Hello, friends and advocates!
Big thanks to those of you who joined our Advocacy 101 session last week to learn more about HB4124/SB1582 as we look ahead to Advocacy Day on February 20!
If you were unable to attend, you can view the recording here.
While this session’s proposed legislation will not be officially published until the end of this week, you can find the draft bills here. Here are the highlights:
- $7.8 million for 14 capital projects:
Black United Fund: $ 900,000
Clatsop County Historical Society: $1M
Columbia County Museum Association: $400,000
High Desert Museum: $2M
Friends of Oregon Caves and Chateau: $455,690
Josephine County Library Foundation: $424,603
Painted Sky Center for the Arts: $500,000
PAM CUT//Center for an Untold Tomorrow: $250,000
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art: $150,000
Portland Playhouse: $300,000
Rainier Oregon Historical Museum: $500,000
Salem Parks Foundation: $150,000
Southern Oregon Historical Society: $500,000
Very Little Theatre: $350,000
- $5.6 million for anchor arts organizations (High Desert Museum, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Symphony, Portland Art Museum, Portland Center Stage, and Portland Opera)
- Resiliency grant funding for arts and culture nonprofits across the state, administered by the Oregon Cultural Trust and Oregon Arts Commission
They use the same text and language that will be included in the formal bill.
We also want to share the resources we discussed in last week’s session, so even if you don’t have time to watch the whole recording, I encourage you to explore these links and start reaching out to get meetings set up with your legislators.
We ask that you connect with the representative and senator that serve your region on or before February 20. Prepare to share why HB4124/SB5182 is crucial for your organization and your community.
Need to find your legislators?
If you’re new to contacting your legislators or don’t have a significant existing relationship, please use the template below to get a meeting set up on, or in the runup to, Advocacy Day:
Greeting Rep/Sen. ___________:
I hope [Friday] finds you well. I serve as the [insert title and organization and mention if you’re in their district]. We [include information about your organization, who you serve, etc.].
I will be participating in Advocacy Day on February 20, sponsored by the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon. I am reaching out to request a meeting to discuss [e.g., our project on CACO’s capital construction slate or priorities for the arts and culture sector before the legislature for consideration this session]. Please let me know if there is a time that will work best for the [Rep./Sen.] on February 20 or sometime in the week before.
As you connect with our policy-makers in Salem, you might find the Americans for the Arts Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6 (AEP6) is a key tool for bolstering our collective message. It demonstrates in a tangible way how arts and culture help drive our local economies. Here are some additional tools:
- Economic Impact Calculator
- AEP6 Oregon Overview Presentation with AFTA’s Randy Cohen, presented by Oregon Arts Commission/Oregon Cultural Trust and Travel Oregon
- Visuals that Mario Mesquita created with key numbers and details from each AEP6 region
Thank you, all, for your continued work and dedication! If you have questions or are looking for additional resources, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me personally at cassie@cassiegreer.com.
Best,
Cassie Greer
Advocacy Day Committee Chair