Listen to Ginger Savage, CREF Committee Chair, speak about this year’s CREF process.

The post Apply for 2027-2029 capital construction funding! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

We’re writing to share an exciting milestone for CACO and for Oregon’s arts, culture, heritage, and humanities sector. Over the past several months, CACO completed the Big Re/Think, a statewide listening and learning process that brought together hundreds of artists, cultural leaders, funders, legislators, and community members from across Oregon to reflect on where our sector stands and where it needs to go. Those conversations, paired with a full-day board retreat this April, helped shape a clear, sector-informed direction for CACO heading into the 2027 legislative session.

What we heard was both sobering and energizing. And what emerged is a 2027 agenda built directly from the voices of the field.

CACO’S 2027 Legislative Priorities

Guided by the Big Re/Think and shaped by our board, CACO will pursue an ambitious slate of priorities in the 2027 session. We will focus on near-term legislative wins while also laying the groundwork for longer-term, transformational change.

Near-Term Priorities for 2027:

• Renewing and expanding the Oregon Cultural Trust tax credit – expanding the caps for individuals and couples to meaningfully grow the private contributions flowing through the Oregon Cultural Trust into our state’s cultural sector.
• Securing and growing the Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) grants budget so OAC funding finally scales to match the sector’s needs and reach across the board.
• Securing approval of the next Cultural Resource Economic Fund (CREF) slate through lottery bonds for major capital projects across the state, with General Fund support of smaller projects – sustaining a vital pipeline of cultural infrastructure investment across Oregon.

Longer-Term Goals We’re Advancing:

• Developing and championing a unified, sector-wide message and long-term vision for arts, culture, heritage, and humanities in Oregon – this is some of the most consistent feedback from the Big Re/Think and the foundation that strengthens every other priority on this list.
• Fully funding the Oregon Cultural Trust.
• Strengthening arts and music education statewide as a core part of K–12 education and for lifelong learning opportunities.
• Pursuing new dedicated funding streams for the arts and culture sector.
• Partnering with OAC and OCT leadership on a merged, semi-independent state agency.
• Advancing social prescription models that formalize our sector’s role in health and wellbeing

Together, these priorities reflect a shared belief that arts, culture, heritage, and humanities are not a luxury, but essential to Oregon’s communities, economy, and quality of life. In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be sharing more about each priority and the many ways your organization and community can engage.

An Invitation

This is a pivotal moment. With a gubernatorial election year underway and the 2027 session on the horizon, the conditions exist to make real, lasting progress so long as we move forward with clarity, coordination, and ambition. CACO is ready to lead, and we want you with us.

We are grateful to the hundreds of Oregonians who participated in the Big Re/Think, to our board, and to the members and partners who make this work possible. If you have questions, want to discuss how your organization might engage in CACO’s 2027 advocacy work, or are simply ready to lend your voice, please reach out. We want to hear from you.

With gratitude and determination,

Dana Whitelaw
Board Chair, Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon

Peter Bilotta
Board President, Cultural Advocacy Coalition Foundation

The post CACO’s 2027 legislative priorities for Oregon’s arts, culture, & humanities sector appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Siri Grubb (she/her), Senior Director of Executive Operations, Oregon Symphony: Siri joined the Oregon Symphony in 2021 as executive assistant to the CEO and music director and liaison to the Board of Directors. In that role, she developed a broad understanding of the symphony’s business and the key concerns facing arts groups in Oregon. Over five years, she has expanded the scope of her position to provide increased high-level strategic support. As senior director of executive operations, she represents the office of the CEO, shepherds institutional initiatives, and helps to drive success across the organization. Siri earned a master’s in communication at PSU, where she focused on political and strategic communication. Why she wanted to join the CACO board: “I believe that art and culture are as important for quality of life as economic opportunity, and I’m honored to join the CACO board. I’m grateful for this opportunity to support the health and vitality of the sector so that Oregon remains a place where everyone can thrive.”

Beth Lewis (she/her), Director of Development, Portland Opera: Beth joined the opera in June 2025 and oversees fundraising, including annual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, and special events. As a lifelong actor, Beth has extensive experience in classical theater, improv, and music across NYC, LA, and regional theaters. Before joining Portland Opera, she directed development and donor engagement at Centro Cultural de Washington County, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, and Portland Center Stage at The Armory. She was also managing director for Bag&Baggage Productions and Curious Comedy Theater. She has a B.A. in theatre from Connecticut College and a Certificate in Acting from Michael Howard Studios. She is also board president of the Aloha Community Library and the Arts & Communication Magnet Academy parent-teacher organization in Beaverton. Why she wanted to join the CACO board: “I’m excited to join the board of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon to help champion policies that sustain a vibrant arts ecosystem across the state and ensure organizations like Portland Opera can continue serving our communities.”

