Arkansas Delta Gospel Experience Master Plan: Sharing Our Heritage

Noble Erickson Inc.

This master plan is divided into the following sections: Stakeholders, Executive Summary, Master Plan Components/Strategy, Arkansas Delta Components Synopsis, Museum: Management Objectives, Museum: Interpretive Objectives, Institute: Management Objectives, Institute: Interpretive Objectives, Event: Management Objectives, Event: Interpretive Objectives, Sources, Destination Branding and Appendix. From executive summary: "Main Street Dumas and partners envision gospel music experiences—interpretive, educational, and celebratory—that will serve as a heritage tourism draw, a learning opportunity, and a community development catalyst for the revitalization of Dumas, Desha County, and the larger Arkansas Delta region. The Arkansas Delta Gospel Experience Master Plan is created as a course of action to guide the community in sharing its gospel heritage and traditions. The Arkansas Delta Gospel Experience Master Plan explores ways to: Engage locals and visitors in authentic experiences of traditional and contemporary gospel music. Foster multi-generational learning about gospel music and its performance. Bring economic development to the community through heritage tourism. This Master Plan is designed to serve as a friend-raising tool and a fund raising blueprint for Main Street Dumas, the Desha County Museum, the City of Dumas and Delta Area Community Foundation in launching and sustaining the integrated components of the Arkansas Delta Gospel Experience. Providing heritage travelers with engaging gospel music experiences—its legacy and continuing traditions in the Dumas community—is the ultimate objective of this Master Plan. Developed in conjunction with culinary tourism—farmers markets, local restaurants offering unique regional food, a new “gospel café” on Main Street—and linking gospel music with food offerings at festivals has the power to drive economic and community development." Funding was provided in part by a 2008 Preserve America grant to Main Street Dumas (grant number 05-08-AP-4104). The grant was administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Preserve America is a federal initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the program include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities.

Arkansas Delta Gospel Experience Master Plan: Sharing Our Heritage

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