Attention artists and directors of arts, culture, and humanities organizations in Oregon: your opinion about what you need to survive and flourish is being sought for a comprehensive lobbying campaign at the 2027 Legislature. In-person community forums are under way to learn about the challenges you face and what state lawmakers can do to help you not only stay in business but achieve your goals, including financial and other assistance.

The nonprofit Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon (CACO) has launched The Big Re/Think, a statewide conversation and survey about the obstacles facing nonprofit organizations and related venues in these times of political and funding uncertainties. Four forums have already been held in Eugene, Ashland, Baker City and Bend. But two more are still scheduled: the first scheduled at the Oregon Council for the Arts in Newport on Oct. 21, and the second at the Reser Center in Beaverton for the Portland area on Nov. 4. A statewide survey and an online session will follow.

“The goal is to create a unified strategy and list of priorities to present with the Legislature to support the arts, culture, and humanities going forward,” CACO Senior Advisor Sue Hildick told Oregon ArtsWatch. She is also board secretary to the affiliated Cultural Advocacy Coalition Foundation, which is conducting the work.

The coalition includes: regional and local arts councils, such as Portland area Regional Arts and Culture Council; performance venues, like the Reser Center for the Arts and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; arts and culture non-profits, such as the Portland Opera and the Oregon Symphony; and educational institutions with arts programs, including Willamette University.

According to Hildick, legislative leaders have said the 2026 session, which is limited to a maximum of 35 days, will not have enough time to consider any comprehensive reforms or programs, no matter how justified. That means the results of The Big/Rethink will be presented in 2027, when the semi-annual “long sessions” can last up to 160 days.

Focusing on 2027 allows more time for CACO to solicit more additional information to develop its legislative agenda. The project is a follow up to a similar effort in 2014. The original Big Think produced a list of 75 proposals grouped under 10 subject areas for the Legislature. 

Hildick acknowledges the 2014 list was not prioritized, hampering the effectiveness of the lobbying efforts, although it still resulted in the creation of the Arts and Culture legislative caucus and other support efforts. The current effort is intended to produce a more focused package for the 2027 Legislature to consider.

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The lobbying drive comes at a fraught time for Oregon and national arts-related organizations. The Trump administration’s new policies at the National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts have rescinded pre-approved grants for such organizations and cut related funding in the new budget that took effect on Oct. 1. Oregon and local governments have also reduced their support because of declining tax revenues. 

More information on The Big Re/Think and comments opportunities are available at oregonculture.org/about-us/bigrethink.