Dear Advocates, 

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition, Independent Venue Coalition, and Arts Magnets have been working together, with support and encouragement from our legislative champions Representative Lively and Representative Nosse, to assemble an Arts & Culture Sector Recovery Package that is available to the state through the American Rescue Plan.  

We are requesting $100 million dedicated to live venues, with allocations set aside for the Independent Venue Coalition, the state’s Seven Large Arts Anchors, and a fund available for grants to the vast array of other arts and culture organizations around the state. This is modeled on the distribution set up in last summer’s CARES allocation as determined by the emergency board, and which has been a key factor in our sector’s survival to this point. 

Oregon’s live venues and arts and culture organizations are deeply appreciative of the government and private assistance that carried us through the abrupt and rapid decline in revenues experienced during the pandemic. Those dollars were spent to maintain salaries and benefits for as long as possible, cover basic operational costs, and directly support musicians, dancers, and artists throughout the state.

With reopening now underway, organizations are faced with start-up costs and increased expenses at a time when most of us expect revenues to remain well below pre-pandemic levels for the foreseeable future. 

Please contact your area Ways & Means member TODAY (contact information listed by region below) and ask them to support this recovery package.

We believe this is a comprehensive and forward-looking program for a better recovery for these institutions that will be cost and administratively effective, will save these businesses and nonprofits, and will help revitalize Oregon’s economy. 

Thank you,
Cultural Advocacy Coalition
Board of Directors 

P.S. Please join our 2nd Responders Campaign and read about other cultural legislative session updates. Learn more.

Talking Points for Speaking with Ways & Means Members

On behalf of Oregon’s Art and Culture organizations, I ask that you invest $100 million into the arts and culture recovery package that is available to the state through the American Rescue Plan to help our sector recover. Among the first to close and last to reopen, it will take years for Oregon’s arts and culture organizations to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19. The sector, largely compromised of non-profit organizations has suffered lost ticket and admission revenues due to cancellations and refunds, reduced revenues from private donors and layoffs, budget cuts, significantly reduced capacity limits and major operational changes. 

Oregon’s live venues and arts and culture organizations are deeply appreciative of the government and private assistance that carried us through the abrupt and rapid decline in revenues experienced during the pandemic. As we look to reopen and be a part of Oregon’s recovery, organizations are faced with start-up costs and increased expenses at a time when most of us expect revenues to remain below pandemic levels for the foreseeable future. We need your help now to support and stabilize our arts and culture community. I strongly urge you to prioritize $100 million in recovery funds for arts and culture this session. 

(Personalize- share a quick message on what additional funding would mean for your organization)

Legislative Leadership/Ways & Means

Senate President Peter Courtney (Co-Chair) (D-Salem)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1600
Email: sen.petercourtney@oregonlegislature.gov 

Speaker Tina Kotek (Co-Chair) (D-N/NE Portland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1200    
District Phone: 503-286-0558
Email: Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-NW Portland/Beaverton) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
Email: Sen.ElizabethSteinerHayward@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose)
Capitol Phone:503-986-1716  
District Phone:503-543-4046
Email: ​​​Sen.BetsyJohnson@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1416 
District Phone: 541-740-7744
Email: rep.danrayfield@oregonlegislature.gov 

Senator Fred Girod (R-Stayton)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709 
Email: Sen.FredGirod@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative David Gomberg (D-Central Coast)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1410
Email: Rep.DavidGomberg@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Greg Smith (R-Heppner)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1457 
District Phone: 541-676-5154
Email: rep.gregsmith@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Email: Sen.DickAnderson@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Lew Frederick (D-Portland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Email: Sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Jeff Golden (D-Ashland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703   
Email: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale)
Capitol Phone: 971-231-4466
Email: Sen.ChrisGorsek@oregonlegislature.gov 

Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Email: Sen.BillHansell@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
Email: Sen.TimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
Email: Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Kathleen Taylor (D-Milwaukie)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1721
Email: sen.kathleentaylor@oregonlegislature.gov 

Senator Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1726
Email: Sen.ChuckThomsen@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Clackamas)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1451
Email: Rep.JanelleBynum@oregonlegislature.gov  

Representative Christine Drazan (R-Canby)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1439
Email: Rep.ChristineDrazan@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Gary Leif (R-Roseburg)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1402
Email: rep.garyleif@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1429
Email: rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov 

Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1442   
District Phone: 971-217-8037
Email: Rep.RobNosse@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Tawna Sanchez (D-NE Portland)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
Email: Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Duane Stark (R-Grants Pass) 
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1404
Email: rep.duanestark@oregonlegislature.gov

The post Recovery Package appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

The Cultural Advocacy Coalition is celebrating good news this week after the Oregon Joint Emergency Board approved a $50 million relief package to support arts, culture, heritage, and humanities organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Emergency Relief includes the following:

• $9,680,128 to support 78 nonprofit and privately-owned live music and performing arts venues across the state (for a complete list, see page 3 of the recommendation and analysis memo)

• Designated grants to several large arts and culture organizations across the state: Oregon Shakespeare Festival ($4,710,000), Metro ($4,100,000, a portion of which goes to Portland’5 Centers for the Arts), Oregon Symphony ($1,750,000), Portland Opera and Portland Center Stage ($875,000 each), High Desert Museum ($700,000), Oregon Ballet Theatre ($630,000), Pendleton Roundup ($375,000).

• $25,984,872 for Business Oregon and the Oregon Cultural Trust to distribute to other organizations and venues throughout the state

The post Emergency Board Approves $50 million relief package! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.