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