From Josephine County to Seaside, over 30 Oregon counties, cities and towns have proclaimed October 1-8 “Days of Culture.”

Days of Culture, which began as a Day of Culture in 2008, is a statewide celebration of the arts, heritage and humanities. More than 400 cultural gatherings, facilitated by the Oregon Cultural Trust, have been posted to the Trust’s website www.oregondaysofculture.org.

October 8, 2012 marks the Cultural Trust’s 10th anniversary. This unique public-private partnership that uses private donations and a generous cultural tax credit to build a permanent fund for culture, now at more than $16 million, and to distribute over $1 million in grants every year to cultural non-profits. The cultural tax credit became effective October 8, 2002.

Once established, the Cultural Trust set up a web of 36 county and six tribal cultural coalitions that still flourish today. These coalitions receive Cultural Trust grants annually, and are responsible for re-granting those funds to cultural projects in their communities. The proclamations were suggested or solicited from city and county leaders by coalition members or by the Cultural Trust itself.

Trust Manager Kimberly Howard, who solicited and coordinated several of the proclamations, expressed excitement about the number of community leaders who got behind the effort. “This is truly a statewide celebration, as witnessed by the number of city and county officials who proclaimed October 1-8 Oregon Days of Culture.” She noted that The City of Newberg went one step further last year to proclaim the eight day week in perpetuity. “We should all show up to our city and/or county proclamations as a collective support for culture and livability in our state.”

Michael Bird, Chair of the Josephine County Cultural Coalition, orchestrated the proclamation from his county. “We think Days of Culture highlights the best of a quality of life created by our arts, heritage and humanities,” said Bird. “Our community has been greatly enriched through the efforts of the Oregon Cultural Trust.”

Proclamations may recognize a day, week or month, with the goal to honor, celebrate, or create awareness of an event or significant issue. The proclamations are critical to the Cultural Trust on its 10th birthday as the cultural tax credit is up for renewal in 2013 by the Oregon Legislature.

Find a proclamation in your city or county by visiting https://www.culturaltrust.org/news
#