Bend Cultural Tourism Commission awards grants

The Bend Cultural Tourism Commission is pleased to announce the award of its first Cultural Tourism grant awards, with $125,000 being awarded to nine organizations.

Over $460,000 had been requested by 17 organizations. Given the very successful outcome, the BCTC will proceed with plans to offer cultural tourism grants annually, the organization announced.

The purpose of the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund is to enhance the local economy through the promotion and cultivation of Bend’s cultural tourism programs.

The awarded grant funds will be used to: help attract cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months, when cultural tourism organizations are most active; diversify Bend’s tourism offerings; and build on efforts to establish Bend as a premier year-round cultural tourism destination.

Bend organizations receiving awards are:

Atelier 6000 (A6), $13,500 . A6 will present an art exhibit of eminent photographer Edward Curtis and produce several related events, attracting a broad audience. Curtis’ work has become more prominent in recent decades, and has a strong connection to the Northwest. Curtis’ work appeals to enthusiasts of photography, art, Native American history and American history.

BendFilm, Inc., $26,000 . BendFilm will produce its 12th film festival, presenting local, regional and national filmmakers and jurors. They will secure more widely-known guests and seminal artists which will make the event easier to market to new audiences as well as keep BendFilm competitive in the film festival market.

Deschutes County Historical Society, $12,000 . The Deschutes County Historical Society will prepare a major exhibit, “Winter Comes,” telling the history of Nordic skiing, a state-wide story that includes international loans of artifacts plus materials from private collections in Oregon. Ski enthusiasts and those of Scandinavian heritage will find the exhibit of particular interest, but the heroics and personalities of the Oregonians featured speaks to a wider audience.

Deschutes Public Library Foundation, $11,000 . The Deschutes Public Library Foundation will continue its literary Author! Author! series, presenting renowned author Timothy Egan and marketing to audiences outside of Central Oregon. Egan’s best-selling biography, Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis, has focused fresh attention on Curtis’ work, which will be exhibited by A6; together, the two events will create a richer cultural experience.

Deschutes River Amphitheater, $15,750 . The Les Schwab Amphitheater increase visitor traffic by promoting several of its concerts to specific out-of-area markets that have shown strong interest in the Bend area.

High Desert Museum, $15,750 . High Desert Museum will mount the exhibit, “Arts for the People”, which will make art and culture accessible to contemporary audiences by revisiting the prolific, interdisciplinary programs of the Great Depression. Drawing inspiration from historic art commissions, they have commissioned three artists to create work that responds to the state of Oregon today.

ScaleHouse, $11,000 . ScaleHouse is creating Bend Design Conference, an inaugural event that will present award-winning and nationally-recognized thought-leaders to showcase design as a promising cultural and economic resource. The Bend Design Conference will celebrate the important role that design plays in all aspects of daily life, while providing new ideas to cultivate what defines our community values and culture. The programming, coupled with the beautiful and natural setting of Bend, will attract visitors to the area.

Tower Theatre Foundation, $11,000 . The Tower Theatre Foundation, partnering with local vocal music leaders, will launch “Bend A Cappella Festival” February 19-21, 2016. The purpose is to bring together performers, educators, and enthusiasts from across the region to enjoy and showcase vocal music. A variety of activities staged throughout the city will attract individual performers; acappella group leaders and members, and performance patrons.

World Muse, $9,000 . World Muse will produce its fourth Muse Conference, connecting attendees from near and far with locally and internationally recognized artists, activists, & social change leaders to celebrate International Women’s Day and kick-off Women’s History Month.

BendFilm director Todd Looby stated that “BendFilm is extremely grateful to receive this generous and much-needed award from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund. We are proud to be part of an amazing group of cultural organizations and events that work hard to make Bend an even better place to visit and to live.”

For more information on the makeup of the Commission, and its policies and procedures, go to: http://visitbend.culturegrants.org/navigation/links/page/general-operations