A recent study commissioned by the Oregon Heritage Commission warns that Oregon's rich cultural heritage is at risk of long-term sustainability. The 2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Study Report, released yesterday, outlines the various challenges confronting organizations dedicated to preserving the state's historical and cultural legacy.

According to a statement obtained by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the study was modeled after the influential 2010 Oregon Heritage Vitality study. It underlines contemporary issues that threaten the existence of various entities, including Tribal, Federal, State, and Local Governments, museums, historical societies, and more. Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator Katie Henry, charged with sustaining the stewards of Oregon's historical narrative, remarked, "By gathering information from those on the ground doing the work, we can better understand and elevate how statewide processes, agencies and organizations can support these organizations that have such a vital role in Oregon’s communities across the state."

The collaboration with the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) gathered insights through surveys, literature review, and workshops, garnering the perspectives of some 264 organizational representatives. This study was far from a solitary journey, involving an Advisory Group that included statewide technical support organizations and agencies.

The study’s six strategic recommendations, aim to spur initiatives from taskforce creation to fostering community connections. The first calls for assembling a conclave of heritage leaders to devise creative solutions for the sector's survival. The other proposals include bolstering communication about resources, enhancing the sector's perceived value, diversifying funding avenues, and dealing with operational exigencies.

Commission Chair Rosemary Johnson highlighted the significance of revisiting this study amid recent trials such as the pandemic and disasters, saying, "It’s the Commission’s hope that State level agencies and actors will join the Commission in moving forward recommendations, especially as we approach the country’s 250th anniversary which will provide an opportunity to highlight the important work of heritage organizations," according to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

The Oregon Heritage Commission’s appointments, which encompass a range of cultural, geographic, and institutional perspectives, along with its advisory members, emphasize the Commission’s key role in overseeing the state’s heritage initiatives. In carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, they focus on promoting heritage tourism and coordinating anniversary commemorations, ensuring that the state's historical stories are preserved for future generations.