The Brownville Cultural Center (BCC) is pleased to announce the recent award of a Nebraska Tourism Commission Marketing grant. Kathy McKillip, BCC President, shared, “We are excited and humbled that as a new nonprofit that we can share our success with the Village of Brownville by promoting the areas offerings. It was an extremely competitive process and we are honored to have been selected. We would like to thank the Commission for providing these grant programs.”

The Nebraska Tourism Commission was awarded $3,795 to be utilized to promote Brownville within the national Group Tours market. Grant administrator Heather Hogue was pleased to share with the organization, “The Commission’s marketing grant programs are very competitive and involve a selection committee of grant reviewers from the private/public sectors and citizens at large. This year we received an extraordinarily large number of applicants. We are pleased that the Brownville Cultural Center was awarded funds to further their tourism marketing goals.” The Commission received more than 76 applications for funds available. The Commission’s grant funds will be used to participate in the Commission’s Leads generation program and market towards national group tour operators. In addition, BCC will be part of an enhanced exposure surge on social media platforms.

The Brownville Cultural Center was created to provide a cultural focal point for arts serving youth and adults. A new opportunity in 2019 is the BCC Summer Stock Internship Program for hospitality/culinary students from accredited colleges. The BCC also partners with Southeast Community College to host Leisure Learning courses throughout the year in Brownville. Information regarding both programs can be found on the website, www.brownvilleculturalcenter.com under “news and announcements.” The BCC offers a broad range of art application and educational opportunities for people in Southeastern Nebraska, Southwestern Iowa, Northwest Missouri, and Northeastern Kansas, including the Metropolitan areas, with an enhanced focus towards rural outreach. The BCC believes that there is an artist in everyone, and the purpose of the BCC is to provide a variety of opportunities to experience and embrace all forms of art genres including but not limited to visual, performing, fine art, history, culinary and cultural exploration.

Resident artist and BCC Board nember, Jim Aden stated, “We are thrilled to receive such recognition and an awarded grant from the State of Nebraska. We continue to look forward in working with the Tourism Commission and other local and regional entities, so as together, furthering the mission and vision of the organization while promoting the unique offerings of Brownville.”

An event soon coming up for youth interested in theatre will be the Brownville Village Theatre youth workshop scheduled for March 7-9, 2019. Mitch Bean, BCC board member said, “This is the second year in providing the workshop, we were very pleased with all the interest and support and look forward to hosting even more young talent. We are thrilled to bring this opportunity not only for the youth within the region but also for the community. It is this collaborative spirit and partnered activities that we are so proud of within the BCC.”

A village of only 126 residents (State of Nebraska 2015), Brownville is Nebraska’s oldest community established in 1854. It is home to more than seven museums, the Steamboat Trace Trail, Nebraska’s oldest Repertory Theatre – Brownville Village Theatre, Whiskey Run Creek Winery, Brownville Concert Hall and the River Inn Resort – Spirit of Brownville.