperative efforts of all these organizations,” Tomio said. “It was a win-win for everyone.” Tomio also had strong praise for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and the Tyler Visitors and Conventions Bureau, which she said worked diligently for a year promoting the Devonshire exhibition to tour groups, conventions and tourism agencies. Some 53 adult groups with 1,716 members toured the exhibition. Many students also took advantage of the exhibition and the services provided by the TMA. The Tyler Independent School District sent 1,483 students from 26 campuses, including elementary, middle and high school groups, and including all the advanced students enrolled in Target or IB programs in the district. Student groups also attended from Bishop TK Gorman Catholic High School, Cumberland Academy, Victory Christian School and Troup ISD. Tomio said the Tyler Museum of Art remains focused on increasing tourism to the area with significant exhibitions and events throughout the year. The Museum’s permanent collection and many of its offerings, including the current exhibition Harry Worthman: A Life in Art, focus attention on early Texas artists and their works. A major exhibition scheduled for Summer 2006, Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible, is expected to be another East Texas tourism draw. Commissioned by Saint John’s University and Abbey, this masterpiece of medieval craftsmanship and calligraphy is one of only a very few handwritten, illuminated Bibles of the modern era. Illumination is the process of applying gold leaf and brilliant colored inks to the pages, which make the illustrations in the Bible appear to glow. Master calligraphers and artists began the Bible project in March 2000. When finished it will include 1,150 handwritten and hand-illuminated vellum pages. The exhibition is organized by The Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Saint John’s University; the national tour of the exhibition is sponsored by Target Stores. Local sponsorships for the exhibition are still being sought. For more information about the TMA call 903-595-1001. |