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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2018)
4 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Wish granted Clatsop County Cultural Coalition presents annual grant awards By R.J. MARX COAST WEEKEND T he arts in Clatsop County received a boost with the annual delivery of grant funds to local arts groups. The Clatsop County Cultural Coalition convened earlier this month at the River Inn at Seaside for the presentation of the group’s annual grant awards. The event provides state cultural funds through the coalition, said Charlene Larsen, co-chair- woman of the county coalition. The Seaside High School Choir directed by Kimber Parker provided holiday carols to introduce the event. Among awardees were the Seaside Mu- seum & Historical Society, which received a grant of $2,000. Funds will be used to modify the existing exit to enable easier ac- cess for the disabled between the museum and the neighboring Butterfield Cottage. Steve Wright, president of the organiza- tion’s board of directors, accepted the gift on behalf of the museum. Fairweather House & Gallery received a grant of $500, with money to be applied to “Estuary Science Art,” promoting an ex- hibit benefiting the Wetlands Conservancy. The group will provide a traveling exhibit originating in Corvallis and then coming to Seaside. The show will include about 150 different pieces, from watercolors to wood. Recipients also include Astoria Visual Arts, Cannon Beach Arts Association, Coast Community Radio, the FisherPoets Gathering, the Findlandia Foundation, the Astoria Arts & Movement Showcase, and the Clatsop Community College Founda- tion among others. ‘Oregon is unique’ Oregon Cultural Trust board member Bereniece Jones-Centeno, a guest speaker, came to Astoria in 2008. “I was blown away by how much culture was being car- ried on through your efforts.” As a member of the Oregon Cultur- al Trust, she helps distribute $3 million per year to organizations throughout the state. “They get donations from taxpayers and they use that money, which is shared R.J. MARX PHOTO Clatsop County Cultural Coalition grant winners, back row: Dan McClure, Clatsop College Foundation; Graham Nystrom, Tillicum Foundation/ KMUN; Steve Wright, Seaside Museum & History Center; Meagan Sokol, Cannon Beach Arts Association. Front row: Arthur Broten, Tillicum Foun- dation/KMUN; Greg Jacobs, Finlandia Foundation; Jay Speakman and Jon Broderick, Fisher Poets; Annie Eskelin, Astoria Visual Arts; Denise Fair- weather, Fairweather House & Gallery. GRANT RECIPIENTS (FISCAL YEAR 2019) • Seaside Museum & Historical Society: $2,000 • Tillicum Foundation / Coast Commu- nity Radio: $2,000 • Clatsop Community College Founda- tion: $1,750 • FisherPoets Gathering: $1,125 cultural coalitions throughout the state,” Jones-Centeno, now a local resident, said. Oregon is unique, she said, as business- • Finlandia Foundation: $1,125 • Astoria Visual Arts: $500 • Cannon Beach Arts Association: $500 • Fairweather House & Gallery: $500 • Astoria Arts & Movement Showcase: $500 es receive tax credits for money donated, and money is matched by the Cultural Trust. “They’re able to disseminate much more money across the state because you do that. Your money grows a greater difference.” The cultural credit goes before the state legislature in 2019, and is at risk of disap- pearing. Residents can support the program by contacting legislators, attending events, volunteering and making contributions. Reaching out to youth is a key compo- nent, Jones-Centeno added. “Remember there’s another generation coming right along. You may feel they’re not listening. They are. Students tell me over and over what people told me about something they weren’t paying attention to. Please, take them along with you.” CW