News from The Big Re/Think workshops around the state:
More than 125 people have already participated across the state at events in Eugene, Ashland, Baker City, Bend, and Newport.
You still have two chances to join in the discussion:
- Tuesday, November 4, Portland: 1-4 pm at the Patricia Reser Center in Beaverton (register)
- Tuesday, December 2, Zoom: 4 pm (register)
The meetings have been an exciting opportunity for us to re-engage with our statewide community, in many ways for the first time since COVID-19. The convenings have focused on identifying essential themes for a statewide value proposition for Oregon arts and culture. As one participant in Bend said, “The conversations reflected genuine care for Oregon’s cultural future — and a shared recognition that creativity and community are essential ingredients for collective well-being.”
A new Oregon ArtsWatch article by Jim Redden spotlights what we’ve been trying to do to address the growing challenges facing arts and culture nonprofits amid political and funding uncertainty. The effort builds on the original 2014 Big Think and aims to deliver a focused set of priorities to strengthen the state’s arts, culture, and humanities sectors for years to come.
Thank you to Claire Blaylock and welcome to Tristan Perrotti! Claire did an outstanding job launching The Big Re/Think, and now she’s moved onto a full-time job. She handed the reins to Tristan Perrotti, who’s a visual artist, political organizer, and adjunct professor at Southwestern Oregon Community College. He can be reached at Tristan@oregonculture.org.
