Uncategorized

Oregon’s cultural license plate gets a colorful redesign

A redesigned Oregon Cultural Trust license plate by Eugene artist Liza Burns will be available starting Oct. 1, 2021.

Oregon drivers will have a fresh license plate option starting Oct. 1, when the state’s Cultural Trust debuts a new design for its license plate.

The design, by Eugene artist Liza Burns, is called “Celebrate Oregon” and includes 127 symbols representing aspects of Oregon culture and history, from the gray whales that draw visitors to the coast to the grapes growing in vineyards in the Willamette Valley.

“The new design, built on a panorama of Oregon geography, reflects and respects the diversity of our culture at a time we need it most,” said Cultural Trust Board Chair Niki Price in a statement. “Cultural expression is how our communities define themselves – how they live their everyday lives, their traditions, their heritage, their creativity, their celebrations, their values and how they connect with one another. Our culture is the glue that can bind us together as Oregonians.”

A mural of the artwork will also be displayed in airports in Portland, Eugene, Medford and Redmond.

The state Legislature created Oregon’s Cultural Trust in 2001 to fund artists, musicians and cultural organizations across the state through a voluntary tax credit. The plate was designed to commemorate the trust’s 20th anniversary.

The trust receives 100% of the surcharge for the custom license plates, and averages about $30,000 in revenue per month from the program, according to its website.

-Rachel Alexander