URGENT! Save Oregon's Arts and Culture - Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon

 

Help us secure $50 million for arts and culture organizations and venues in Oregon! 
A Legislative Work Group has recommended that the Joint Emergency Board (E-Board) invest $50 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to support arts, culture, heritage, humanities,  venues, and organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 and the state’s mandated closures. Specifically, the recommendation includes:

• $9,623,897 to support 77 nonprofit and privately-owned venues for live music and performing arts events

• $8,840,000 for the state’s anchor performing arts organizations – the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Opera, Portland Center Stage, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival

• $4,100,000 to support Metro’s visitor venues, including Portland’5 Centers for the Performing Arts

• $27,116,103 to the Oregon Cultural Trust and its County and Tribal Coalitions to distribute to other cultural institutions and venues throughout the state. (Organizations and venues that receive other direct funding in this package would not be eligible to apply for these grants.)

• The package also includes $320,000 for Oregon Coast Community College

The E-Board is expected to meet very soon to vote on this recommendation. Their vote is the next step in approving this investment. Now is the time for action. Let your voice be heard!
Please take two minutes to urge our elected officials to support this vital funding package for arts and culture by emailing the emergency board contacts below. You may use our suggested copy (below) or personalize your email. 
Emergency Board Contact Emails:
rep.tinakotek@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.PeterCourtney@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.BillHansell@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.BetsyJohnson@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.JamesManning@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.ArnieRoblan@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.ElizabethSteinerHayward@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.ChuckThomsen@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.FredGirod@oregonlegislature.gov
rep.ChristineDrazan@oregonlegislature.gov
rep.DavidGomberg@oregonlegislature.gov
rep.PaulHolvey@oregonlegislature.gov
rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov
rep.RobNosse@oregonlegislature.gov
rep.GregSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
rep.DuaneStark@oregonlegislature.gov
sen.LynnFindley@oregonlegislature.gov
 
Suggested Email Copy: 
[Subject Line:] Please support Oregon’s arts and culture relief funding!
Dear Emergency Board,
I am writing to urge you to support the Legislative Work Group’s July 7 recommendation to invest $50 million of Oregon’s Coronavirus Relief Funds for arts organizations and venues that have been closed or have cancelled public programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor’s Executive Orders.
As you know, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our once-vital industry. Oregon’s nonprofit arts organizations, which usually generate $627 million in annual economic activity with 9.9 million attendees per year, have experienced massive losses, and thousands of creative workers remain out of work. The road to recovery will be long, performing arts events will be among the last to re-open, and many performing arts organizations won’t survive without emergency aid.
Arts organizations and venues in Oregon need our help. As you make important decisions about the state’s CARES Act funds, I urge you to allocate $50 million for arts organizations and venues, per the Legislative Work Group’s July 7 Recommendation #2.
Thank you for your consideration.
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Thank you for joining us in this effort!
Cultural Advocacy Coalition