ADVOCACY


State of Oregon Joint Ways & Means Committee Hearing
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR

Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony at the Joint Ways & Means Committee hearing on the Governor’s budget. My focus was on the arts and culture.
 
As an arts advocate, community volunteer, arts professional and graduate student in the Arts and Administration program at the University of Oregon, I urge your support of the Governor’s budget, without reductions. I outlined some of the following points, but did not elaborate due to the 2 minute time limit.

  • In the community for 14 years, volunteering time and talent working with various arts organizations on community arts projects and events, including but not limited to:
    • First Friday ArtWalk Planning Committee
    • Eugene Mayor’s Art Show
    • Latino Music Festival Fund Raising Event April 2005
    • Annual Noche Cultural Benefit for Centro LatinoAmericano
    • Fiesta Latina
  • Arts organizations are already vulnerable due to lack of support for the infrastructure of their operations.  As a result, fundraising efforts are a constant objective taking energy away from producing meaningful cultural events.  If funding continues to shrink, collaborative efforts with other arts organizations where resources have been shared would diminish.  There would be no incentive to produce quality learning experiences.
    • Lane Arts Council – artists in schools and after school arts programs have added value to the learning experience and deserves ongoing support.
    • Lane Community College – Art Department Faculty have been devoting their time and talent raising money to maintain basic art programs at the sacrifice of time that would have been spent creating, teaching and mentoring students. Many donated art work were sold at a fraction of their value.  It is a crime that faculty have to resort to grassroots efforts to fund arts programs and sends the message that the state does not believe arts education enhances learning in other areas of study, that the arts is irrelevant.  As it is, the funding for Lane Community College is at an unacceptable level.  The proposed funding level in the Governor’s budget is inadequate and would still require LCC to cut at least $2 million.  An increase in funding is actually what is required to help preserve its mission and would allow LCC to participate in community projects.
  • It takes money to produce quality cultural experiences and exhibits.  Sponsorship support is difficult to attain when members of the arts community are going to the same financial sources.  Support from the State would send a positive message to individual donors they are not alone in supporting arts, culture, preservation and heritage, and would encourage ongoing support.
  • Oregon Cultural Trust and Oregon Arts Commission – the main conduits for the transparent disbursement of grants for specific projects relies on adequate funding from the state and individual tax payers to meet its goal of raising a sufficient amount for an endowment that would provide ongoing assistance for arts organizations and projects.  A reduction in funding would delay the outcome of an endowment and the prospect of self-sufficiency.  Approximately 1,200 arts, heritage and humanities nonprofits in Oregon rely on this funding.
    • Creative Vitality Index – a reliable tool that would measure outcomes of arts experiences and future funding potential. This option deserves successful implementation.
  • Eugene Cultural Review Process - The City has made a concerted effort to ensure inclusivity in the cultural review process, reached out to the community at large to receive information and feedback and received valuable information from the community that will help the City determine its role in promoting arts and culture. Continued effort is needed to maintain interest and support. The arts is one of the elements in:
    • Revitalization of Downtown Eugene
    • Sustainability Plan
  • 2008 Olympic Trials in Track & Field/Eugene ‘08 – the active participation from the arts sector would contribute to the overall success of this important project.
  • Support for the arts include visual, music, dance, theatre, film, architecture, preservation, culture, and heritage.  Although one may emphasize support for a particular art form, support would benefit all sectors.
  • Every Oregon community has culture and is home to over 20,000 artists.  The arts can be a powerful tool for community revitalization, youth at risk, rural development, and enhanced educational experience.

There is high expectation to produce high quality cultural experiences at little or no cost and in collaboration with all sectors of our community. In reality, without investment in strengthening the infrastructure of our community so that the arts can thrive, there would be little incentive to keep them alive and the quality of life would diminish.

The summer of 2008 may well be the catalyst that would make Lane County a desirable annual cultural and tourist summer destination. Investment is needed now to create and implement this project and maintain the health of the arts, culture, preservation and heritage.

As a graduate student, I wonder if there will be a leadership position available in this community when I complete my studies.  There are very few living wage jobs in this sector and those who are employed deserve to have a sense of stability and longevity.

At the hearing, you had requested ideas to generate revenue.  Max, my husband has a revenue-generating idea that would not be a new tax.  I have not fully researched this area, but here is our thought:  When a home is sold, it is reassessed and tax rate is given.  This process may take up to six months to complete.  In other states, the bill is retroactive to the date of sale.  In Oregon, the bill is effective the date notice is received.  If in Oregon, the bill is effective as of the date of sale, I would imagine there would be a substantial increase in revenue to the general fund.

Thank you again, for the opportunity to provide input and for your hard work in Salem. Wishing you good thinking and judgment in approving (if not increasing) the Governor’s budget for education and the 2007-09 CHAMP (Culture, Heritage, Art, Movies, Preservation) Reinvestment package.

Sincerely, Miriam

 

Miriam Alexis Jordan
Arts Advocate

Lane Arts Council – First Friday Art Walk Planning Committee
Jacobs Gallery – Eugene Mayor's Art Show Planning Committee
Centro LatinoAmericano – Fund Development Committee
mjordan@uoregon.edu
jordanmaj@earthlink.net
541.346.0973 - work