Twenty-two organizations supporting Bend’s arts and culture scene will receive a total of $300,000 in grants from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund (BCTF), a Visit Bend program designed to increase participation in cultural experiences and spur economic activity during Bend’s shoulder seasons.
Funded entirely by taxes paid by overnight visitors in Bend’s short-term commercial lodging properties, RV parks, and vacation rentals, the BCTF reinvests those dollars into local arts and culture to support experiences residents and visitors share. This year’s projects include the debut season of Ballet Bend, a benefit performance by Pattie Gonia in partnership with Outdoorist Oath, and expanded programming across film, music, visual arts, and live performances.
An independent review board, the Bend Cultural Tourism Commission, evaluated applications requesting nearly $950,000 before recommending funding for 22 projects. Visit Bend’s board of directors approved the commission’s recommendations at its monthly meeting.
Top awards include $29,000 each to BendFilm, the High Desert Museum, and the Tower Theatre Foundation. Additional support will help bring events like TEDxBend, Winter PrideFest, and the Bend Fall Festival to broader audiences. This approach helps stabilize visitation across the calendar, supporting local businesses and jobs beyond peak travel periods.
As in the past, this year’s funding reflects a balance of established partners and new voices, helping sustain Bend’s cultural ecosystem while expanding opportunities for emerging creators. Thirteen returning organizations received support alongside nine new grantees, bringing the total number of BCTF recipients to 59 since the program’s inception.
The BCTF, now in its 11th year, reinvests a portion of Bend’s transient lodging tax into organizations seeking marketing and research support for high-quality events that have the potential to attract visitors from beyond a 50-mile radius. The majority of lodging tax revenue goes to the City of Bend to support core services such as police, fire, and roads, offsetting costs that would otherwise fall more heavily on residents. Visit Bend manages a smaller, restricted portion to support tourism-related initiatives, including the BCTF, in an effort to boost city revenue and support local businesses.
“The Bend Cultural Tourism Fund takes the economic reality of Bend’s popularity as a destination and uses it to enhance the experiences and quality of life that we all love,” says Zavier Borja, Visit Bend’s destination stewardship director who oversees the grant program along with its sister initiative, the Bend Sustainability Fund (BSF). “That, to me, is a clear example of regenerative tourism at work.”
Since its inception, the BCTF has awarded more than $2.8 million to projects that expand access to arts and culture, support local organizations, and encourage travel during periods of low occupancy. The BSF has awarded nearly $3.9 million for infrastructure-related projects over the past 5 years. By directing visitor-generated revenue directly into the community, the two funds help strengthen Bend’s economy while supporting the creative and visitor experiences that define our town.
For a complete list of past grantees, visit the BCTF website at culture.visitbend.com and the BSF website at sustainability.visitbend.com.
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
