The Oregon Arts Commission and Oregon Cultural Trust, the state’s predominant arts & cultural agencies along with Oregon Humanities, have a new leader. Amy Lewin, formerly vice president of brand and strategic partnerships at Oregonian Media Group, will take over as the state’s new Arts and Culture Director, Business Oregon announced Friday afternoon, Nov. 7.

Lewin replaces Brian Rogers, who left his state position in June of this year after 11 years of overseeing the two agencies. The Arts Commission and Cultural Trust fall under the administrative arm of Business Oregon.

Lewin, a journalism graduate from the University of Oregon who recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Emerging COO Leadership from Stanford Graduate School of Business, “brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in cultural programming, strategic communications, and statewide engagement” to her new role, a news release from Business Oregon said.

“I’m honored to step into this role at a time when creativity and collaboration are vital to our state’s future,” Lewin said in the news release, emphasizing the arts’ role as an economic engine: “Oregon’s art and cultural sectors are not just about expression, they are drivers of innovation, identity, and economic vitality. I look forward to partnering statewide to keep Oregon’s creative spirit thriving.” 

Subashini Ganesan, Chair of the Oregon Arts Commission, lauded Lewin’s role as a “strategic, heart-centered, and nimble” leader. “I am particularly excited for our statewide stakeholders to build relationships with Amy so that, together, we can work towards sustainability for our creative communities,” Ganesan said in the news release. 

Sean Andries, Chair of the Cultural Trust, said in the release that Lewin “brings a steady, experienced, and deeply collaborative presence at a time when our community needs it most. I am excited for the advocacy, vision, and support she will bring to Oregon’s artists, organizations, and communities.” 

At The Oregonian, Lewin launched Here Is Oregon, the paper’s statewide digital storytelling platform for culture and creativity. She has also held leadership roles “in nonprofit, media, and public sectors, with a focus on equity, economic development, and cultural inclusion,” the release said.

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Earlier this year the Cultural Trust and Arts Commission, whose roles often overlap, worked on a plan to merge. But the Legislature did not take up the measure that would have made the merger happen.

Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon. said that Lewin’s leadership “will be instrumental in strengthening Oregon’s creative economy and ensuring that arts and culture remain central to our state’s identity and prosperity.”