Arts, Culture, and Heritage Commission

MEETINGS

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• Wilsonville City Hall
  29799 SW Town Center Loop E
  Wilsonville, OR 97070​​​​​​

In December 2021, the Wilsonville City Council adopted Resolution No. 2941 that establishes the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Commission (ACHC). Establishment of the ACHC, set forth in the 2020 Arts, Culture, and Heritage Strategy (ACHS), fulfills a 2021-23 City Council Goal.

In February 2022, nine charter members were appointed to the commission by Mayor Julie Fitzgerald with concurrence of the Wilsonville City Council. 

Current Members:

• Three-year terms (through June 2025): Benjamin Mefford, Susan Schenk, Deborah Zundel
• Three-year term (through June 2026): Sageera Oravil Abdulla Koya, David Altman, Aaron Harris
• Two-year terms (through June 2027): Nadine Elbitar, Joan Carlson, Jason Jones

About the Commission

The City's Arts, Culture and Heritage Commission is to advise the City Council on matters relating to arts, culture and heritage, oversee implementation of recommendations outlined in the Arts Culture & Heritage Strategy, and supervise the Community Cultural Events & Programs Grant.

Per Resolution No. 2941, the Commission has three primary functions:

1. The Commission oversees implementation of the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Strategy (ACHS) and is charged specifically to develop annually for City Council approval fiscal-year plans for a long-term Five-Year Action Plan and annual One-Year Implementation Plan for prioritizing and fulfilling recommendations of the ACHS.
2. The Commission makes recommendations to the City Council and other City boards, commissions and committees as is appropriate to:
   • provide public-sector leadership and coordination to support arts, culture and heritage activities, events, facilities and programs;
   • improve inter-governmental collaboration and coordination to advance arts, culture and heritage;
   • work with partners to advance an arts and cultural center/facility;
   • develop a long-term, sustainable public-arts program;
   • suggest ways to make cultural diversity, ethnic inclusivity and accessibility for all community members a priority for cultural programs;
   • provide strategic assistance with Wilsonville cultural non-profits in order to build organizational capacity; and
   • identify and recommend the use of sustainable funding mechanisms to support arts, culture and heritage.
3. The Commission makes recommendations to the City Council concerning the goals and objectives, and the selection and disbursement of funds of the former Community Tourism Matching Grant Program to a renamed Community Cultural Events and Programs Matching Grant Program that is intended to aid organizations that produce projects, programs or events that promote local business and tourism, and for festivals and special events for the benefit of the Wilsonville community.