Big thanks to those of you who joined our “Advocacy 101” session this week, as we look ahead to our April 15 Advocacy Day! If you were unable to be with us in real-time, you can watch our meeting recording.

The slide deck from our session is available here. You can access the additional resources we discussed in this folder, including a summary of CACO’s legislative priorities for this session, a one-pager on the OAC funding increase (HB3189), details on the current slate of CREF projects (HB3191), and the full ECOnorthwest Literature Review. ECO is distilling this into a one-page format that we share with you on (if not before) April 15.

The next important way to take action is to register to attend Advocacy Day on April 15. As part of your registration, you will be asked to provide the ZIP code of your residence and your place of work/organization. This will enable our NW Public Affairs lobbyist team to set up meetings with the legislators who represent your districts. We will share more details about meeting times and groups of attendees in the first week of April; part of our time on the morning of April 15 will be spent connecting with other advocates from your district(s) to prepare for your group meetings. 

Between now and then, you can prepare your own brief (1-2 minutes) personal story that illustrates:

• A powerful learning moment you’ve witnessed
• A powerful moment of connection between unlikely people
• An example of healing or contribution to a person’s well-being
• An example of how people saw the world differently after an encounter with art or history

Ryan Fisher at NW Public Affairs has provided a basic template for meetings with legislators:

• Vision: We want to live in a state where kids can visit museums and be inspired by music, theater and dance; where artists can thrive and create; and our communities can have cultural and artistic anchors with thriving economies.
• Problem: Right now museums and the arts are important to Oregonians, but there’s a disconnect between the tremendous value Oregonians see in the arts and the small investment the state makes in the arts and culture sector.
• Solution: By raising the Oregon Arts Commission’s budget to $10 million, we can move Oregon’s per capita ranking from 39th to 23rd—boosting investment from just $0.51 to $1.18 per person. This funding increase will ensure that Oregon’s vibrant arts and culture sector can grow and thrive. Funding the Cultural Resource Economic Fund (CREF) slate of 14 capital construction projects will boost local economies and strengthen the resilience of the arts and culture sector across every corner of our state.
• Next several people in the group can share their brief personal stories.
• Ideally, someone in the group can talk about economic impact using one of the talking points provided in the ECOnorthwest one-pager.

You can also register to attend and testify at sessions of the Ways and Means Roadshow, with six stops around the state over the next month. This could be a great spot to practice your 1-2 minute impact story, and it will also give you a sense of the many priorities that our legislators are confronting this session.

If you are newer to advocacy work or don’t have an existing connection with your elected officials, you can use this tool to find your legislators, including their email addresses and websites.

Here’s a rough outline of this year’s Advocacy Day activities, so you can plan accordingly:

• Monday, April 14 – 4:30-6:00 PM – Community Reception at Willamette Heritage Center, presented in partnership with the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust
• Tuesday, April 15 – 8:30-10:30 AM – Advocacy Day kickoff at the Elsinore Theatre
• Tuesday, April 15 – 11:00 AM-1:00 PM – Floor sessions at the capitol; lunch on your own
• Tuesday, April 15 – 1:00-5:00 PM – Meetings with individual legislators

Thank you, all, for your dedication to the well-being of our sector! If you have questions or are looking for additional resources, please contact me at cassie@cassiegreer.com.

Best,

Cassie Greer
Advocacy Day Committee Chair

The post Advocacy 101 recap appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Did you know?

Legislators can be influenced to vote a certain way if they hear from less than 50 of their constituents.

Talking to legislators about arts & culture is a highly effective way to encourage them to take action.

This year’s Advocacy Day will be on Tuesday, April 15.

Please save the date in your calendar now!

We’ll kick it off the night before at 4:30 p.m. with a community reception at the Willamette Heritage Center, cosponsored by the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Register now!

REGISTER FOR ADVOCACY DAY 2025

Then, on Tuesday morning, we’ll gather at the Elsinore Theatre to hear some remarks, receive some final advocacy resources, and enjoy some community together, before heading over to the Capitol. A change for this year: we will schedule the meetings for you! Registration details coming soon.

