This month the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund (BCTF) awarded nine local organizations grants to draw more people to Bend.
The BCTF Commission awarded a total amount of $125,000 to BendFilm-$26,000, Deschutes River Amphitheater-$15,750, High Desert Museum-$15,750, Atelier 6000-$13,500, Deschutes County Historical Society-$12,000, Tower Theatre-$11,000, ScaleHouse-$11,000, Deschutes Public Library Foundation-$11,000 and World Muse-$9,000.
All of the grant recipients have the goal of enhancing the local economy by increasing visitors to Bend and highlighting arts and culture in the City especially during the shoulder seasons and winter months.
The unique grant program slated to enhance the economy and cultivate the City’s cultural tourism attractions was approved by voters in November 2013. The funds, that must be used for marketing to lure tourists to events, will most certainly help grow Bend’s reputation as a top-notch cultural destination.
The measure increased the Bend lodging tax rate to 10.4 percent by June 1, 2015. Visit Bend funds the BCTF with 7.5 percent of Visit Bend’s total annual public funding received from the City of Bend. Granting decisions are made by the volunteer BCTF Commission – an independent, broad and diverse entity that represents Bend’s arts and tourism industries.
More than $100,000 annually was expected to be generated from the additional revenue establishing a cultural tourism fund. This past February estimate, however, was that BTCF would have about $104,400 to grant for FY 15, which exceeded the budget of $85,000 by +$19,400 (+22.8 percent). By the time of the granting cycle the total available grew to $125,000.
The idea for the cultural tourism fund was created by Doug La Placa of Visit Bend and numerous volunteers helped convince the voters to increase the lodging tax rate.
The largest grant amount went to BendFilm to raise the world class event’s visibility in the crowded festival landscape according to Todd Looby, executive director of BendFilm.
Thinking outside the box ScaleHouse will create Bend Design Conference, an inaugural event which will present award-winning, nationally recognized thought-leaders to showcase design as a promising cultural and economic resource.
Les Schwab Amphitheater, (the Deschutes River Amphitheater), will promote several of their concerts to specific out of the area markets that have shown strong interest in the Bend area, thus increasing visitor traffic.
The High Desert Museum will mount an exhibit, Arts for the People, making art and culture accessible to contemporary audiences by revisiting the prolific, interdisciplinary programs of the Great Depression. Atelier 6000 is creating an art exhibit of eminent photographer Edward Curtis.
The Deschutes County Historical Society plans to prepare a major exhibit on the history of Nordic skiing and the Deschutes Public Library Foundation will continue its literary Author! Author! Series presenting renowned author Timothy Egan.
World Muse will connect attendees from near and far with locally and internationally recognized artists, activists and social change leaders to celebrate international Women’s Day and kick-off Women’s History Month for its fourth Muse Conference.
The Bend Cultural Tourism Fund is a creative and unique concept that not only enhances our economy but lands Bend in a distinctive position as one of the very few cities in the country to offer such a great opportunity for arts and cultural groups.
Enormous congratulations for everyone involved!
