Heidi Hagemeier takes on communications role at Oregon Arts Commission after 8 years with High Desert Museum

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Business Oregon has hired Heidi Hagemeier as the communications coordinator for the Oregon Arts Commission and Cultural Trust. Hagemeier most recently served nearly eight years as the director of communications and visitor experience at the High Desert Museum in Bend. During her tenure at the museum, she was credited with doubling the organization's digital following.

Hagemeier most recently served nearly eight years as the director of communications and visitor experience at the High Desert Museum in Bend. During her tenure at the museum, she was credited with doubling the organization's digital following.

Hagemeier has a professional background rooted in mission-driven work intended to benefit local communities. Business Oregon officials noted her career-long dedication to storytelling and connecting with the public through communications. During her time at the High Desert Museum, she guided brand development and played a role in the organization's fundraising efforts.

Amy Lewin, the director of arts and culture, said Hagemeier's skills will help demonstrate how the arts sector supports the state. "Heidi brings an incredible ability to craft stories that resonate and inspire," Lewin said. "That talent is exactly what Oregon's arts and culture sector needs right now to show how creativity drives our economy and strengthens communities. Her experience will help us amplify that message statewide, ensuring cultural programs continue to deliver impact where it matters most."

Raised in Montana, Hagemeier developed an early interest in the role arts and cultural access plays in community health. She moved to Oregon in 2001 after earning degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since then, she has traveled across the state to gain an understanding of its diverse landscapes and people.

In her new capacity, Hagemeier will support both the Oregon Arts Commission and the Cultural Trust in their efforts to sustain the state's cultural landscape. She maintains the belief that arts and culture are essential for building economically vibrant communities and elevating shared humanity.