The Willamette Week published an editorial by Nigel Jaquiss calling the legislature to account for its failure to funds arts & culture in Oregon. Here are a few excerpts:

“Oregon lawmakers enjoyed a bounteous harvest of tax dollars in the session that concluded in late June, the result of a stronger-than-expected economy that will return more than $5 billion to taxpayers next year, thanks to the state’s unique ‘kicker’ law. But lawmakers stiffed cultural organizations, large and small. How bad is it? On Aug. 15, Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland’s oldest professional theater company (founded in 1982) abruptly suspended its 2023-24 season, citing the failure of House Bill 2459, which ‘resulted in $250,000 not being awarded to us as part of the proposed recovery funding for the arts and cultural sector.”

The article explains how we got here and how State Rep. Rob Nosse has done everything in his power to make arts & culture matter in Salem:

“State Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland), the chair of Salem’s cultural caucus, took a two-pronged approach in 2023 to help a sector that supporters say brings tourists to Oregon and uplifts the state’s residents. Nosse asked his colleagues to allocate $200 million in Oregon Lottery bonds to build an endowment for the Oregon Cultural Trust—fulfilling the promise lawmakers made in 2001—and asked for $50 million in ‘recovery funding’ as well as $12 million in end-of-session capital construction bills.

Nosse didn’t expect to get all $262 million, but he got only $5.6 million in recovery funds for venues and $4 million in capital funding.”

It goes on to explain why arts & culture funding matters:

“‘On a per capita basis, we rank 36th in the nation in state spending on the arts. ‘Oregon spends 48 cents per capita on the arts, whereas Minnesota, the national leader, spends $7.34,’ testified Dana Whitelaw, executive director of the High Desert Museum in Bend.”

The Oregon Children’s Theatre has paused main stage productions, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival has been struggling to stay afloat. In addition, 14 of the 16 organizations we endorsed for capital funding are stuck without the money they were expecting. The legislative session was disappointing indeed.

Rep. Nosse expresses hope for next year…but how many arts & culture organizations will have to stall their programming before then?

The post Lawmakers stiffed arts groups in 2023 appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Tyler Hokama, Interim Executive Director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Tyler is serving as Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Interim Executive Director while on leave from his role as Rogue Theater Company’s resident graphic designer and marketing consultant. He is a retired executive from Adobe Systems, and he continues to use the best tools in the graphic design industry for his work with Rogue Theater Company. He has also worked with hundreds of local businesses and entrepreneurs in an advisory capacity for the Southern Oregon University Small Business Development Center in Medford, providing counsel in areas of finance, operations, digital marketing, social media, and more. 

Liam Kaas-Lentz, Managing Director, Portland Center Stage 

Liam is originally from Bellingham, Washington, and has worked in theater management in Portland for more than 20 years. Most recently, he was the general manager for Portland Center Stage, having started as a production assistant, followed by stage manager, production stage manager, production manager, and director of production. He’s also served as production manager for Portland Playhouse, Sojourn Theatre, Hand2Mouth Theatre, and Risk/Reward. He has stage managed for Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Playhouse, Hand2Mouth Theatre, CoHo Productions, Teatro Milago, Pixie Dust Productions, the Geva Theatre Center, PCPA, National Public Radio, and The Kitchen in New York City. Liam received his B.F.A. from Southern Oregon University and his M.Ed. from Portland State University, and he has taught theatrical management at Northwestern University, Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, Whitman College, and PSU. He lives with his wife and cat in southeast Portland. 

The post Welcome, new board members! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

The 2023 legislature is drawing to a close and as it does, we are left scratching our heads at the outcomes for arts and culture.

We proposed an ambitious agenda based on the needs of our members who are still trying to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. We know economic losses from declining audiences are very real. We have been grateful for past support from policy makers who have directed federal COVID-recovery dollars to arts and culture twice in the past three years.

Unfortunately, while some state dollars were directed to our sector this session, they are not nearly enough to meet the needs of our fragile ecosystem. We know that lack of state funding will result in organizational deficits, staff layoffs, and decreased access to arts and culture.

