Uniforms on display in an Oregon Black Pioneers exhibit about railroad workers at the Oregon Historical Society in 2013. (Courtesy/Oregon Black Pioneers)
Three Salem cultural organizations and two regional coalitions are among the beneficiaries of nearly $1 million in Oregon Community Foundation grants announced Wednesday.
Oregon Black Pioneers, Salem Islamic Center and Confluence Willamette Valley LGBTQ Chorus will each receive a $5,000 grant from the foundation’s Arts and Culture Recovery Fund. All three organizations are based in Salem.
The Marion Cultural Development Corporation and Polk County Cultural Coalition will also receive $5,000 each. Both are regional organizations that are part of the state Oregon Cultural Trust and provide grants to local arts and culture groups.
The Arts and Culture Recovery Fund was established in 2020 to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by the pandemic and has spent about $7.8 million to date, said Jerry Tischleder, program officer at the foundation.
Tischleder said after spending most of the fund in 2020, the community foundation wasn’t expecting to be able to offer many grants in 2021, but a surprise $4 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in June allowed the foundation to replenish its fund.
-Rachel Alexander