Our message is powerful when our voices and intentions are united. In 2025 we are focusing on increasing the grants budget of the Oregon Arts Commission to $10 million to support providers across the state; providing capital to 14 arts & culture community projects; and encouraging investment in preservation and reuse of historic properties. Read more about these legislative priorities on our website.

We’ll help you get prepared for Advocacy Day. Read on!

Thank you for all you do to keep our Oregon communities vibrant. We look forward to continuing to advocate with and for you!

Best,

Cassie Greer
Advocacy Day Chair

The post Advocacy Day 2025 and Advocacy 101 training appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

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?

• Find your legislator
• State representatives
• State senators

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

The post Did you miss Advocacy 101? We have you covered. appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

It’s been two years since we’ve gathered to collectively advocate for Oregon’s vibrant cultural community. We’ve missed the opportunity to check in, connect, and share stories with you all.

With a new legislature in session and new leadership in Salem, now is the time to unite our voices, align our priorities, and remind our elected officials that the pandemic-related hardships felt throughout our sector are not going away anytime soon. When it comes to politics, we believe we are most effective when we are unified. We are strongest when we work together. You are an important part of this work to ensure that arts and culture continue to thrive in Oregon.

Similar to our virtual Advocacy Day in 2021, we will be providing an opportunity for all members and advocates to gather, no matter where you are located across the state. We hope you are able to join us!

Save the date for Wednesday, April 19 (add to your calendar), when we will spend the morning together virtually. We’ll dig into our collective priorities, receive some fabulous advocacy training, hear from special guests, and refine our impact stories. In the afternoon, we ask that you set up a meeting with your district’s elected officials where you can share your story and put your brand-new advocacy skills into action.

If you’d like to register in advance, you can do so here. Stay tuned for more details coming your way.

And there’s more to prepare you!

We know you’re doing an incredible amount of work to keep your organizations afloat. Your time at a premium. It can be bewildering to navigate the internal workings of Salem.

If you’re excited to participate in Advocacy Day 2023 but have no idea where to start, we invite you to join us at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 3 for a quick “Advocacy 101.”

Register for Advocacy 101 here.

We’ll give you resources, tips, and support for getting on the calendar with your representatives in April to maximize our collective impact.

In the meantime, here’s a quick preview of our legislative session priorities.

My best,

J.S. May

he/his/him

Board of Directors, President

Executive Director, Artists Repertory Theatre

P.S. Become a member of the coalition or renew your gift today, and stay tuned for more Advocacy Day 2023 information in the coming weeks. 
Questions about Advocacy Day? Write to Cassie Greer at cassie@cassiegreer.com.

The post Get prepared for Advocacy Day 2023 with Advocacy 101! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Many new faces and emerging new leaders will be replacing several long-time legislators including Speaker Kotek, Sen. Johnson, and Rep. Post. These changing political dynamics are overlaid with the coming election season and another COVID surge, which will probably mean a mostly virtual legislative session.

Despite these hurdles, we are thrilled to be working with Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland) to bring forward a bill in the short session. Rep. Nosse is requesting an additional $50M in funding to support arts and cultural organizations negatively affected by the pandemic.

We have been working closely with Rep Nosse to articulate eligibility requirements for the grant program that will administered through Business Oregon if the bill passes.

For this legislative session and the rest of the year, our priorities in 2022 are:

• Ensuring 2021 American Rescue Plan Act funding is distributed quickly to the arts and culture sector
• Advocating for additional funding support to the sector
• Supporting the renewal of special assessments for historic preservation
• Addressing construction challenges for cultural capital projects

This handout has more details about each of these legislative priorities.

We appreciate your support and feedback throughout this process. You can make our advocacy efforts more powerful by sharing how the pandemic has affected your organization. Send your thoughts by email.

Our legislators need to hear from you.

We need EVERY VOICE right now.

For example, our board president, JS May, reached out to gubernatorial candidate and former state senator Betsy Johnson after reading her Willamette Week interview in which she expressed concerns that funds for independent venues may not have been a good use of recovery funding.