We will not give up.  We will be using all the tools available to us to continue to put this sector’s needs in front of policymakers.  We have attached our statement on this session.

With our thanks,

The CACO Board

The results of the Oregon 2023 legislative session follow:

The post Deep disappointment with the 2023 Oregon legislature session appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Our representatives conveyed the stark reality of a sluggish audience return, increased expenses, and cancellations of productions that continue to challenge our recovery trajectory. CACO looks forward to working with Oregon’s legislative leaders on advancing a transformational agenda for the sector, of which includes a $50 million recovery package to support arts and cultural entities across the state.

Isaac and David spoke about the economic and social impacts the sector and our communities have experienced. All of the speakers touched on the impact of COVID, thanked the legislature for past recovery support, and spoke about what’s happening now. You can watch the hearing here.

The following is a summary of the points they made:

Isaac Marquez, Vice President of CACO and Cultural Services Director of Eugene 

• Oregon is home to over 1,500 cultural organizations
• Thanks to Oregon Arts Commission to champion the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study, examining impact across the state (evaluated FY 2015):
  • 22,299 jobs and generated $469.5M in household income
  • More than half of our overall impact is generated by entities outside of the Portland area
  • AEP6 includes 21 communities and will be available in October 2023
• Knight Foundation Study: People with access to arts and cultural activities are more attached to their communities in both feeling and action
  • Cities with the highest levels of attachment had the highest rate of GDP growth

David Schmitz, CACO Board Member and Executive Director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival: 

• 85% of audience travels from more than 50 miles away
  • Audiences spend 3-4x in the community of what they spend in our theater, spending roughly $100M annually in the Ashland area
• We introduce thousands of high schoolers to theater and empathy
  • Have programs for large and small class sizes
• We face a fiscal cliff like none we’ve experienced; we had to lay of 90% of staff and were closed for 18 months
  • Audiences are not coming to our venues in the same way as they did in 2019
  • Experts are saying that patrons will be spending 50% less
  • In 2022, we saw 46% of the attendance we saw in 2019
    • Planning for a five-year recovery
    • Working against tailwinds of a recession
    • Need private and public partnership to survive

Thank you to Isaac and David for representing the creative sector!

The post Oregon cultural update to House Committee appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

“A historic societal and philanthropic bias has long undervalued the contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian art forms, artists, and voices.”
–Native Arts & Cultures Foundation

We are fortunate to have an abundance of gifted Native artists and performers from Oregon. Let’s honor some of these notable Native Northwesterners during Native American Heritage Month. Click on the links to find out how to support them.

Visual arts

• Lillian Pitt, Warm Springs, Wasco, Yakama: Lillian’s ancestors lived in and near the Columbia River Gorge for 10,000+ years. Her contemporary fine art delights art lovers and honors the history and legends of her people.

  

• James Lavadour, Umatilla: A primarily self-taught painter and printmaker, James creates large landscape painting panels. He cofounded the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts to use art as a transformative tool.
• Ka’ila Farrell-Smith, Klamath: Ka’ila is a Klamath Modoc visual artist, writer, and activist. Her work is informed by work with Wasco fiber artist weaver Pat Courtney Gold and Coquille/Coos carver Shirod Younker.
• Jake A. DePoe, Siletz: Jake is an artist, writer, and community advocate for indigenous, queer, and neurodivergent issues. They bring light to the beautiful, artistic, creative, and unique culture of their peoples.
• Justin Quaempts, Cayuse, Walla Walla: Justin specializes in freehand spray paint/graffiti-style abstract art. When Justin suffered from athletic injuries and pain from surgeries, his father taught him how to paint.
• Wendy Red Star, Apsáalooke (Crow): The Portland Art Museum describes Wendy’s multimedia work as employing “gender-focused, political self-imagery…to draw attention to the marginalization of Native Americans.”

  

• Brenda Mallory, Cherokee: Brenda’s mixed media sculptural works comprise cloth, fibers, beeswax, and found objects. Her work addresses ideas of interference and disruption in systems of nature and human cultures.
• Greg A. Robinson, Chinook: “We Have Always Lived Here” is Greg’s public art installation at the Tilikum

  

  Crossing bridge in Portland. His works honor his Columbia River ancestors.

