»Pre-Conference Programs

Seminar On Wheels (SOW) Programs

Feb. 3, 2010, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

This year at ETC 2010 we continue our popular tradition of operating field seminars. Providence, a cultural and culinary capital, as well as nearby Rhode Island towns, will serve as our learning lab. With a strong focus on creating innovative and out-of-the-ordinary domestic tour programs, each year the Seminar on Wheels (SOW) tours focus on how to create domestic tour products: how to access resources, find key study leaders, and schedule behind-the-scenes visits—not only in the host cities but anywhere in the USA. The ETC 2010 SOW programs will focus on one of the fastest growing niche tourism products, culinary travel, as well as provide an insider’s exploration of a very exciting contemporary arts capital.

SOW 1: Creating Authentic Culinary Programs
SOW 2: Using Art, Architecture, and Literature to Understand Local Culture

SOW 1: Creating Authentic Culinary Programs (Limit 25)

Culinary tours are one of the hottest trends in travel (who doesn’t like to eat and drink?), but often we miss understanding why certain foods are served in various destinations, the socio-economic influences on food, and food’s influences on society and economies. Join local expert Chef Cindy Salvato in learning how to create authentic culinary experiences that also explore the history and ethnic influences in an area’s foodways with Bristol and Providence serving as our learning labs. Examples will include 17th-century maple sugaring, the role of molasses in the Slave Trade, and an authentic Italian lunch. The afternoon offers two options:

Option 1: Learn how to make grilled pizza from scratch and homemade pink vodka sauce during an experiential cooking class. No pressure—you’ll just be preparing lunch for the entire group.

Option 2: Savor an Italian neighborhood market tour with Chef Cindy Salvato. You will meet local shopkeepers, who have been in the neighborhood for generations, and sample their products along the way. The group will have lunch together enjoying salad, Rhode Island-style fried calamari, grilled pizza, and pasta with pink vodka sauce. Over coffee and biscotti, both afternoon groups will wrap up the day with a late afternoon debriefing to share experiences gleaned from the two very different program options. Be sure to dress in warm layers and wear comfortable shoes!

Fee: $125. Lunch, refreshments, guides, and transportation provided. 


SOW 2. Using Art, Architecture, and Literature to Understand Local Culture
(Limit 25)

Much of a city’s history is told through its architecture, literature, and cultural institutions—and certainly these three factors weigh on the “feel” of a community. During this seminar with local faculty Barbara Barnes of the Rhode Island Historical Society, learn how to interpret landmarks and legends to better understand how a city develops its unique personality. Meet artists, gallery owners, an architect, and an author who will lead a fascinating tour.

Rhode Island has one of the highest concentrations of visual artists in the country, and Providence is a creative, culture-filled city. It is home to artists, writers, and architects as well as a renowned art school (Rhode Island School of Design), the second oldest Art Club in the U.S., and libraries with literary stories to spare. The 18th and 19th century buildings on the city’s most historic street, Benefit Street, bear witness to a 50-year commitment to historic preservation, while the Downcity landscape is a reminder of Providence’s heyday as an industrial giant.

Why has so much talent found its way here? What attention is being given to arts and culture in Providence today? This program celebrates talent, ingenuity, and creativity, and explores their impact on the Greater Providence area. Dress in warm layers and wear walking shoes.

Fee: $125. Lunch, refreshments, guides, and transportation provided.