ST. HELENS, The Columbia Chorale of Oregon, based in Warren, received $1,000 from the Oregon Arts Commission’s Sustaining Arts Program for the fiscal year that began in July, the only Columbia County organization among 317 grant recipients statewide, according to the commission’s Oct. 12 announcement.
The commission awarded more than $1.3 million in all, in grants from $1,000 to $18,000, to nonprofits “that offer ongoing, high-quality outreach programs and arts services or artistic programming in their communities.” Awards are set by formula based on each group’s annual expenses, the number of applications, and the money available. The funds come from the state general fund and the National Endowment for the Arts.
In the commission’s North Coast region, which covers Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties, 11 groups got grants. Ten are in Clatsop County:
| Organization | City | Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty Restoration Inc. | Astoria | $7,225 |
| Ten Fifteen Productions | Astoria | $5,000 |
| Astoria Arts and Movement Center | Astoria | $2,500 |
| Hoffman Center | Manzanita | $2,500 |
| Tolovana Arts Colony | Cannon Beach | $2,500 |
| Astoria Visual Arts | Astoria | $2,250 |
| The Writer’s Guild | Astoria | $2,000 |
| Arts Council of Clatsop County | Astoria | $1,000 |
| Columbia Chorale of Oregon | Warren | $1,000 |
| North Coast Chorale | Astoria | $1,000 |
| Trail’s End Art Association | Gearhart | $1,000 |
The Chorale’s grant is in Group A, for organizations with annual expenses under $150,000. Groups with expenses of $150,000 or more, such as Liberty Restoration and Ten Fifteen Productions, fall in Group B and get larger awards.
The Chorale, which also calls itself the River City Singers, describes itself on its website as “the premier chorale ensemble of Columbia County, Oregon” and runs a children’s choir alongside the adult group. The site’s event listings have not been updated since a May 2022 concert at First Lutheran Church in St. Helens; rehearsals were listed at Christian Church St. Helens, 185 12th St. The group’s mailing address is P.O. Box 1309, St. Helens.
“Arts and culture is part of the vibrancy of Oregon, sparking discovery, conversation and connection,” Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson said in the announcement.