JOSEPH —The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture and the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center are two of 11 capital construction projects in Oregon to be endorsed by The Cultural Advocacy Coalition to receive a total of $9.5 million in Cultural Resources Economic Funds (CREF).

The coalition’s board of directors identified the most broadly supported and impactful projects recommended for funding, given limited state dollars, and urged Gov. Kate Brown to include these projects in the 2021-23 budget.

The slate of capital construction projects, which includes the construction, expansion or renovation of a facility or facilities, represents diverse genres in the cultural sector, options for increased equity and access, and geographic distribution throughout Oregon.

In June, the coalition issued a statewide call for capital construction proposals and received 44 submissions, which were examined in a peer review process conducted by a subset of the coalition’s volunteer board. The board selected 26 submissions and meticulously reviewed the final applications resulting in the final 11 endorsements.

“The organizations behind these projects have all demonstrated commitment and momentum in their endeavor and are ready to engage in the collective advocacy necessary for success of the entire slate,” said Isaac Marquez, Eugene Cultural Services director and chairman of the coalition’s capital construction committee.

The Maxville center has requested $750,000 toward the preservation of the Maxville townsite with the estimated project cost totaling $2.5 million.

“The funding will be crucial to match additional funding to bring preservation back to the Maxville site,” said Gwendolyn Trice, executive director. “We have recently entered into a purchase agreement for 240 acres including the Maxville townsite. We have received multiple grants toward this work and will be campaigning for funds right away for the purchase of the site.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for 2023 on the 100-year anniversary of Maxville.

Using its collections and the Maxville townsite itself, the center envisions more robust educational experiences with access and events for K-12 students and internships through Eastern Oregon University, as well as increased tourism activity. The organization has pledged to hire locally and partner with the community in rebuilding and relocating the historic lodge and in building a fence around the site.

The Josephy Center has requested $600,000 for facility expansion and renovation with the estimated project cost totaling $1,892,330. The center is actively raising funds to purchase the building it is currently renting in downtown Joseph in order to secure a permanent home for its work. A new facility will have an expanded ceramics studio, an art garden, a companion gallery, a multipurpose space for performing arts and movement classes and a dedicated space for Nez Perce education and artifacts.

“I am pretty excited about what it could mean for our county,” said Kellee Sheehy, development director.

The Americans for the Arts reported in its Arts & Economic Prosperity study that Oregon’s arts and culture sector contributed $687 million and 22,299 jobs to Oregon’s economy in 2015.

“Our slate of projects will help boost local economies, especially as travel trends have changed and Oregonians are looking for more ways to enrich their lives closer to home,” Marquez said.

“Recovery from COVID-19, Oregon’s wildfires, and social unrest is a long-term proposition,” state Rep. Rob Nosse said. “The path will require new innovations and imaginings of how arts, culture, heritage, history and humanities will spread across our state under these new challenges. We know that even as our delivery methods pivot to meet new needs, there’s still a need to invest in infrastructure now and for the future.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the title.