[OregonArts] Effort to Boost Assistance to Heritage Groups Unveiled

[Christine T DARCY]

January 3, 2008 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kyle Jansson
503-986-0673
heritage.info at state.or.us 

Effort to boost assistance to heritage groups unveiled

A new project to provide technical assistance to heritage organizations
in Oregon was announced today by the Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department (OPRD).

“Heritage organizations around the state have repeatedly told us that
except for money, their greatest need is for technical information and
training to carry out the important work they do,” said Roger Roper,
the department’s assistant director for Heritage Programs. “This
project will provide that information and training.”

OPRD has contracted with the Southern Oregon Historical Society to
provide the assistance to southwest Oregon organizations and with the
Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton to serve northeast Oregon.

“In a state as geographically large as Oregon, it is important that
technical assistance be available nearby,” said Roper. “This project
uses expertise already in those regions and will potentially strengthen
other existing regional networks and collaborations.”

Southwest Oregon organizations should contact Suzanne M.M. Wariner,
Southern Oregon Historical Society, P.O. Box 1570, Jacksonville, OR
97530 (phone: 541- 858-1682; email: curator at sohs.org).

Northeast Oregon organizations should contact John Chess, Tamástslikt
Cultural Institute, 72789 Highway 331, Pendleton, OR 97801 (phone:
541-966-9748; email: john.chess at tamastsklit.org).

Donations to the Oregon Cultural Trust, which designates a portion of
its funds to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the
Oregon Heritage Commission, will help finance the project. SHPO and the
commission, both administered within OPRD’s Heritage Programs
division, have combined their Trust funding and staff expertise in
preservation and restoration, museums and historic cemeteries to support
the effort. “We intend to expand the project into other portions of
the state later this year,” said Oregon Heritage Commission
coordinator Kyle Jansson.
	 
Additional information about the program is available from Jansson, 725
Summer St. NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301 (phone: 503-986-0673; e-mail:
heritage.info at state.or.us). ###