In 2026, the Cultural Advocacy Coalition Foundation (CACF) will carry this work forward as we translate The Big Re/Think findings into recommendations that will guide our work for the coming years. We are also preparing for the upcoming short legislative session, where we will be fighting hard to protect and preserve the funding commitments the state made in the last session. To do that, we’re asking for your support for the first time.

CACF is a small nonprofit with a statewide mission, and your tax-deductible year-end gift will help us:

– Advance The Big Re/Think ideas into real policy recommendations

– Strengthen cultural advocacy during and after the legislative session

– Keep community voices at the center of this work

If you believe in this effort, we invite you to share a contribution. Your support ensures we can move this work from ideas to action.

DONATE

Thank you again for being part of this statewide conversation and we look forward to continuing the work with you in 2026.

With appreciation,

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition Foundation

The post Thank you for helping us re/think what’s possible for Oregon arts and culture appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you for being an ally and champion for arts, culture, heritage, and humanities across Oregon.

Over the past several months, we’ve had the privilege of connecting with so many of you through our Big Re/Think events — from Portland to Bend, and from Ashland to the coast. Whether you joined us in person or plan to be part of our upcoming virtual conversation on December 2, your engagement and insights are helping us reimagine what a vibrant, equitable cultural future for Oregon can look like.

The Big Re/Think project is about listening, learning, and building a collective vision for how arts and culture can thrive statewide not just in our major cities, but in every community, large and small. To ensure your voice is part of this process, we invite you to:

Take the Big Re/Think Survey

Your feedback will directly inform how the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon and our foundation advocate for the arts and cultural ecosystem in the years ahead.

Please also share this survey with your networks: organizations, educators, and supporters. This way we can capture as many perspectives as possible.

Thank you again for your partnership, your passion, and your ongoing commitment to strengthening Oregon’s creative future. Together, we’re ensuring that arts and culture continue to inspire, challenge, and connect all who call this state home.

The post The Big Re/Think and What Comes Next: Fill Out Our Survey appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

On November 4 at Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, more than 100 cultural leaders from across Oregon came together to strategize about what can be done to strengthen the sector. As ArtsWatch reported, “everyone focused on helping decide what to request from state lawmakers.”

The session was the sixth in a series of community conversations following earlier meetings in Eugene, Ashland, Baker City, Bend, and Newport. Participants (from the Oregon Arts Commission to small local nonprofits) agreed that Oregon’s creative organizations are vital to overcoming division and building community. Portland Opera Executive Director Sue Dixon summed up the shared spirit: “We are facing so many challenges in the arts today. This is the group that’s going to make things happen.”

Participants discussed expanding the Oregon Cultural Trust tax credit, establishing a dedicated statewide tax for arts and culture, increasing fundraising support for smaller organizations, and bolstering funding for regional anchor institutions such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the High Desert Museum.

As ArtsWatch noted, a statewide Steering Committee will refine these ideas into a focused legislative agenda, which will be proposed to our CACO board to consider for 2027. The agenda will reflect Oregon’s collaborative, forward-looking cultural community.

As facilitator Rob Fenty told participants, quoted in the article: “We have to identify a compelling need and the way to solve that need if we want the Legislature to listen to us.”

Read the full article at Oregon ArtsWatch.

The post Oregon ArtsWatch highlights The Big Re/Think appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

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.

The post Last few chances to participate in The Big Re/Think appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Oregon is home to more than 2,400 arts and culture nonprofits that generate over $829 million in economic activity and support 13,000 jobs. Similar to national trends, our smaller organizations are especially feeling the squeeze as funding shortfalls strain their ability to meet rising community demand. Yet Oregonians continue to value cultural offerings highly, positioning the sector as both an economic driver and a vital community resource.

Sobering statistics, indeed, yet we have an opportunity for you to be part of possible solutions.

We’re excited to remind you about the upcoming Big Re/Think convenings taking place across Oregon this fall. These gatherings are a chance for arts, culture, and heritage leaders to come together, share perspectives, and help shape a thriving future for arts and culture in our state.

Upcoming dates and locations:

• Baker City: Monday, October 6, 1-4 pm, Baker Heritage Museum
• Bend: Wednesday, October 8, 1-4 pm, High Desert Museum
• Newport: Tuesday, October 21, 1-4 pm, Newport Performing Arts Center

Your voice is an important part of this process. The insights shared at these convenings will directly inform our statewide strategy and the future of arts and culture investment in Oregon.

 Please RSVP today to ensure we can plan for your participation:

RSVP Baker City
RSVP Bend
RSVP Newport

If you’ve already registered, thank you—we look forward to seeing you! Feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and community members who should be part of the conversation.

Thank you for helping us rethink and reimagine Oregon’s cultural future together.

Questions? Reach out to Claire Blaylock, The Big Re/Think statewide engagement manager. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Oregon Community Foundation, The Miller Foundation, Ronald W. Naito Foundation, and Roundhouse Foundation

The post Your voice matters! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

The Big Re/Think builds on a 2014 gathering led by arts and culture leaders, which led to initiatives like the statewide arts and culture caucus. This event aims to coordinate advocacy, foster partnerships, and highlight the importance of arts and culture for Oregon’s future.

Why should you participate?

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition Foundation envisions a thriving, interconnected regional arts network grounded in collaboration, strategy, and sustainable leadership. The Big Re/Think is an important step toward achieving this vision. You can participate at any level you choose!

Through public meetings, individual interviews, and statewide surveys, The Big Re/Think will formalize partnerships, amplify advocacy, and energize the arts and culture sector across the region.

By joining The Big Re/Think, you’ll become an integral voice in shaping Oregon’s cultural future. Are you a practicing artist, educator, organization leader, supporter, or community member? Your perspective will help spotlight the unique challenges and aspirations facing our creative communities.

Every story, insight, and recommendation collected throughout this journey will inform actionable strategies and collaborative solutions, fostering an environment where the arts can truly flourish.

Meetings:

September:

Eugene

Ashland/Medford

October:

Bend

Baker City

Portland

Check back soon for more details!

Questions? Reach out to Claire Blaylock, The Big Re/Think statewide engagement manager. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Oregon Community Foundation, The Miller Foundation, Ronald W. Naito Foundation, and Roundhouse Foundation

The post Announcing The Big Re/Think appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.