From the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon
URGENT Request to CACO supporters!
HB 2459, which is focused on the $50 million in recovery dollars for the arts and culture sector has its first hearing on Monday or Wednesday.
We need as many support letters as possible to be sent to the House Committee On Economic Development and Small Business.
Send your letter to our lobbyist, Sam Siegner, who can make sure the letter gets uploaded in the right place.
Talking Points:
- The bill asks for $50 million in funds to support the continued recovery and reinvention of the arts and culture sector — half the funds will be distributed similar to how the CARES dollars were distributed earlier through the county coalitions. The other half are earmarked for larger anchor organizations and live venues.
- Across the nation, Oregon has experienced some of the longest pandemic-related shutdowns. The arts/culture sector has been heavily affected. We see recovery for this sector as a 5-year cycle. Patrons and attendees are still slow to return to in-person gatherings; many performances have been cancelled as performers were sick with COVID-19. Attendance rates for some organizations are less than 59% of what they were before the pandemic.
- How has the pandemic affected your organization? Describe job losses, performances cancelled, attendance rates down, etc.
- How would you additional recovery money to reach the underserved, youth, and others?
Please help us inform legislators about the incredible need across the state for survival funding for arts, culture, heritage, and humanities organizations.
Thanks!
The CACO board
