Accomplishments: How BCA champions innovation
From the beginning, BCA has worked to strengthen the connection between business and culture in Oregon by advocating the benefits of a vibrant arts community. Our work has made a difference. And our accomplishments underscore our commitment to innovation and economic development in Oregon.
A long history of arts advocacy
BCA amplifies the arts business voice in support of favorable arts policies and funding at the state and local level. Since 1992, when BCA hired Kathleen Johnson-Kuhn, a City Hall veteran, to be executive director, BCA has had a strong commitment to advocacy. Under Virginia Willard’s leadership since 2000, BCA’s advocacy has continued.
Advancing arts and culture in metro Portland.
Working in partnership with the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) to strengthen City and County funding of arts and culture, BCA joined with many cultural partners to launch the Creative Advocacy Network (CAN) in 2008. CAN seeks a dedicated public funding stream to support arts and culture in the Portland region.
BCA’s advocacy extends to the private sector, too. BCA’s vision is “every business engaged in the arts.” BCA encourages businesses of all sizes to support arts and culture in their communities, and offers ways they can build mutually beneficial relationships with arts organizations and artists.
A voice for the arts in Salem
- BCA collaborated with cultural partners to envision, design and encourage legislative passage of the Oregon Cultural Trust (link). The Trust was authorized in 1999 to increase public and private support for Oregon’s arts, heritage and humanities. BCA’s executive director serves as a Special Advisor to the Trust.
- BCA sponsored the formation of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon (CAC) to serve as a political voice in Salem on behalf of Oregon’s arts, heritage and humanities. BCA’s executive director currently serves as chair of the board of directors of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition.
- In successive sessions of the Oregon State Legislature BCA and its cultural partners successfully advocated for level or increased funding measures and favorable public policies for Oregon’s arts and culture. The CHAMP (Culture, Heritage, Arts, Movies, Preservation) packages produced increased funding in 2007 and 2009.
