Corvallis Art Center outlines expansion needs, asks council to consider higher annual support

Erin Gavigan, executive director of the Corvallis Art Center, told the City Council on March 17 that the nonprofit operating inside a city-owned facility seeks more room and recurring support to expand programs and improve accessibility.

Gavigan summarized the center’s fiscal year 2024 numbers and programming and said a private, restricted gift has prompted a feasibility study into a physical expansion. “Out of this study … space constraints must be addressed, as we are limited in our ability to fully realize our mission,” Gavigan said. She added the center estimates it is “currently short about 10,000 square feet to fulfill our mission.”

The nut of the request: the art center asked the council to consider raising the city’s annual contribution when the center’s five‑year contract is renewed later this year and to include “a potential annual 5% cost of living, business increase” in that renewed contract.

The presentation laid out program and economic metrics staff provided in the center’s packet. For fiscal year 2024 the center reported 541 exhibiting artists (85 youth), about 670 volunteers equaling 3,851 volunteer hours (valued at $23.74/hour under the Independent Sector rate cited by the presenter), and the center’s own FY24 spending and audience spending totaling roughly $1.3 million. The presenter also cited a broader Americans for the Arts dataset applied to Corvallis to show that arts organizations and audiences generate roughly $71.8 million in combined local economic activity annually; the arts center’s $44,000 city contribution produced, the presenter said, an estimated $29.55 return in local spending per city dollar.

Gavigan described three program areas—exhibitions, arts learning and creative resources—highlighting summer youth classes (106 participants and nearly $27,000 in registration revenue), 95 community classes across ages, $5,200 in scholarships, and an artist accelerator residency. She said the center is pursuing a public‑facing Corvallis Art Walk program and wants to partner on downtown‑oriented efforts.

Councilors asked several program and finance questions. Councilor Ellis asked how scholarship recipients are selected; Gavigan said the center uses a short financial‑need application tied to free and reduced‑price lunch guidelines. Councilor Morfield pressed on operating reserves and whether funds held at the Benton Community Foundation are released only with foundation approval; Gavigan said some funds are donor‑restricted and releases require a foundation request and board approval. Councilor Myers asked about eligibility for National Endowment for the Arts grants; Gavigan said the center does not now qualify for direct NEA grants because “we are not in a fully ADA accessible building,” but it receives indirect funding through the Oregon Arts Commission and will pursue grant applications for fully online programs in the meantime.

The presentation and the subsequent council questions clarified that the city provides the Art Center with in‑kind support (facility space and maintenance) and an annual direct allocation of $44,000 under a five‑year contract. The center said expansion would allow ADA‑accessible classrooms and studios and program growth but that the gift restricting funds to physical expansion will require additional fundraising and choices about which needs to prioritize.

The art center’s executive director closed by reiterating the center’s request for the council’s consideration of higher annual funding and a cost‑of‑living clause when the five‑year contract comes up for renewal, and offered to answer follow‑up questions and provide additional detail to staff as requested.

Ending: Councilors did not take formal action on the funding request at the meeting. Staff and councilors asked for follow‑up information clarifying how reserves and donor restrictions are managed and requested more detail on the expansion feasibility study as it is finalized.