She has been executive director of the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center in Baker City for 14 years. As our board member, she never misses an opportunity to advocate for arts & culture funding across the state. Watch her testify to the Oregon Legislature in February 2022. She also makes sure that when funding is allocated, the rural or less-populated cities across the state don’t get forgotten.

From the article:

“I’m pretty loud and vociferous in my wanting to make sure that we always remember the small organizations around the state who do great work promoting arts, culture, heritage and humanities,“ says Savage, whose testimony helped direct millions in COVID relief to arts groups all over the state.

“Having articulate voices like hers in the mix, that say, ‘All of this is part of the cultural landscape,’ is incredibly powerful,”  says JS May, CACO’s executive director.   

For arts funding, May says, it’s easy to get focused on the Willamette Valley. Savage, who has lived in conservative-leaning counties her entire life, helps bring in voices from communities that don’t have big-city concentrations of arts organizations—and across party lines. “Culture is a bipartisan issue,” says May. “Having Ginger involved has helped make the case that it isn’t a D and R issue.”

CACO’s senior advisor Sue Hildick added, “Ginger is a beautiful example of leading from the heart and lifting up others for the success of all. She inspires and delights those she touches with her compassion, advocacy, and impact. We are so grateful arts and culture are among her passions.“

Ginger, we are grateful for all you do for our organization and for arts & culture across the state and the country!

The post Congratulations to Ginger Savage, extraordinary volunteer and CACO board member! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Phase two of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund for Live Event Venue Operations and Live Event Producers/Presenters Program is complete as of June 2022. The program received more than 360 applications, with estimated live event revenue losses exceeding $190 million. In the end, 238 organizations received a total of $33.5 million. Most grant recipients received between $5,000 and $250,000, with organizations operating multiple venues able to receive up to $750,000. You can view the recipients here

A “live event” was defined as “an in-person and time-limited, ticketed activity that brings individuals together in a designated space for a community, cultural, or entertainment event.” Principal business activities eligible for funding in this program were restricted to advertising revenue, catering fees, concession sales, merchandise sales, rental fees, sponsorship sales, and ticket sales.

The post Live event venue operators grant update appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Important dates

• Week of 4/11: Website will go up with information
• 4/20: Orientation to run through program guidelines and the application process
• 4/25: Applications open
• 5/16: Application process closes
• 6/30: projected date of fund distribution
• 12/23/23: funds must be spent by this date

Who’s eligible?

This program is for live event venue operators and producers. These are defined as entities where no less than 30% of their revenue comes from live event sales. This threshold is low to allow for museums to be eligible for this funding.

Live event operators (e.g., fairs, festivals, cultural events) are defined as entities with 50% of their business activity funded through live events, which may include revenues from tickets and concessions.

Who’s not eligible?

• Adult entertainment venues
• Municipal- or state-owned venues
• Non-ticketed live event producers (e.g., bars with karaoke nights)
• Movie theaters (covered in previous phase of program)
• Sporting events and venues
• Temporary or pop-up live event venues
• Public or private universities
• Lobbying organizations

What will the application involve?

Business Oregon will be asking entities to look at fiscal years 2019 and 2020, using federal tax returns to establish overall loss. Their funding formula creates parameters around award sizes, which will generally range from $5,000 to $250,000.

They will prioritize entities that have not yet received funding from these four programs:

• Oregon Cultural Trust’s Coronavirus Relief Funds
• Department of Administrative Services’ funding for venues, released in 2020
• Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
• Operational Cost Assistance Program (administered by Business Oregon)

If you have received funds from one of these programs, you are still encouraged to apply.

Later in May Business Oregon will launch the companion program that targets support for organizations that support live venues and individual artists and musicians.

Let us know if you have any questions, and we’ll share more information as it becomes available.

Thanks,

The CACO board and lobbying team

The post Relief Funds to Begin Flowing Soon! appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Crossroads is the oldest continuously operating art center east of the Cascades. A 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 1963, the center creates opportunities for the entire community to be engaged, inspired, and transformed by the arts. It’s a welcoming place where people meet and the arts speak. Admission is free for all.

Crossroads works to fulfill its mission through community-wide programs such as:

• First Friday exhibits that showcase artists and music
• Acting as a community partner to attract art-based industries
• Workshops and courses for kids and adults at the center and in local schools
• Networks, support systems, scholarship programs, and gallery space for artists
• Partnerships with public agencies to provide programs and services for at-risk and underprivileged youth and families, and adults in recovery programs

After the 1970 economy devastated rural Oregon communities, Baker City rebounded in the 1980s and became one of Oregon’s most beloved cultural communities. After completing a 6-year $1.6 million renovation of the Carnegie Library in 2008, the library has become Crossroads’ home. The arts have continued to thrive through many challenges over the years.

Two years into the pandemic, now Crossroads is facing another troubling time:

• When the pandemic hit in 2020, Crossroads limped along and survived. The community supported Crossroads even when the center had to close for 50 days. The center transformed itself within months by going online.
• Since Crossroads opened again on May 15, 2020, it has remained open ever since while keeping guests, students, and staff safe. The center had two online First Friday openings and has shared art programming and content on social media. Crossroads staff worked with partners to rebuild its website and place all gallery artwork and featured shows online for sale to support its local artists.
• Crossroads found 2021 to be financially devastating, ending the year with a 91% loss compared to 2020 and significant losses in three of the four quarters. Thanks to the leadership of the Crossroads Board of Directors, reserve funds helped the center navigate 2021.
• In 2022, Crossroads is seeing improved attendance and participation from local community members and a tentative return of tourists; however, additional state funding is critical to sustain staff and programs.

“During the darkest days of the pandemic, arts and culture uplifted us all worldwide,” said Crossroads Executive Director Ginger Savage. “Artisans offered classes and activities online often at no charge. Now it’s time to give back to those artists and help them rebound out of COVID.”

In the early days of the pandemic, Crossroads staff called its members to check in. The center’s staff is calling all members again this month to check in after the pandemic’s long isolation.

Crossroads is just one of many of our precious Oregon arts & culture organizations facing an ongoing challenge during the pandemic.

“I couldn’t have survived the pandemic without my friendships on the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon board,” said Savage. “To be supported by remarkable leaders from around Oregon was a source of inspiration and hope. We have worked hard to get funding to arts and culture organizations in Oregon. We need your help even more to ensure that ARPA funds get out now. The advocacy work is far from done…we need your help to advocate for additional state and federal funding to assist in recovery.

Renew your membership, make donations, read newsletters, and help supply needed materials to art organizations.  And if you can volunteer, we need your help!”

The post Crossroads Carnegie Art Center Brings the Arts to Life in Baker City appeared first on Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.