Letter From The Chair

We can all feel proud of Oregon’s creative economy and our state’s strong network of public organizations including the Oregon Arts Commission and the Cultural Trust, as well as non-profits like Oregon Humanities and Business for Culture and the Arts. Our cultural communities help entice businesses to Oregon, attract innovative workers, fuel creativity in our workplaces and stimulate local economies across the state.

Together, we have the power to safeguard and reinvest in Oregon’s diverse cultural community – even during the current economic downturn. But the Cultural Advocacy Coalition needs your help.

Because our partners are public agencies and non-profits, their ability to directly lobby in Salem is significantly restricted. Lobby representation through the CAC for the Oregon Cultural Trust, the Oregon Arts Commission, the Oregon Historical Society and other cultural partners is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from supporters across the state. I invite you to spend some time on this website and browse through specific legislation the CAC is working this session. Review our biannual publication, “Arts, Heritage & Humanities in Oregon: Cultural Grants and Activities,” and check out the archives to see how the CAC has played a significant role in past sessions.

I hope you’ll join with hundreds of cultural organizations, businesses and individual supporters and add your contribution to the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon. Small commitments from many partners enable us to advocate for public funds and educate legislators about the impact of culture in their own communities. That is truly a return on investment.
Thank you,

Virginia Willard,
Executive Director, Business for Culture and the Arts
Chair, Cultural Advocacy Coalition