Group promotes culture in region

Central Oregon artist Cate O'Hagan held a meeting in Sisters last week describing future planning and funds distribution for the Deschutes County Cultural Coalition (called DC3 for short).

In a meeting at the historic old Sisters Library O'Hagan outlined past, present and future goals for the organization.

"We support cultural resources and encourage greater awareness of local culture in Central Oregon. Our group covers Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties," she said.

"Our organization strengthens relations between local cultural resources and the tourist industry and ensures that cultural resources are accessible to local residents. To this end, DC3 has just completed an online assessment to obtain local citizen input about cultural programs, facilities and concerns.

"DC3 was appointed by (the) Deschutes County Commissioners in 2002 to develop a cultural plan," O'Hagan said. "The coalition is developing a plan to guide it in awarding grant funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust to support and protect the culture, arts and heritage of Central Oregon."

This should be finalized within the next few months of 2004.

In 2001, Governor John Kitzhaber signed into law HB 2923 that provides funding for Oregon's Trust for Cultural Development. Funds for Central Oregon will be awarded by DC3.

Louann Thomas discussed plans for a potential 1,800-to 2,000-seat cultural center north of Bend for cultural programs.

Also represented at the meeting were Marianne Schreader and Sandi Boley from the Sisters Jazz Festival and Jean Nave, President of the Black Butte Ranch Historical Society.

Enthusiasm for cultural events ran high among those present at the meeting.

"Every community has a different set of issues," said O'Hagan. "There are outstanding pockets of activity for cultural events, such as in Sisters. We hope to support arts, heritage and humanities events in Central Oregon communities."

A 10,000-copy guidebook updating these resources will be published later this year and distributed locally.

Previous assessment meetings have been held in La Pine, Sunriver and other areas to gather input from interested local residents and organizations.

For more information visit www.deschutes.org/culturalcoalition.