Dear Advocates,
The Cultural Advocacy Coalition, Independent Venue Coalition, and Arts Magnets have been working together, with support and encouragement from our legislative champions Representative Lively and Representative Nosse, to assemble an Arts & Culture Sector Recovery Package that is available to the state through the American Rescue Plan.
We are requesting $100 million dedicated to live venues, with allocations set aside for the Independent Venue Coalition, the state’s Seven Large Arts Anchors, and a fund available for grants to the vast array of other arts and culture organizations around the state. This is modeled on the distribution set up in last summer’s CARES allocation as determined by the emergency board, and which has been a key factor in our sector’s survival to this point.
Oregon’s live venues and arts and culture organizations are deeply appreciative of the government and private assistance that carried us through the abrupt and rapid decline in revenues experienced during the pandemic. Those dollars were spent to maintain salaries and benefits for as long as possible, cover basic operational costs, and directly support musicians, dancers, and artists throughout the state.
With reopening now underway, organizations are faced with start-up costs and increased expenses at a time when most of us expect revenues to remain well below pre-pandemic levels for the foreseeable future.
Please contact your area Ways & Means member TODAY (contact information listed by region below) and ask them to support this recovery package.
We believe this is a comprehensive and forward-looking program for a better recovery for these institutions that will be cost and administratively effective, will save these businesses and nonprofits, and will help revitalize Oregon’s economy.
Thank you,
Cultural Advocacy Coalition
Board of Directors
P.S. Please join our 2nd Responders Campaign and read about other cultural legislative session updates. Learn more.
Talking Points for Speaking with Ways & Means Members
On behalf of Oregon’s Art and Culture organizations, I ask that you invest $100 million into the arts and culture recovery package that is available to the state through the American Rescue Plan to help our sector recover. Among the first to close and last to reopen, it will take years for Oregon’s arts and culture organizations to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19. The sector, largely compromised of non-profit organizations has suffered lost ticket and admission revenues due to cancellations and refunds, reduced revenues from private donors and layoffs, budget cuts, significantly reduced capacity limits and major operational changes.
Oregon’s live venues and arts and culture organizations are deeply appreciative of the government and private assistance that carried us through the abrupt and rapid decline in revenues experienced during the pandemic. As we look to reopen and be a part of Oregon’s recovery, organizations are faced with start-up costs and increased expenses at a time when most of us expect revenues to remain below pandemic levels for the foreseeable future. We need your help now to support and stabilize our arts and culture community. I strongly urge you to prioritize $100 million in recovery funds for arts and culture this session.
(Personalize- share a quick message on what additional funding would mean for your organization)
Legislative Leadership/Ways & Means
Senate President Peter Courtney (Co-Chair) (D-Salem)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1600
Email: sen.petercourtney@oregonlegislature.gov
Speaker Tina Kotek (Co-Chair) (D-N/NE Portland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1200
District Phone: 503-286-0558
Email: Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-NW Portland/Beaverton)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
Email: Sen.ElizabethSteinerHayward@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose)
Capitol Phone:503-986-1716
District Phone:503-543-4046
Email: Sen.BetsyJohnson@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1416
District Phone: 541-740-7744
Email: rep.danrayfield@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Fred Girod (R-Stayton)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
Email: Sen.FredGirod@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative David Gomberg (D-Central Coast)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1410
Email: Rep.DavidGomberg@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Greg Smith (R-Heppner)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1457
District Phone: 541-676-5154
Email: rep.gregsmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Email: Sen.DickAnderson@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Lew Frederick (D-Portland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Email: Sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Jeff Golden (D-Ashland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Email: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale)
Capitol Phone: 971-231-4466
Email: Sen.ChrisGorsek@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Email: Sen.BillHansell@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
Email: Sen.TimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
Email: Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Kathleen Taylor (D-Milwaukie)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1721
Email: sen.kathleentaylor@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1726
Email: Sen.ChuckThomsen@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Clackamas)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1451
Email: Rep.JanelleBynum@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Christine Drazan (R-Canby)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1439
Email: Rep.ChristineDrazan@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Gary Leif (R-Roseburg)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1402
Email: rep.garyleif@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1429
Email: rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1442
District Phone: 971-217-8037
Email: Rep.RobNosse@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Tawna Sanchez (D-NE Portland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
Email: Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Duane Stark (R-Grants Pass)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1404
Email: rep.duanestark@oregonlegislature.gov