• Marie Watt, Seneca: Marie’s interdisciplinary work draws from history, biography, Iroquois protofeminism, and Indigenous teachings. She explores the intersection of history, community, and storytelling.
• Greg Archuleta, Clackamas Chinook, Santiam Kalapuya, and Shasta: Greg focuses on carving in the Columbia River Native Art Chinookan and western Oregon forms and traditional and contemporary basketry.
• Shirod Younker, Coquille, Miluk, Umpqua: Shirod is a sculptor, carver, and arts instructor. His work is deeply intertwined with community engagement and education.
• Sara Siestreem, Hanis Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw: Sara’s primary medium is painting, but she also works in photography, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, video, and traditional Indigenous weaving.
• Natalie Ball, Black, Modoc, and Klamath Tribes: Natalie’s work addresses racial narratives critical to understanding our shared experiences and histories. Read about her Oregon Native Artist Fellowship here.
• Josue Rivas, Mexican, Otomi: Founder of INDíGENA, Indigenous Photograph, and Standing Strong Project, Josue is an Indigenous futurist, creative director, visual storyteller, and entrepreneur. Watch his TED talk here.

Musicians:

• Katherine Paul, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Swinomish: The Seattle Times refers to her sound as “intrinsically Northwest,” because of Katherine’s blending of Pacific Northwest rock and Coast Salish traditional music.

  

• Jan Michael (Looking Wolf) Reibach, Kalapuya/Grand Ronde: Jan Michael dedicates his life to performing, teaching, and sharing the beauty of the Native American flute. He also teaches flute at Oregon State University.

  

• Scott Kalama (Blue Flamez), Warm Springs: Hip hop artist Blue Flamez won the 2016 Native American Music Award for best music video and was nominated for five Native American Music Awards in 2022.
• Kalliah Jackson, Warm Springs: Kalliah was nominated for a Native American Music Award for her song, “I WillAlways Fight,” inspired by protests against the Dakota Access pipeline and celebrating the Indigenous community.

  

• Charles Littleleaf, Warm Springs: Charles grounds his flute playing within the essence of Mother Earth and from memories growing up on his reservation which he shares with audiences around the world.
• Fish Martinez, Siletz: Fish shares pow wow style dancing, drumming, and singing. He works with youth via the Hip Hop Congress and has performed with the Portland Chamber Orchestra and Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble.

  

• James Edmund Greeley, Warm Springs, Wasco, Hopi, and Nez Perce: James won a Native American Music Award in 2017 for his traditional flute album. He also won a Grammy for his work on Esperanza Spalding’s album.

  

Actors and Performers

• Brice Fisher, Siletz: Brice Fisher has appeared in the movie “Kidnap” with Halle Berry; “The Tribes of Palos Verdes” with Jennifer Garner; and on the TNT drama show “The Librarians,” among many other shows.
• Chris Eyre, Cheyenne, Arapaho: This screenwriter-director became famous with “Smoke Signals,” the first major movie written, directed, and starring Indians. He just launched a show with a Native police chief, Dark Winds.
• Marta Clifford, Grand Ronde, Chinook, Cree: Elder Marta collaborates with theater professor Theresa May to direct, write, and teach about Tribal perspectives and the way it engages the work of decolonization through theater.
• Lori Tapahonso, Navajo (Dine), Acoma Pueblo: Lori teaches Native American leadership college courses and produces a college-readiness program. She cofounded the illioo Native Theatre.

  

• LaRonn Kotchia, Warm Springs, Wasco, Paiute: LaRonn is a film maker, cinematographer, and storyteller. He was awarded Best Film & Best Cinematography for “Missing Indigenous” in the Portland 48hour film festival.