In their follow-up conversation, Betsy clarified her position and corrected the article. She mentioned her long-time support for arts and culture (as a recipient of the Governor’s Art’s Award). She was not concerned about the rescue fund investments in nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, which have extensive public accountability mechanisms through their boards and public reporting. Instead she was concerned about for-profit venues receiving rescue funds because they do not have similar accountability mechanisms.  Betsy ended by saying she has been and will continue to be a strong supporter of arts and culture in Oregon.

Join us and contact your lawmakers to share your experiences as a stakeholder in the arts & culture community during the pandemic.

Happy New Year,

CACO Board

The post 2022: Working toward a better year for Oregon’s arts & culture community appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Since the beginning of the pandemic emergency, the Oregon Legislature has met in three special sessions and one regular (long) session, and the Legislative Emergency Board has met an additional 13 times. All committee and Emergency Board meetings were entirely virtual. As required by the Constitution, final votes on the floor of the House and Senate were held in person in their respective chambers in the Capitol, but the Capitol was otherwise closed to everyone other than legislators and essential staff. As is true with many other endeavors, the work of legislative advocacy is best done face to face, for reasons of both effectiveness and efficiency. And that wasn’t possible this year.

Initially, the outlook for the state’s budget looked very bleak. In one of the special sessions in the summer of 2020, nearly $300 million of budget cuts were made, including 15% cuts in funding to the smaller CAC approved capital construction projects. The nearly total halt of Lottery video poker and sports betting sales due to the pandemic also resulted in cancellation of the 2020 lottery bond sale that would have funded two other CAC approved capital construction projects.

Thankfully, by the beginning of 2021, the projections for Oregon personal and corporate income tax revenues went from dramatically lower to even more dramatically higher – an unprecedented swing in the space of 6 months. And Lottery sales moved back to near normal levels. And combined with the flood of federal recovery money in early 2021, the 2021 legislative session pivoted from a budget cutting exercise to the exact opposite; how the Legislature should spend money to help individuals and organizations recover became the primary budget work of the session.

CAC started to develop its legislative priorities before the magnitude of the pandemic was evident, and while not eliminating any, we added new ones to address the pandemic’s impact on the cultural sector. There was constant conversation needed with the Governor’s office to develop appropriate guidance for member operations during the pandemic. And in June 2020, advocacy was successful in achieving a $50 million allocation by the Emergency Board of federal CARES Act funding for the non-profit and for-profit cultural sectors. By the end of the 2021 session, the largest ever slate of CAC endorsed capital construction projects (totaling $9.5 million) was approved, along with funding for the two projects affected by the cancellation of the 2020 lottery bond sale (HB 5006-Section 74, and SB 5534-Section 44). And the Main Street Program fund will be replenished with $10 million from the next lottery bond sale (SB 5534-Section 20).

The film/video payroll tax credit was modified (HB 2456-Section 14 and HB 3010), although a proposal to expand it (HB 3244) did not pass. A commitment was made by legislative leaders to address the historic property tax exemption program in the 2022 session, starting with the agency’s proposal (SB 108). The Oregon State song has new, non-racist lyrics (HCR 11), and the legislature was primed to consider a brand-new state song in the future. And finally, another $50 million (this time from Oregon’s share of the federal American Recovery Plan Act funding) was approved to help the cultural sector (broadly defined) recover and reopen (HB 5006, Section 200).

DOWNLOAD THE FULL BILL SUMMARY 

Federal Legislative Update as of August 2021

As Congress reaches its mid-year summer recess, below is a summary of the current legislative status of the bills and policies that Americans for the Arts and advocates across the country have been advocating throughout the year. The issue briefs for this legislative portfolio is online here.

DOWNLOAD FULL PDF

The post Legislative Session Recap & Update appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

CAC Members and Friends!

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition is in the final days of the Oregon legislative session and the stakes for the cultural sector are very high. The advocacy we have done all session has led us to today and we hope for successful outcomes soon. We wanted to send along some updates and invite you to join our 2nd Responders campaign in asking policymakers to support arts and culture recovery options in Oregon. 

