Great River Road Network of Interpretive Centers Visit Checklist
State Commissioner visits annually or bi-annually by making an appointment with the I.C. Director or appropriate personnel.
The goal is to develop a stronger relationship between the Interpretive Centers (I.C.) and the MRPC.
During the visit, the commissioner will review the checklist and share new or ongoing information about the MRPC. The talking points should include benefits of being an I.C. (e.g., featured on website, printed maps, social media, itineraries and more.)
- Interpretive Center Visited Minnesota Marine Art Museum
- Date of VisitJun 11, 2022
- Visiting Commissioner's NameJon Anfinson
- Name, Title, Email and Telephone Number of I.C. Personnel InterviewedScott Pollock, Executive Director
- What are your regular hours?Tuesdays thru Sundays, 10A-5P
- What is your admission pricing?$10 / adult $8 / senior $5 / students 5 and Under Free
- How many visitors do you see annually?25,000
- Does I.C. have a website?Yes
- Website URLhttps://mmam.org
- Do you have a button on your website with the Great River Road logo and link to the experiencemississipprver.com website?No
- URL to page where button is located
- When will you be adding a logo and link?Next step
- Do you have a Facebook page?Yes
- Facebook URLhttps://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaMarineArtMuseum/
- Do you carry GRR maps or rack cards for sale, distribution or on display?Yes
- Do you display a GRR banner or other signage?No
- Are your frontline personnel knowledgable of the GRR? Do they receive any formal training?No
- Do you have photos or video of your I.C. to share for promotional use?Yes
- What other Interpretive Centers do you communicate with regarding GRR activities?None
- How could the state or national MRPC help your interpretive center?Help us better understand MRPC's mission, vision, goals and how it aligns with our mission, vision and audience development goals. Provide more networking opportunities for ICs that build a cohesive strategy where we see our goals having impact, together, versus being disparate parts on a map.
- What do you need from us?Provide clear expectations about what MRPC has for it's ICs and co-create strategies for ways to authentically fit those expectations with our goals for building audience. Have the MRPC try to better understand the ICs needs and develop strategies together. We have an entire series of placekeeping exhibitions and programs to connect visitors to the stories of the diverse Mississippi River communities over the next three years, and would be delighted to collaborate with MRPC to do this work more effectively.
- How have you worked with the MRPC in the past?MRPC has provide a training (3-5 years ago) and MRPC sends maps and the museum has put it out.
- How does being affiliated with the Great River Road help your visitation?Unknown (can we develop an engagement study, together). We do know 85% of our visitors are coming from outside the region, but not sure to what degree a 'road trip' is driving that visitation.
- Do many people visit your IC because they are travelling the Great River Road?No
- Has the status as an All-American Road led to more visitation?No
- Do people know about this designation and why it matters?No
- How does your organization currently connect visitors to the Mississippi River and the Great River Road?Our location somewhat connects our visitors to the Mississippi River, but we are working to better make the embodied relationship to the river more integrated into their visit and finding ways to bridge the experiences of our communities with those visiting.
- Are the descriptions for your listing on the National Great River Road website and, if applicable, on your state’s Great River Road website up to date?No
- Please send updated information as needed, along with a photo (or photos) that you’d like us to use for promotional purposes.
- What are you doing to engage diverse audiences?https://www.mmam.org/annual-report-2022
- Is the contact information on you website up to date?Yes
- Please send updated information as needed, include a phone number and email contact?
- COVID-19 Impacts
- How has Covid affected your staff and visitation at your IC over the past two years?We were shut down for four months (March 15 - June 15) and then again three (November 15 - January 15) and are just now recovering to pre-pandemic levels. Our ability to host community events was impacted dramatically. Some relationships, such as our relationship with MRPC, suffered as fewer opportunities to network presented themselves.
- How are you planning to adjust or how have you adjusted in 2022?We are beginning to bring back our programs, repurposed to fit our new strategies.
- What do you see as the long-term impacts?More regional, close travel excursions.
- How can MRPC help with regard to the impacts of Covid?Drive more visitation to our IC
Comments:
Would appreciate an opportunity to connect to share more about the work we’re doing, audiences we’re aiming to cultivate, and learn about ways we can support MRPC’s goals and vision.