[MassHistPres] Public Education, Promotion and Publicity for Historical Commissions

[Aaron Marcavitch]

A few thoughts - obviously a website is a great start.  Facebook or Twitter are free options to publicize ongoing activities.

How about a local cable program?  

However, the other thing that comes to mind is a program called "The 1%" http://www.theonepercent.org/

This free program for non-profits (not sure how governments fit into it) connects designers and architects to their work.  I connected with a great designer who helped my organization come up with a fantastic brochure on our green housing activities.  This same type of thinking might generate responses for historic preservation programs.  

OR - you could also look locally.  If someone donated free time to work on a project, perhaps the local non-profit would help "accept the donation" for the purposes of a tax write off.  

I would look to your local non profit as the option for funding.  They can access grants that your government can't often access, but can form partnerships to leverage that funding.  Public/Private partnership, you know?

Finally, get educated on Federal/State grants for educational programs.  If you are an advocate to your local elected body, you can tell them about the grants and that you would be happy to apply for the - the town gets "free money" and recognition.  There are plenty of grants, but it takes time to get educated on them.

Just some ideas.

Aaron
Housing Nantucket

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http://www.marcavitch.com


> ----- Original Message ----- 
> 
>   From: 
>   Herb 
>   Skelly 
>   To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> 
>   Sent: Thursday,
> February 04, 2010 2:47 
>   PM
>   Subject:
> [MassHistPres] Public 
>   Education,Promotion and Publicity for Historical
> Commissions
>   
> 
>   
>   Have you had 
>   experience with techniques for publicizing the work of
> Historical Commissions? 
>   The Eastham Historical Commission would like some clues
> from those who have 
>   developed educational programs for the general public:
> topics; media; venue. 
>   Also, how do you fund these? Do you have a budget from
> your city or town? Do 
>   you have benefactors? Do you sponsor house tours, walking
> tours? 
>    
>   Thanks. 
>   Herb Skelly, 
>   co-chair, Eastham Historical Commission 
>