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I beg to differ with Mary Nolan's views about using funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. It's like stealing from your child's piggy bank. You want to instill a life-long habit of saving, but then you take the money when you're in crisis. Sorry, that's an easy out!

I've worked as a fundraising consultant for many years for non-profit arts organizations, and it is an inviolable fact that one should NEVER violate a donor's trust. It is poor stewardship to take this money. The arts and people who devote their livelihood to the arts are already "subsidizing" the community by working for little money, for contributing to our quality of life. If you've ever watched Oregon Art Beat, this fact would be crystal clear.  Why are the Arts responsible for filling this hole? Revamp the tax structure, so that there's a more equitable sharing of this load. Find another source, cut back on services. Sorry, the arts are already taking a major hit in the marketplace. Donations are down, attendance is down. I work for a Theatre. I know what I'm talking about.

Helen Gundlach

503.223.9042

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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