  

• Anthony Hudson (Carla Rossi), Grand Ronde, Siletz: Anthony is an artist and writer best known as Portland’s premier drag clown Carla Rossi. Anthony co-hosts the queer feminist horror podcast Gaylords of Darkness.
• Kunu Bearchum, Northern Cheyenne, Ho-Chunk: Kunu uses technology and critical thinking in the ancient craft of telling stories. “[Native Americans have] our oral history and storytelling. I want to make music that shows that.”
• Waylon Lenk, Karuk: Waylon is a theatre artist and educator whose family hails from Taxasufkára and Ka’tim’îin on the Klamath River. His work explores the intersections between Indigenous and western performance styles.
• Brutis Baez, Warm Springs, Wasco, Nez Perce: Brutis “Bigg B” continues to participate in ceremonies that keep him balanced. Music and video producing, announcing, and promotion is what Brutis loves.

  

• Isis Celilo Rogers, Hupa, Wasco, Warm Springs: Isis recently made her acting debut in Netflix‘s animated series “Spirit Rangers.” Isis proudly represents Indigenous people through her work.
• Joey Clift, Cowlitz: Joey is staff writer and consulting producer on the new Netflix show Spirit Rangers. “It’s created by a Native person and about Native characters voiced by Native actors. It celebrates Native joy. It’s just the kind of show I wish I’d had,” he said. A few weeks ago he spoke at the Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland.

  

And a shout-out to our member organizations that support Native artists and performers:

• The Native Arts & Cultures Foundation advances equity and cultural knowledge, focusing on the power of arts and collaboration to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change with American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples in the United States.
• Siletz Arts & Heritage Society promotes programs that encourage the revitalization and practice of Tribal cultural and religious activities and the restoration of Tribal religious and cultural sites and locations.
• Wisdom of the Elders records, preserves, and shares oral history, cultural arts, language concepts, and traditional ecological knowledge of exemplary Native American elders, storytellers, and scientists.

The post Honoring the rich landscape of Native artists and performers from Oregon appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Congratulations to our governor-elect, Tina Kotek. We enjoyed our session with her in October. You can watch the recording here.

We are excited about the coming months and our opportunity to reposition the cultural sector as a priority of our governor-elect and new legislators.

Here is our CACO 2023 policy agenda:

• $50 million in additional recovery funding for arts, culture, heritage, and humanities, distributed similarly to the CARES allocation of last cycle. We had advocated for this in 2022 and were not successful, largely because previous ARPA funds had not yet been distributed to the field.Some of our major venues are seeing ticket sales at 18% of what they were before the pandemic. The need is great. Oregon has more in its general fund than it has in awhile, so we will push this as our top priority.
• $11.9 million in Cultural Resource Economic Funds for 16 projects across the state, ranging from $150,000 to $3 million. Large and small, urban and rural, for a variety of art forms, these funds will complete capital projects preserving cultural offerings across Oregon.
• $200 million to the Oregon Cultural Trust, spinning off $10-20 million a year for operations grants to the 1,400 Oregon nonprofits eligible for funding from the trust. We are asking lawmakers to make good on the original $200 million commitment they made to fund the Oregon Cultural Trust by asking for revenue from lottery bonds.We will work with county and tribal coalitions to distribute these funds, which will go into an account separate from current grant programs. This is our long-term vision for supporting the sector and it will move Oregon into the top rankings for state funding.
• $10 million increase to grow grant funding at the Oregon Arts Commission.
• Replacing Oregon Cultural Trust administrative cap with percentage of earnings.

Through our advocacy, we have helped direct over $100 million in federal recovery funding to our sector by the state legislature.

We have funded capital projects, increased dollars generated from the arts and culture license plate, renewed the Oregon Cultural Trust Tax Credit, and helped build our sector in every community.

Congratulations to our newly elected leaders. We look forward to working with them on these important priorities!

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon board

The post Looking forward to working with our new governor and legislature on our 2023 priorities! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

The CACO board of directors received over 35 applications for 2023-25 arts & culture funding for capital projects across the state. Consulting with the Oregon Arts Commission and Oregon Cultural Trust, the board identified the following projects because of their geographic and cultural diversity, economic impact, and expanded access to the arts.  We are confident that state funds will support well-developed and viable projects on the endorsed slate.

