BEND, Ore. (July 31, 2008) - Oregon Senator and Democratic nominee for State Treasurer Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo), one of the architects of the Oregon Cultural Trust, has launched a new web page on his campaign site (www.benwestlund.com) dedicated to its creation and accomplishments. The Oregon Cultural Trust is a unique public/private partnership designed to increase investment in Oregon's arts, humanities and heritage.
As a member of the 1999 Cultural Task Force, Westlund listened to the input of 20,000 Oregonians while laying the groundwork for the Trust. In the 2001 session, Ben Westlund brought together diverse and often competing interests and sponsored HB 2923, to create the Cultural Trust which now provides over $1 million a year for arts and culture in Oregon. The Oregonian heralded the Trust legislation as the “best accomplishment” of the 2001 Legislature. Westlund currently sits on the Trust's Board and helps administer the grants.
"Throughout Oregon, the Cultural Trust has helped diversify our communities both culturally and economically,” said Westlund. “It has helped build and protect Oregon’s legacy for generations to come."
The Oregon Cultural Trust is funded by generous tax-deductible contributions from individuals and businesses that also make a matching contribution to one of over 1,000 qualifying non-profit arts and culture organizations. Additional funds for the Trust come from the sale of the Oregon "cultural" license plate. The State Treasurer manages the Trust’s funds.
Grants are distributed to local communities to support their cultural priorities, through a competitive process and through grants to Oregon's statewide cultural agencies to support their ongoing efforts. On Friday, Governor Kulongoski will be announcing the 2009 Cultural Trust grants.
The Trust has four goals:
> Increase public and private support for culture.
> Advance, preserve, or stabilize cultural resources.
> Build public participation across cultural disciplines.
> Increase understanding of the value of cultural development.
“Every day, Oregonians seek education, entertainment and a sense of identity from the thousands of cultural activities offered in their communities. I have watched Ben Westlund walk his talk by leading the fight to protect the arts in Oregon,” said Mike Lindberg, Former Chair of the Oregon Arts Commission.
If you would like to find out what the Oregon Cultural Trust is doing in your community, or to make a tax deductible donation, visit their website at www.culturaltrust.org
A retired successful business owner, Senator Ben Westlund now works with Northwest Professional Management to develop effective, affordable health care delivery systems. He and his wife Libby, who serves on the Mount Bachelor National Ski Patrol, have two children: a son B.J. (20) and a daughter Taylor (15). They live in Tumalo, just outside Bend.
