• Bill to Preserve and Strengthen Oregon's Culture Passes Oregon Legislature (ArtsMarket Inc.)

Bill to Preserve and Strengthen Oregon's Culture Passes Oregon Legislature

Salem, Ore-HB 2923, the bill providing funding for Oregon's Trust for Cultural Development, passed in the Oregon Senate today by a vote of 25 to 3. The Senate vote followed the June 30 passage of the bill in the House of Representatives by a vote of 53 to 3. The bill is the culmination of more than two years of work by statewide arts, humanities, heritage and historic preservation leaders to increase collaboration and funding for cultural initiatives. HB 2923 was sponsored by a bi-partisan group of legislators including cultural task force members Rep. Ben Westlund (R-Tumalo) and Sen. Lee Beyer (D-Springfield). It establishes a tax credit for direct contributions to the Oregon Trust for Cultural Development, a long-term public/private funding initiative designed to preserve and strengthen culture for all Oregonians. Funding for the Trust will also come from revenue derived from the sale of a new "cultural" license plate and from the sale of state-owned surplus assets.

Oregon falls near the bottom of state funding for arts, culture and heritage in US per capita state rankings, despite widespread recognition of the value that cultural programs bring to our state's economy and our citizens' quality of life. Everyday, Oregonians seek education, entertainment and a sense of identity from the thousands of cultural activities offered in their communities. When these activities are neglected, quality of life for all Oregonians is diminished.

"Our vision for the Cultural Trust is simple and straightforward--it's time for a true cultural awakening, something that lifts the arts, the humanities and our cultural heritage to a new and pivotal level capable of impacting favorably every Oregonian," said Charles Walker, chair of the Joint Interim Task Force on Cultural Development. "We are delighted that the need for more focused attention on Oregon's culture was so strongly endorsed by the Legislature."

More than two years ago, thousands of Oregonians came together in response to a mandate from Governor John Kitzhaber to develop a unified strategy to guide and increase public investment in Oregon's severely under-funded arts, culture and heritage organizations.

Today, after two years of broad-based community outreach led by state cultural agencies and two state-appointed task forces, the Oregon Legislature made a significant investment in communities and their cultural development.

The Cultural Trust will be a staffed entity operating within the Secretary of State's office and directed by a governing board. As a funding mechanism, the Trust will invest in communities in three ways: through direct funding partnerships with county and tribal cultural coalitions; through competitive matching grants to support, protect and stabilize cultural organizations in the future and; through increased funding to state cultural agencies to strengthen existing programs and support new partnerships and collaborations (Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Council for the Humanities, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation Office).

"July 3 will be remembered as Oregon's Cultural Independence Day for generations to come. The Trust will have a lasting impact on arts, culture and heritage groups across the state," said Norm Smith, chairman of the Oregon Arts Commission. "The bill approved by the Legislature reflects the connection that Oregonians have with culture: our rich heritage, our historic downtowns and the vitality of the arts. We are delighted with the strong support of the legislators."

The full report of the Joint Interim Task Force on Cultural Development recommending the plans for the Oregon Trust for Cultural Development can be accessed online.