Governor Ted Kulongoski receives national arts leadership award

The Public Leadership in the Arts Award  recognizes elected officials whose vision and leadership provide heightened visibility to the value of the arts and arts education within their communities. In making the award, Americans for the Arts cited Governor Kulongoski’s “leadership in establishing the CHAMP program and for his support of the merger of the fledgling Oregon Cultural Trust with the Oregon Arts Commission to ensure that the Trust survived its infancy.”

“Governor Kulongoski has made more significant contributions in support of arts and culture than any other governor in the 150 year history of the state,” said Christine D’Arcy, executive director of the Oregon Arts Commission, which nominated the governor for the award. “In his seven years in office, he has advanced both policy and budget initiatives, branding culture and creative endeavors as critical to the state’s economy and future. His CHAMP initiatives have led to significant new investment in art, culture, history, movie production and preservation, fueling Oregon’s creative economy and creating and retaining jobs.”