[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2007-11-27

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  December open house dates announced
2. Museum funding survey seeks info
3.  Museum grant deadline in two weeks
4.  Archaeological event set for Champoeg
5.  Museums appoint new directors


DECEMBER OPEN HOUSE DATES ANNOUNCED

December open houses for 178 properties in the National Register of
Historic Places are scheduled in 45 Oregon communities.The properties,
many of which will be decorated for the holidays, will have welcome mats
out in every area of the state. 

A complete schedule of the open houses and the special assessment
program is available at
http://egov.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/SHPO/tax_assessment.shtml and is also
distributed through the State Historic Preservation Office, certain
participating chambers of commerce, historical societies, assessor's
offices and local landmarks offices. 

Each property receives tax relief under the state's special assessment
program. In return for the special assessment benefit, a property owner
must invite the public to an open house at least one day, per year, for
a minimum of four consecutive hours between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.  Owners
may choose any day of the year except a state-observed national holiday.



MUSEUM FUNDING SURVEY SEEKS INFO

The Institute of Museum and Library Services requests museums of all
kinds to visit www.museumpublicfinance.org by Dec. 21 and participate in
a short survey on the size and scope of public support for museums from
federal, state, and local governments. The half-hour survey by the Urban
Institute is part of a larger study to examine how public funding is
impacting museum services in the United States.

For full information, visit:  http://www.imls.gov/news/2007/112607.shtm



MUSEUM GRANT DEADLINE IN TWO WEEKS

Applications for the 2007-2009 Oregon Museums Grants must be postmarked
by Dec. 15 in order to be considered for funding. Qualified museums are
eligible to seek efforts for funds to assist with
heritage tourism, heritage preservation, and heritage education and
interpretation.

Grant applications are available on the Heritage Commission website at
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/museum.shtml,  by sending an
e-mail to heritage.info at state.or.us, by phoning Heritage Commission
coordinator Kyle Jansson at 503-986-0673 or by writing the Heritage
Commission, 725 Summer St. NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301-1266.


ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVENT SET FOR CHAMPOEG

Archaeological artifacts help unlock mysteries about the people that
came before us.   Visitors are invited to learn about the past people of
the Willamette Valley at the interactive program, *Archeology &
Preservation:  Discovering Past Treasures and Preserving Your Own,* at
1:30 p.m.Dec. 4 in the Champoeg State Heritage Area Visitor Center. 
Participants will also learn about the archeology process and discover
how to preserve their own family treasures, such as photos, quilts,
furniture, and memorabilia.

The program, presented by Friends of Historic Champoeg, requires
advance registration that can be made by calling 503-678-1649. 
Additional program information can be found at www.champoeg.org.
Friends of Historic Champoeg is a non-profit organization, dedicated to
interpreting and sharing the cultural and natural history of Champoeg
State Heritage Area.


MUSEUMS APPOINT NEW DIRECTORS

The High Desert Museum and the Marion County Historical Society have
appointed new leaders.

The High Desert Museum in Bend has appointed as its new president
Janeanne A. Upp, whose career achievements include expanding major
metropolitan museums while securing financial sustainability and
attracting more visitors and donors. Upp, the executive director of the
Tacoma Art Museum in Tacoma, Wash., from 1999 to 2004, completed a $27
million capital campaign and led the museum in opening a new
50,000-square-foot building while keeping the existing building open.
The new building opened on schedule, on budget, received overwhelming
positive reviews, and annual attendance
quadrupled.

She previously was associate director/chief operating officer of the
Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and before that she was vice
president for finance/chief financial officer at the Museum of Science
and Industry in Chicago. Upp said her priorities at the High Desert
Museum include building the Museum's relatively small endowment,
eliminating its debt, building strong revenue streams, managing expenses
and introducing new, relevant, interesting programs to engage the
community and draw visitors. Interim President Jay Bennett will continue
in transition for Upp, who will start as president on Jan. 2.

Meanwhile, the Marion County Historical Society in Salem has named Amy
Vandegrift as executive director. 
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission,
which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us