As our friends at Californians for the Arts put it, “First responders save lives; second responders help put people’s lives back together. Artists are essential workers in our society and our economy, helping us recover, reflect, and rebuild.” Please read on and add your voice to our efforts in whatever way you can.

Legislative Session Updates:

1.  More Federal Recovery Funds for the Cultural Sector
We have been working with partners on a request to lawmakers to send another $100 million in federal recovery funds to arts and culture groups struggling to get back on their feet. We are cautiously optimistic that this is getting traction and would mean another round of critical lifeline funds for our members. We were grateful last year when $50 million in CARES ACT dollars were dedicated to our sector and hope this new infusion will also happen. Please let your policymakers know these funds are badly needed!

2.  Capital Projects 
The list of 11 capital projects the Cultural Advocacy Coalition endorses across the state totaling $9.5 million in capital investments in arts and culture is making its way through the process. These projects will support critical infrastructure projects that preserve important Oregon history and increase access to arts in both rural and urban Oregon. Read more about these projects. 

3.  Agency Budgets for the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Film, and the State Office for Historic Preservation
The states revenue picture this year is strong and we expect all of these agencies to receive enough funds to cover inflationary roll up costs. We continue to advocate for increased dollars for grant programs in these agencies to focus on dollars going out to the field.  

4.  The continuation and expansion – from $14 million/year to $20 million/year – of the film and video tax creditappears on track for approval by the legislature as part of an omnibus tax credit bill.  The renewal and revision of the historic preservation property tax credit program will be deferred to the 2022 legislative session.

5.  Refreshing the Oregon State Song
Legislation has passed to replace the lyrics of “Oregon, My Oregon” with more modern, inclusive lyrics.  The Coalition views this as just a first step. We favor a additional statewide process to involve many Oregonians in replacing the state song and we are working with advocates led by the Oregon Community Foundation on a strategy to do so.

In addition to all of this important advocacy, the Coalition is working hard with Oregon’s federal congressional delegation on issues including deeper investment in the creative economy and federal appropriations for cultural projects.

It’s never been busier! Advocacy is critical right now. Please continue to talk to your networks about the needs of the cultural sector to recover from the pandemic and remind Oregon’s policymakers that arts and culture workers are 2nd Responders in the healing of our communities.  

Thank you,
Sue Hildick 
Senior Advisor 
Cultural Advocacy Coalition

Download our 2nd Responders graphic here
and stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.

The post 2nd Responders Campaign appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED AS OF APRIL 20th.

If you registered you will receive a Zoom link and an Advocacy Day packet a few days before Advocacy Day, which is chock-full of helpful tools that will help you and your community have positive experiences engaging with policymakers. 

Join the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon and cultural leaders from across the state on Friday, April 23rd from approximately 9 to 11 a.m. to educate, inform, and persuade policymakers to increase public support for the cultural sector. Gather to show gratitude for achievements in securing federal CARES dollars and other major accomplishments. We invite anyone and everyone to join this event, regardless if you’ve ever talked with a policymaker. If you stand for arts, culture, history, heritage, and humanities in Oregon, we want you to attend. Learn about the Coalition, what we do, and what’s ahead.

We’ll hear remarks from Representative Christine Drazan, former executive director of the Coalition, and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici on the importance of arts and culture advocacy in Oregon. We will also hear a live cello performance from arts advocate Stephanie Magee. Then, the Coalition will host an Advocacy 101 Roundtable and a Q&A session with our lobbyist and policy committee. We’ll hear from our Board Vice President and City of Eugene Cultural Services Director, Isaac Marquez, on the 11 capital construction projects we are supporting this session. Plus, more speakers and details coming soon! Stay tuned.

Schedule a Call with your Legislator(s)

Finally, we will be inviting members and supporters to meet with their legislators. You can find your legislators using this helpful tool: Find Your Legislator. Once you’ve found your legislator(s), you can simply email them and tell them you’re a constituent and would love to schedule a meeting as part of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition’s annual Advocacy Day. If you have questions, we’re happy to help, you can reach out to Jamie at jamie@oregonculture.org. 