The CACO board recommends the following 16 capital construction projects for CREF investment by the Oregon State Legislature:

• Black United Fund ($900,000), building the United Futures Complex (statewide)
• Clatsop County Historical Society ($1,000,000), expanding the Oregon Film Museum (Astoria)
• Friends of the Oregon Caves & Chateau ($455,690), restoring the Oregon Caves Chateau (Cave Junction)
• Literary Arts ($1,000,000), building new community space/headquarters (Portland)
• Columbia County Museum Association ($400,000), relocation and improved accessibility of the Columbia County Museum (St. Helens)
• Josephine Community Library Foundation ($424,603), acquisition of land for new Josephine County Library and Community Commons (Grants Pass)
• Native Arts and Culture Foundation ($3,000,000), creation of the Center for Native Arts and Cultures (Portland)
• High Desert Museum ($2,000,000), construction of a new wing of the High Desert Museum (Bend)
• Southern Oregon Historical Society ($500,000), creation of an event center and new Southern Oregon Historical Society Museum (Medford)
• PAM CUT // Center for an Untold Tomorrow ($250,000), creation of the Tomorrow Theater (Portland)
• Painted Sky Center for Arts and Culture ($500,000), acquisition of building for Painted Sky Center for Arts and Culture (Canyon City)
• Very Little Theatre ($350,000), removation and remodeling of the Very Little Theatre (Eugene)
• Rainier Oregon Historical Museum ($500,000), building construction for the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum
• Portland Institute for Contemporary Art ($150,000), capital repairs and upgrades to building
• Salem Parks Foundation ($150,000), Eco-Earth Globe restoration in Riverfront Park
• Portland Playhouse ($300,000), acquisition of Portland Playhouse building and property

TOTAL: $11.88 million

“One of many Oregon strengths is embodied in our artists and cultural institutions. We are proud of the long history of state support in stewarding Oregon’s cultural sector. These capital projects will positively affect local economies and the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals for years into the future,” said Isaac Marquez, City of Eugene cultural services director and chair of the CACO board’s capital construction committee.

“Arts and culture make up an important part of the fabric of our state,” said Representative Rob Nosse. “I’m thrilled to see the diversity of projects endorsed by CACO, as this slate brings Oregon’s treasures – new and old, urban and rural, small and large – to all of us who get to live here, those who pass through, and those who will learn about us from afar.  I’m happy to champion this well-curated collection.”

The post 16 Arts and Culture Capital Construction Projects Recommended for $11.88 Million appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

It is devastating to learn of death threats for any Oregon artist. This situation calls on us and our new governor to create a safe and protective environment for all Oregonians to experience arts and culture.

As one of our long-time members, OSF is the largest theatre in Oregon and one of the most prominent regional theatres in the country. Nataki capably steered OSF through the pandemic, surviving under unprecedented financial pressures. Emerging from lockdown, OSF presented a vibrant first season, presenting Shakespeare with diverse casts and new plays by diverse contemporary writers. Many OSF theatergoers are thrilled with OSF’s evolution. Nataki is a leading advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in theatre, and the first Black woman to direct OSF. Now she must travel with a security team in public.

Nataki’s vision, creativity, and courage in transforming OSF into a fully diverse, contemporary performing arts program is breathtaking. She encourages young, diverse playwrights to pitch ground-breaking, one-of-a-kind new plays directly to OSF. Oregon desperately needs creative leaders like Nataki Garrett.

We are grateful for the world-class talent we are fortunate to have in Ashland.  We should be able to guarantee an environment where OSF can support its artists and help all its audiences thrive with the healing impact of the arts and the economic impact they generate.

We urge everyone to support Nataki Garrett and OSF by buying tickets and standing up publicly against hate.

J.S. May
President, Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon

The post Statement in Support of Nataki Garrett and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Press Release
For Immediate Release 
Contact: Sue Hildick, (503) 816-4710, sue@oregonculture.org

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition announces that Oregon policymakers approved $50 million in funds to support cultural and community venues and nonprofits, plus $9.1 million in capital construction projects that further Oregon’s cultural growth.

