The Beat

Ontario County Tourism Promotion Agency wins two national awards

Canandaigua, N.Y. - Finger Lakes Visitors Connection's ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response is receiving awards for its strategic communications and the team's response to quickly assist small businesses in Ontario County. The official tourism promotion agency of Ontario County was recently awarded two platinum-level awards in the "Crisis Communication Plan or Response" and "Team Achievement" categories from the MarCom Awards, which honor excellence in marketing and communication.

Corning, NY — Steuben County’s official tourism promotion organization has created a new app to help local residents (and travelers once the time is right to visit) discover parts of Steuben they may not even know are there. Larger than Rhode Island, the county is vast and comprised of numerous small towns. As a result, many locals are often unaware of some of the wonderful things to be experienced right in their own back yard. The new “Explore Steuben Trip Planner” allows you to access information about all the awesome activities available in Steuben County right from your phone.

Mumford, NY, January 7, 2021-- Despite our tendencies toward hibernation, winter is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors, and Genesee Country Village & Museum is centrally located for a day out in nature. With over 600 acres of woodlands, meadows, ponds, and car-less paths, there are opportunities for walking, skiing, and snowshoeing along the trails and paths of the Museum. Starting now and running through the spring, Nature Sundays are a weekly opportunity to hike the trails, embark on a themed “story walk,” or visit the Nature Center lodge to learn more about the native plants and animals of the Genesee Valley, all in an open, physically-distanced environment.

Diverse and delicious offerings provide the perfect gift for everyone on your list

Watkins Glen, NY – Seneca Lake wineries have a wide variety of wine, experiences, and more, to make gift giving easy this holiday season. Shop local, shop small, and support these local businesses as they continue to weather the pandemic. Here are a few ideas!…

Partnership with Museum Association of New York for Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility

The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is thrilled to announce that 98 museums from across New York State have been selected to participate in “Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility”, an IMLS CARES Act grant project designed to help museums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic share their collections and reach audiences who cannot physically visit their museums. 200 staff will be trained to use new hardware and software to develop programs that will engage their communities and reach new audiences.

Grant funds will be used to preserve three severely endangered nitrate feature films

Rochester, N.Y., December 3, 2020—The George Eastman Museum recently received a grant award for $65,350 from the National Film Preservation Foundation to preserve three severely endangered nitrate feature films from the museum’s collection. The prints of His Last Race (US 1923), Payroll Pirates (US 1920), and When Betty Bets (US 1917) are likely the only versions of the films that still exist. Due to severe nitrate decomposition in all three films, this is the last chance to save these unique prints.

Corning, NY — It’s not every day you can explore local history through something new, but this holiday season the Steuben County CVB will be launching the release of a brand new fully illustrated picture book inspired by a very significant piece of local history. Titled The Legend of the Gathers: Protectors of the Light, the picture book puts a supernatural spin on a very real event that happened in Corning in the late 1800s.

When inventor Thomas Edison received patents for his incandescent lamp back in 1879, and again in 1880, he needed someone to make the special glass containers. Historic accounts vary as to when Edison and Corning Glass Works started working together, but in researching this historic collaboration, the CVB discovered a sense of mystery surrounding the identity of a young shop boy who it seems actually blew the first glass bubble in Corning.

Skaneateles, N.Y. -- There will be music in the streets (piped in via speakers), gaily decorated storefronts—but alas, no live Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles. In this daunting age of COVID, Dickens, Scrooge and their fellow merrymakers will be depicted in the village by their cutout surrogates, while the real characters continue to entertain us from a safe distance online. 

“It is with great love and much contemplation that, due to the great plague that is upon us, we have chosen the safety of the community over all else,” says Jim Greene, who plays Charles Dickens. “We are thrilled to be able to share our joyous holiday fun with you, all and every one of you, through the magic of Instagram and Facebook.” …

Frances Smyth-Ravenel Prize for Design presented by the American Alliance of Museums

Rochester, N.Y., November 16, 2020—The George Eastman Museum was recently awarded the Frances Smyth-Ravenel Prize in the 29th annual Museum Publications Design Competition, presented by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). This “Best in Show” honor was given to the museum for its David Levinthal: War, Myth, Desire (2019) publication. This four-volume box set accompanied an exhibition of the same title at the museum in 2018 and features essays by well‑known art critic Dave Hickey, contemporary art specialist Joanna Marsh, and exhibition curator Lisa Hostetler, Curator in Charge, Department of Photography, George Eastman Museum.

Mumford, N.Y. --

WHAT:

Preparing for Winter, Saturday, November 21, 10 am-3 pm

· Watch the village…