Brian Robrecht, Box Office and Front of House Manager, Newport Performing Arts: Brian has been stage managing for 20 years. He has worked on everything from a one-person show in a small space to large-scale musicals with an orchestra in larger venues.

Javier Dubon, Interim Executive Director and Director of Sales and Marketing, Oregon Shakespeare Festival (he/him): Named interim executive director in June 2025, Javier is helping lead OSF through its continued recovery and growth after the COVID-19 pandemic. Javier has a passion for driving revenue, program impact, and brand reach at nonprofit arts organizations. He has spent over a decade at presenting and producing organizations, marketing nearly every performing arts genre. Before joining OSF in 2022, he directed and managed marketing for theatres in Chicago and Texas. He serves on the adjunct faculty at DePaul University in Chicago, where he earned an MFA in arts leadership, in addition to a bachelor’s of music from The University of Texas at Austin. Why he wanted to join the CACO board: “I look forward to contributing to the cultural vibrancy and support of Oregon through my service on the CACO board.”

The post Welcome, new board members in 2026! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Building on the original 2014 Big Think, The Big Re/Think took place between September and December 2025 and included interviews with policymakers and sector leaders, a statewide survey, a virtual convening, and six in-person convenings across Oregon. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed their thoughtful insights.

The process highlighted several key themes, including the need for a clearer and more unified story about the value of arts, culture, heritage, and humanities in Oregon, as well as the importance of identifying more sustainable funding mechanisms for the sector.

The CACO and CACF boards will be looking at these findings over the coming months as we begin shaping advocacy priorities for the years ahead.

If you’d like to dive deeper, you can also read the full report: Big Re/Think Final Report.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make this process possible.

The post The Big Re/Think findings are in! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

The post Short session update: cultural funding protected appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

The post You belong here! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

From our friends at the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies:

Congress has begun its FY2026 budget deliberations. They will set federal funding levels for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Because the White House “Skinny Budget” recommended elimination of the agency, this work has extra importance this summer. It will take a strong chorus of voices to protect the NEA and sustain the 40% of grant funds that go to states.

The post Contact Senator Jeff Merkley today to advocate for the NEA appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

In May the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) sent grant cancellation notices to dozens of Oregon institutions. These cancellations are a massive blow to many small arts institutions that had already made budget and hiring decisions based on promised federal support, particularly heading into the busy summer season. 

We are asking members of congress to sign on to a letter to President Trump urging him to restore these cancelled grants.  As of this writing, only Rep. Suzanne Bonamici has signed the letter but we are urging full participation from Oregon representatives. We’ve provided a letter template you can send to the staff member in charge of arts and culture issues for our congressional delegations. Please email these staff members directly. 

The post Urge the reversal of NEA grant cancellations appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

What’s at Stake:

We are urging lawmakers to champion three key funding priorities:

• Oregon Arts Commission: $10 million to elevate Oregon’s per capita arts investment and support arts organizations statewide. (HB 3189)
• CREF Slate Funding: Full funding for 13 shovel-ready capital projects across Oregon to create jobs and strengthen arts infrastructure. (HB 3191)
• Support for Large Arts Organizations: $5.5 million in one-time funding to sustain Oregon’s flagship institutions and match private donations. (HB 3189)

These investments are more than just numbers—they represent jobs, economic recovery, education, and the soul of our communities.

What You Can Do:

Contact your legislators today—whether or not they represent your district. The time is now to push them to act on behalf of Oregon’s arts and culture sector. Below is a draft letter you can send to any legislator or member of the Oregon Arts & Culture Caucus.

Sample Letter:

Dear [Legislator’s Name],

As the legislative session wraps up, I urge you to support critical arts funding:

$10 million for the Oregon Arts Commission (HB 3189) to support arts organizations statewide.

Full funding for CREF (HB 3191) to create jobs and improve arts & culture infrastructure.

$5.5 million for large arts & culture organizations (HB 3189) to sustain flagship institutions.

These investments are essential to Oregon’s economy, culture, and community well-being. Please advocate for these priorities before the session ends.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Organization]

Why Now?

The clock is ticking—these funding decisions will shape Oregon for years to come. Contact your legislators now and urge them to act before the session ends. Your voice makes a difference.

Thank you for standing up for Oregon’s arts and culture sector!

The post Urgent Call to Action: Advocate for the Arts in Oregon appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

• HB 3189: Improving access to state funding for arts & culture providers ($10 million) (more info)
• HB 3191: Providing capital to 14 arts & culture capital projects around the state ($9.325M) (more info)
• Supporting one-time funding for large arts organizations to match private philanthropic commitments ($5.5M) 
• HB 3190: Encouraging investment in preservation and reuse of historic properties (more info)

The post CACO priorities for 2025 appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.