The Oregon legislature is poised to approve a substantial package of financial support for arts and culture in its closing days—building on support previously provided in federal recov­­­ery funds. In the coming days, the Coalition will be working to learn how funds will be distributed and will work with its members to answer questions. 

“We are grateful to our policymakers for supporting the recovery of this important sector and helping bring creative expression to every corner of Oregon,” said Sue Hildick, Coalition Senior Advisor. “Our board of directors have worked hard to ensure policymakers see Oregon’s art and cultural organizations as the 2^nd responders in the pandemic, socially and economically.”  

Highlights from the funding approvals this session, include: 

— $50 million in funds for music, cultural, and community venues and organizations that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds were allocated to Business Oregon Department to distribute.

— $10 million in Main Street grants 

— $9.5 million in capital construction grants to the following projects/organizations endorsed by the Cultural Advocacy Coalition:

Read more about these capital projects on our website. 

Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center (MHIC), Preservation of Maxville Townsite
Artists Repertory Theatre (ART), ARTsHub
Josephy Center for Arts and Culture (JCAC), Facility Expansion and Renovation
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE), Expansion into the Charles Hartman Gallery
Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre (EORT), Baker Orpheum Theatre Renovation
Chehalem Cultural Center (CCC), Performing Arts Wing
Siletz Tribal Arts & Heritage Society (STAHS), Cultural Heritage Center
Shedd Institute for the Arts, North Entrance Remodel
Little Theatre on the Bay LTOB), Liberty Theatre Expansion/Enhancement
Columbia River Maritime Museum (CRMM), Preservation of the Lightship Columbia
Portland Art Museum (PAM), Mark Rothko Pavilion

— An additional $900,000 for Lincoln City Cultural Center Plaza and $1.5 million in funds for the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (restoration of 2019 funding loss) 

Thank you for supporting this monumental effort this year! 

Please remember that the Coalition’s advocacy work is funded by you, our supporters and members. Please consider donating today or renewing your membership so we may continue advocating for Oregon’s arts and culture. 

Thank you,

Sue Hildick 
Senior Advisor 
Cultural Advocacy Coalition 
 ____________________________________________________________

About the Cultural Advocacy Coalition

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition (CAC or the Coalition) is a 501(c)4 non-partisan advocacy group formed to lobby policymakers in Salem to ensure that all Oregonians have the opportunity to access arts and culture in their communities. The mission is to increase ongoing public investment in arts, heritage and the humanities. Volunteers serve on the Board of Directors and include representatives from a broad number of interests to best represent the diverse mix of Oregon’s cultural community. Learn more at OregonCulture.org

The post We did it! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

A huge congratulations to Coalition member The High Desert Museum! The Institute of Museum and Library Services named the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon today as one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Three museums and three libraries nationwide were selected from 30 finalists for the honor. 

“It is an honor and pleasure to honor these six recipients of the 2021 National Medal of Museum and Library Service,” said Crosby Kemper, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “Through their programs, services and community relationships, these institutions exemplify the ongoing excellence of our nations’ museums and libraries across the country, as well as their extraordinary efforts this past year to serve, heal and bring us together. We look forward to celebrating them, as well as paying tribute to the hardworking staff at all American museums and libraries this summer.”

The 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners represent institutions that provide dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service. Through their community outreach, these institutions bring about change that touches the lives of individuals and families and helps communities thrive.

Now nearly in its 40th year, the High Desert Museum is the only museum in the nation devoted to the exploration of the High Desert, a region that spans across eight states. It was a 2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service Finalist and is the fourth Oregon institution to receive the award over the past 27 years.

The Museum has worked to create programs that offer rich educational programming and expand museum access. This has particularly been true since the start of the pandemic, during which the Museum started a daylong elementary program for La Pine students so caregivers could go to work during online school; provided free memberships to St. Charles Health Care System front-line workers; and is launching an initiative to provide tablets and WiFi hotspots to households for children who might not be otherwise able to participate in online educational programs.

“We consider it a core part of our mission to be responsive to our community by providing quality, inspirational experiences, both on our grounds and beyond,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “We’re honored and thrilled by this national recognition.”

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