Wednesday, April 1, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
Legislature to consider relief for arts Foundation seeks permit
for arts on ranch
Arts organizations across
the state 4 including those
in Sisters 4 have been heav-
ily impacted by the shut-
down in place to slow the
spread of COVID-19.
Nonprofit cultural organi-
zations in Sisters across the
state have canceled perfor-
mances, events and activi-
ties 4 including key fund-
raising events 4 and most
have closed their doors to
the public.
In response to commu-
nication from the Oregon
Cultural Trust, its Statewide
Partners and arts and cul-
tural organizations across
the state, Governor Kate
Brown directed the agency
to explore opportunities
to identify relief funding
to address the devastat-
ing impact the COVID-19
health crisis is having on
Oregon9s arts and cultural
community.
As of March 24, 423
Oregon cultural organiza-
tions had already reported
financial losses to-date of
$8,611,881 with data still
being collected from more
than 1,000 organizations.
The loss of projected earned
income, lifeblood for most
cultural organizations, has
already resulted in sig-
nificant layoffs and fur-
loughs, with many more
to come if relief doesn9t
arrive soon. Many organi-
zations are already facing
bankruptcy and permanent
closure.
In addition, cancellations
of events and programming,
as well as school closures,
have adversely affected
hundreds of artists and cul-
tural workers whose liveli-
hoods depend on income
from teaching, performing
and participating in cultural
activities.
Following consulta-
tion with the Governor9s
Office, Business Oregon
and its Statewide Partners,
including sister agency the
Oregon Arts Commission,
the Cultural Trust Board
of Directors held an emer-
gency meeting on Saturday,
March 21, and unanimously
voted to use up to $10 mil-
lion of its $29 million per-
manent fund to create an
emergency relief funding
program.
Because the current
Cultural Trust statute does
not contain a provision
for emergency relief fund-
ing, the program requires
approval by the Oregon
Legislature. A concept
for consideration by the
Legislature is being devel-
oped and will be presented
during an anticipated special
session within the next few
weeks. The Cultural Trust
will convene a committee
of stakeholders to fully and
quickly develop and imple-
ment an emergency funding
program that is equitable
and easy to use to expedite
funding.
In a news release, The
Oregon Cultural Trust stated
that the Trust9s <perma-
nent fund was created by
the Legislature to protect
Oregon9s cultural organiza-
tions for future generations.
That future is currently at
dire risk.
<The Cultural Trust Board
of Directors respects and
honors the commitment that
thousands of Trust donors
have made with their con-
tributions to the permanent
fund. It is the Board9s sincere
hope that donors will respect
that, at this unprecedented
time in Oregon history, the
funds will be used exactly
as they were intended: To
protect the future of Oregon
culture.=
The
Roundhouse
Foundation merges ranching
and the arts at Pine Meadow
Ranch at the southwest end
of Sisters. The Foundation is
now seeking to expand facili-
ties on the ranch.
Deschutes County pro-
vided notice that the founda-
tion is seeking a conditional
use permit and site plan
review to establish a <com-
munity center= on the ranch
and to add a 2,499-square-
foot expansion to the ranch
shop.
The community center
will, according to the appli-
cation, <continue and expand
agricultural operations on
the subject property, such as
refining farming practices
and identifying conserva-
tion efforts for onsite natural
resources.=
The foundation will also
host an artist-in-residency
program at the community
center, using two existing
homes on the ranch, with the
shop serving both agricul-
tural production and as art-
ists9 studio space.
<Guest artists will be
invited to live on the subject
property to pursue creative
pursuits while assisting in
ranch operations and other
onsite agricultural activities,=
the county notice reads.
Erin Borla, a trustee of
The Roundhouse Foundation,
told The Nugget that, <It9s a
way to preserve that space
and hopefully boost the arts
economy of Sisters.=
Borla said that artists-
in-residence will work with
local artists and on local
projects as well as their own
work.
<They9ll all be required
to do some work on the
ranch while they9re there, so
they9re giving back,= Borla
said. <We want this to be a
gift to the community by pre-
serving this special space.=
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