What tour is complete without a stop at the local museum or art gallery? Several cities are revamping or creating arts districts in an effort to attract more tourism and group business. Dallas, for example, created the Dallas Arts District, now the biggest such district in the nation at 68 acres, encompassing museums, performing arts centers, churches and an arts school. Pritzker Prize-winning architects designed four of the buildings, and the district fits neatly into the larger downtown landscape near dozens of hotels. In North Carolina, Charlotte’s Wells Fargo Cultural Campus brings museums and green space to a city known for banking and car racing. And Kansas City, which is already home to internationally known museums including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, is unveiling a $413 million Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts next fall. The center will be near the new Kansas City Power & Light District, popular for dining and nightlife, and the Crossroads Arts District.

Leaders of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) addressed the importance of the arts for destinations at its annual convention earlier this summer in Hollywood, Fla. “One of the most important tasks of a destination marketing organization is to thoroughly understand, market and nurture the programs, activities and events that give their community a true sense of place,” said Michael Gehrisch, DMAI president and CEO. At the annual convention, Gehrisch announced a new partnership between DMAI and Americans for the Arts (AFTA). The goal of the partnership is to improve the relationship between DMOs and cultural institutions within their cities.