Oregon Cultural Trust Awards, Aug. 13

Statewide cultural organizations will receive a record $2.6 million in grants from the Oregon Cultural Trust in fiscal year 2015-16, up a full 30 percent over last year and surpassing $2 million for the first time. The dramatic increase in funding results from a record fundraising year and a new distribution formula approved by the Oregon legislature. The awards include a total of $644,959 to the Cultural Trust’s five statewide partners (Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Humanities, Oregon Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation Office); $644,959 to 45 county and tribal cultural coalitions (who re-grant the funds through local programs); and $1,260,945 to 84 cultural organizations through competitive Cultural Development Grants, more than double the amount awarded last fiscal year. The Cultural Development Grants include first-time awards to 25 organizations and the largest grants ever awarded – $35,000 – to six of the state’s largest cultural nonprofits. The grants are awarded for projects that address access, capacity, creativity and preservation. The new distribution formula, put in place through the passage of Senate Bill 441, allows the Trust to allocate a larger percentage of the funds it raises to grant making and administration. The Trust raised a record $4.4 million in fiscal year 2014-15, through donor participation in the cultural tax credit, allowing it to allocate $2.6 million to statewide grants. Recipients on the Coast: Bay City Arts Center,* Bay City (Preservation): $5,839 – Hoquarton Historical Interpretive Center Roof Replacement: To support the replacement of the roof of the Hoquarton Historical Interpretive Center building. Liberty Restoration, Inc., Astoria (Preservation): $8,445 – Theater Preservation and Restoration: To support the preservation and restoration of the Historic Liberty Theater building. North Tillamook Library Board,* Manzanita (Capacity): $21,201 – Creating Community Technology and Education Room: To support repurposing existing library facility to create community technology and education room.