February 12, 2010

Oregon: Sustaining Oregon Arts

A new capacity-building initiative of the Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) is concerned with how arts organizations of Oregon can be stronger, effective and more nimble as they move into the future. Based on the findings of an arts organization self-assessment project that OAC worked on with the TCC Group, the Commission secured new funding through Governor Kulongoski’s CHAMP (Culture, History, Arts, Movies and Preservation) Initiative to launch a two-year program in 2009. The initiative commenced on September 30 with Sustaining Oregon Arts, a statewide convening that included a keynote address by Holly Sidford, president of Helicon Collaborative, and breakout sessions that covered topics such as financial management, organizational learning, board and governance, cultural participation, and social media. In addition to the convening, OAC is holding regional workshops and facilitating Webinars, and has launched an on-line learning community. Developed and managed in partnership with the TCC Group, the on-line community contains discussion forums, learning groups, a resources area, an initiative events calendar and “the wire,” the site’s microblogging feature. To learn more about Sustaining Oregon Arts, contact OAC Deputy Director Shannon Planchon.