Below is a a quick preview of the Coalition’s legislative session priorities for this year’s Advocacy Day. We need your help and your VOICE in supporting these efforts.

• Expand Oregon’s investment in its cultural agencies and partners, including funding for Oregon Arts Commission and Oregon Cultural Trust. HB5023 – Oregon Business Development bill; HB5025 – Oregon Parks and Recreation department budget bill 
• Continue to invest in cultural infrastructure and revitalization grants. SB5534 – lottery bonds. Learn about the 11 Capital Construction Projects we endorse in 2021-2023.
• Protect tax policies which allow the cultural sector to serve its public mission, including historic preservation of Oregon’s gems. SB108 – historic property tax credit extension for 10 years.
• Extend Oregon film and video office tax credit. SB43 – tax credit extension for six years.
• Protect itemized deductions for charitable contributions. HB2255 – limits itemized personal income tax deductions for charitable contributions.
• Work with key legislators and other interested parties to refresh the Oregon state song.
• Advance equitable access to a well-rounded arts education for Oregon students.

After you register, please consider becoming a member or renewing your gift today. Every single dollar helps us continue serving Oregon’s cultural nonprofits. We are the only Coalition in Oregon advocating for policies and funding that will create a thriving environment for arts, culture, history, heritage, and humanities. Join us. Every gift this month in April until the end of May $100 or more will recieve our new, reuseable Advocacy Day branded face mask! Join us now.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED AS OF APRIL 20th.

If you registered you will receive a Zoom link and an Advocacy Day packet a few days before Advocacy Day, which is chock-full of helpful tools that will help you and your community have positive experiences engaging with policymakers. 

You can also download the full packet below.

The post Cultural Advocacy Day 2021 appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

There are several arts and culture related house and senate bills the Cultural Advocacy Coalition is supporting in this 2021 regular legislative session, and one we oppose. Below we’ve put together a quick review of each bill.

The Coalition is actively advocating for and against several of these bills and providing testimony on behalf of Oregon’s nonprofits for this 2021 legislative session. Questions? Write to us info@oregonculture.org.

Bills We Support

1. Historic Preservation Tax Credit Renewal, SB108 – Makes changes to program for property tax special assessment of historic property. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.
   
   
2. Capital Funds for Cultural Projects – HB 5534 – The Coalition endorsed a slate of 11 projects for 2021-23 Cultural Resources Economic Funds (CREF) across the state.  The capital construction projects, which include the construction, expansion, or renovation of a facility or facilities, represents diverse genres in the cultural sector, offers options for increased equity and access, and also geographic distribution throughout Oregon. We evaluated each of these applications in a peer review process led by Coalition board members and with expertise from staff of the Coalition, the Oregon Cultural Trust, and the Oregon Arts Commission. Using specific criteria from economic impact to expanding access to the arts, we saw many exciting projects under development and we received more than 40 applications across the state.
   
   
3. Funding for the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust  – HB 5023 – Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Oregon Business Development Department for certain biennial expenses. Limits biennial expenditures from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts, but excluding lottery funds and federal funds, collected or received by department for certain purposes. Limits biennial expenditures by department from lottery moneys for certain purposes. Limits biennial expenditures by department from federal funds for certain purposes. Authorizes certain nonlimited expenditures. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2021. 
   
   
4. Oregon Film and Video Office, an extension of the tax credit for 6 additional years – SB43 – Extends sunsets for labor rebate for qualifying film production and tax credit for certified film production development contributions.
   
   ^{*State Song Refresh- HB 2329 – The bill to change the Oregon State Song is no longer active for this session. The Coalition supports an inclusive process that will lead to legislation in the next session.} 

Bills We Oppose

5. Limits Itemized Personal Income Tax Deductions for Charitable Contributions – HB2255 – Limits, for purposes of personal income taxation, availability of itemized deductions, using phaseout based on adjusted gross income of taxpayer. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and before January 1, 2023. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

The post 2021 Legislative Session: 5 bills we’ve got our eye on. appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.