Fifth Annual East Tennessee Preservation Conference To Be In Maryville, November 7-9, 2013

East Tennessee Preservation Alliance (ETPA) and Knox Heritage are once again hosting the East Tennessee Preservation Conference. This year marks the fifth and most ambitious conference to date and the theme The Power of Place guides the schedule by offering activities and sessions that prompt participants to celebrate and capitalize on East Tennessee’s authentic places.  Each year the organizers have recruited more diverse speakers, panelists, sponsors, and experiences to maximize the benefit for those in attendance.

Often times people ask who is the target audience for the conference. The short answer is “preservationists,” but that elicits a follow up question. Who are “preservationists?” The truth is the conference schedule is loaded with sessions that cover a wide range of interests. So if you are:

• interested in saving buildings in your community
• networking with peers across the region about heritage tourism, historic preservation issues, and so much more
• hearing from leaders from across the region, including the State Historic Preservation Officer Patrick McIntyre, State Historian Dr. C. Van West, and heritage tourism guru Cheryl Hargrove
• earning continuing credits for American Institute of Architects (AIA), Main Street Communities, and Historic District Commissioners
• learning more about economic development for downtowns by embracing the authentic places
• eager to see who will be awarded the 2013 East Tennessee Preservation Awards
• hearing from Kreis Beall, founder and creative Director of Design from Blackberry Farm

Across East Tennessee, communities are positioning their cultural assets as amenities for residents and visitors, which create a richer, more desirable place.  Historic preservation has become a fundamental tool for strengthening American communities. It has proven to be vital for a wide range of public goals including small business incubation, housing, sustainable development, neighborhood stabilization, downtown revitalization, job creation, promotion of the arts and culture, small town renewal, heritage tourism, economic development, and others.

On Thursday evening the Downtown Maryville Association, one of ETPA’s long time partners, is hosting their annual Maryville Uncorked event in conjunction with the conference. Make plans to join us and support Downtown Maryville with a taste of local restaurants and a variety of wines. For more information visit www.downtownmaryville.com.

The full conference schedule and registration information is available at www.knoxheritage.org/conference or by calling 865-523-8008.

This year’s conference is sponsored, in part, by MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation, Plan East Tennessee, Family Pride Corporation, Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, Merit Construction, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, East Tennessee Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Blount Partnership, Friends of the Smokies, Maryville College, Investigative Services of East Tennessee, Cultural Resource Analysts, Cocke County Partnership, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center , Quality Financial Concepts, Shephard Inn of Dandridge, Thomason and Associates, and the Tennessee Historical Commission.

ETPA is a regional historic preservation membership-based organization that serves Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union counties. ETPA is dedicated to preserving our cultural and historical heritage through advocacy and education.