The Oregon legislature passed the budget bill that would skim money from many of the state’s non-general fund assets in order to try and balance the budget. Bob Hicks has an excellent recap here.
It’s one of the bone-headed decisions that will haunt us for years to come. Why? Well, when Oregon Symphony president Elaine Calder was asked why the orchestra’s endowment couldn’t be raided to balance our budget, she pointed out that that money was given for very specific purposes by the donors, and if the orchestra were to play footsy with that money [my term], then the orchestra would lose the trust of its donors, and it would make raising money in future endowment fund drives a very difficult proposition indeed.
So who will give money to the OCT now? I’ll think long and hard before I do. It’s a great idea, but perhaps it should be taken private so the state can keep its mitts off of this desperately needed funding source.
And yes, Senator Mararet Carter, I am one of those “whiners”. And damn proud of it, too.
2 replies on “oregon cultural trust raided for $1.8 million”
This is what happens, I guess, in a state where the constitution requires state government to give back billions of dollars in “kicker” tax refunds to people one year and then make billions in budget cuts the next year.
But there’s a lesson for all of us in this: If you’re inclined to give money to a cultural organization — and I hope we all are — give it DIRECTLY to the cultural group, not to the government in the hope that the government will pass it along (if they have nothing better to spend it on).
Personally, I’m getting tired of what generally passes as “governmental arts support.” For that matter, “corporate giving” is often token, as well. As for, lunch-money equivalent, donations from private millionaires – don’t get me started!
So, what do I propose as an alternate or supplement? Well, what we need here is something along the lines of a national “arts vigilante” movement. What IF every grousing artist and arts patron in the country wrote a check for $10-100? Let’s say there are 10 million + of “us” in the U.S. Now, we’re seeing some serious dollar signs.
Who would manage the fund, you wonder? I dunno. I’m merely an “idea man” with a $100 check at the ready . . .
PS
I would like to personally thank the government, corporations and private millionaires for their, better than nothing, support.