Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene (ABAE)

06/25/2026

Many Oregonians don't realize that Oregon has one of the most unique cultural funding models in the country.

Through the Oregon Cultural Trust, individuals can support cultural nonprofits, make a contribution to the Trust, and qualify for a state tax credit (up to annual limits).

That investment helps fund grants, county and tribal cultural coalitions, statewide partners, and cultural programs in communities across Oregon.

In 2025 alone, Oregonians invested more than $5.28 million through the Trust, helping strengthen arts, heritage, and humanities organizations statewide.

Understanding how this system works helps communities advocate for sustainable cultural funding and stronger local arts ecosystems.

Swipe through to see how the Oregon Cultural Trust works.

06/23/2026

When people volunteer for the arts, something powerful happens.

In 2022, 3,831 volunteers contributed 186,229 hours to Eugene's nonprofit arts and culture organizations — time valued at nearly $6 million. That's the equivalent of 89+ full-time workers, giving their time and talent so the arts could be accessible to everyone.

Those hours power the performances, festivals, exhibits, and programs that bring our community together. Volunteering for the arts isn't just support. It's an investment in the kind of community we want to build.

✨ Save & share to celebrate Eugene's arts volunteers.

06/22/2026

Public art is more than decoration. It's an invitation.

Recently, ABAE Board Member Dana Turell shared a reflection on why public art matters:

"You round a corner with nothing particular on your mind, and it calls out to you. A wall, a sculpture, a poem on a stairwell. It asks you to react, to feel something, to have a conversation you didn't plan on having."

What makes public art so powerful is that it's always there—free, accessible, and available to everyone. It creates moments of surprise, sparks connection, and helps transform spaces into places where people feel they belong.

As Dana reminds us, a city that keeps art out in the open sends a simple but powerful message: You belong here.

Thank you, Dana, for sharing this thoughtful perspective on the role public art plays in building a vibrant, welcoming community.

https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/community-voices/2026/06/21/why-i-love-public-art-its-always-there/

Public art isn't hidden behind a locked door. It's out in the open, all the time, free to everyone who walks past.

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

Music fills the air, but connection is the real headliner.

This month's Spotlight article celebrates Eugene Porchfest—a community-powered festival where porches become stages, neighbors become friends, and music brings people together.

Learn how this grassroots event is building community one porch at a time.

Read the full article: https://mailchi.mp/artsbusinessalliance.org/creative-connections-june2026?e=[UNIQID]

06/15/2026

Looking for free summer fun? ☀️ Check out the City of Eugene's community events calendar for festivals, concerts, family activities, and more:

Free, fun, family-friendly events all year long!

06/15/2026

A community of catalysts.

Behind every BRAVA celebration, Arts Guide listing, advocacy effort, and connection made through the arts, there are people and businesses who choose to invest in Eugene's creative future.

Today we're celebrating our Catalyst Club members, supporters whose annual contributions help strengthen the arts and culture sector year-round.

We're especially grateful to our newest members, our 10-Year Catalyst Club members, and everyone who continues to champion creativity, community, and connection.

Thank you for helping make Eugene a place where the arts can thrive. ❤️

06/11/2026

Each month, we share Art Links, a short list of can't-miss arts and culture events to help make planning your month a little easier.

June is all about gathering together. From Shakespeare in the park and neighborhood porch concerts to Juneteenth celebrations, swing dancing downtown, Pride, and the opening of Oregon Bach Festival, this month is packed with opportunities to connect through arts and culture.

This month's lineup includes:
• A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Roving Park Players
• Swing dancing in Kesey Square with Track Town Swing
• The 2nd Avenue Art Fest in the Whiteaker
• Two community Juneteenth celebrations
• The return of Oregon Bach Festival
• Eugene/Springfield Pride

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg—our favorite kind of problem.

Consider this your invitation to grab a lawn chair, follow the music, explore a new neighborhood, and discover something unexpected.

What's on your radar this June?

Drop a comment and tell us which event you're most excited to attend.

06/10/2026

We launched this series with Lookout Eugene-Springfield because we believe the story of arts and culture in Eugene deserves to be told well — and told often.

Our third feature explores something many of us experience every day but rarely stop to think about: public art.

From murals and painted utility boxes to poetry installations and unexpected creative moments, public art does more than beautify a space. It helps create a sense of identity, sparks curiosity, encourages exploration, and makes our streets feel more welcoming and memorable.

It's easy to think of public art as decoration.

But underneath the surface, it's helping shape how people experience downtown, how visitors remember Eugene, and how communities build pride in the places they share. Public art isn't just something we look at — it's part of the infrastructure of belonging. These investments help transform ordinary spaces into places people want to spend time, return to, and care about. The article highlights examples from around Eugene and explores why these creative touches matter.

📖 Take a few minutes to read this one — it's a thoughtful reminder that some of the things that make a city feel alive are hiding in plain sight.

What do you do when the zombies arrive? In Eugene the answer is obvious – you close the red gate in the Parcade. And if things on the internet are to be believed, you’ll see pictures of “zombies” hanging out by that very gate or sometimes on the rare occasion dancing their way down the […]

06/09/2026

The ABAE June newsletter is here.

We're still smiling from BRAVA and celebrating the artists, organizations, businesses, and community leaders who help make Eugene such a vibrant place to live and create. We've included a link to the full BRAVA photo album so you can relive the evening with us.

This month, we're also exploring how public art helps shape our community—from murals and utility box art to poetry installations and unexpected creative moments that make downtown Eugene more welcoming, memorable, and distinctly ours.

Plus: discover six events worth adding to your calendar, including Eugene Porchfest, Juneteenth celebrations, Shakespeare in the parks, Oregon Bach Festival, Pride, and more.

https://mailchi.mp/artsbusinessalliance.org/creative-connections-june2026?e=[UNIQID]