This fall, arts and culture leaders across Oregon will unite to launch a movement to build a more sustainable, resilient cultural arts core. Called The Big Re/Think, the challenge is being led by the Cultural Advocacy Coalition Foundation, which is a nonprofit advocacy organization that lobbies state lawmakers on behalf of arts, culture, history, heritage and humanities. The Big Re/Think will hold meetings in six cities around the state, including one in Bend this October. The ultimate goal is to prepare a 2027 advocacy and funding package to convince lawmakers that arts and cultural entities are a vital part of local economies and hold educational and social values.
According to the latest figures from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the arts and culture sector contributed more than $11 billion dollars to Oregon’s economy in 2023 which was 3.5% of the state’s gross domestic product, representing 70,137 jobs. CACO’s vision encompasses a society where everyone — regardless of geography, income or background — can access and participate in arts, culture, heritage and the humanities within their own communities. The High Desert Museum’s Executive Director Dana Whitelaw says the contribution was even higher last year.
“Arts and culture are an economic powerhouse in Oregon, supporting over 22,000 jobs and generating $469 million in income, according to the Americans for the Arts 2024 survey,” Whitelaw told the Source. “And from performances to exhibitions, arts and culture brings innumerable opportunities for conversation, learning and connection.”
“The Big Re/Think will help us understand the unique challenges and circumstances that face our diverse community across the state,” Claire Blaylock, the statewide engagement coordinator, explained. “This will help all of us as an arts and culture community address systemic challenges like funding and leadership development.
The coalition is currently seeking participants from artists, educators, organization leaders and others who wish to talk about the challenges and visions from creative communities. The meeting in Bend will be Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the High Desert Museum.
“That’s at the core of The Big Re/Think — to gather data and perspectives, spot opportunities for cohesion and collaboration, and from that work share with lawmakers what the needs are in the state’s next long legislative session in 2027,” says Whitelaw, who’s on the CACO board.
Participants of the three-hour workshop in Bend will identify ways to strengthen the arts and culture ecosystem in Oregon. In attendance will be members from arts and culture organizations, artists, elected officials, business leaders and community stakeholders. Blaylock expects more than 500 people and organizations to participate statewide.
“We’re so fortunate that Oregon stepped up as a leader during the pandemic to support the arts and culture sector. Yet we remain behind on per capita arts spending at the state level, ranking 41st in the nation, according to the Nation Assembly of State Arts Agencies,” Whitelaw says.
The last Big Re/Think conference in 2014 generated a wish-list of goals. Blaylock says many of them were accomplished such as forming the Arts and Culture Caucus and reinstating the Governor’s Arts Awards.
Blaylock explains the Big Re/Think movement this way, “The world is a vastly different place in 2025 than it was in 2014. We need to go back and “rethink” the state of the sector and our needs or priorities.” She continues, “Arts and culture are part of the solutions to every challenge our communities are facing. Arts and culture are not “extra” features for a community; a strong and vibrant arts and culture scene creates thriving communities.”
Whitelaw explains it this way, “Oregon’s arts and culture entities are a source of statewide pride and this is an opportunity to share what we want to see for our communities in the future.”
This article appears in the Source September 4, 2025.
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