Frequently Asked Questions
For information about applying for a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, please watch this video. Read below for answers to common questions. If you have additional questions, please reach out!
No, any type of organization may apply – including government agencies.
Yes, if they are engaged in cultural tourism activities.
No; however, your activity must benefit Bend and you must show proof that your attendees are staying in Bend. Contact the Grant Administrator if your project is outside of Bend.
1. Does the proposed program have the immediate or long-term potential of attracting incremental tourists from outside a 50 mile radius of Bend?
2. Is the proposed program base in arts and/or culture?
3. Has the application been completed?
The definition is from ORS 320.300 and can include any of the following activities: advertising, publicizing, or distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; conducting strategic planning and research necessary to stimulate future tourism development; operating tourism promotion agencies; and marketing.
- Buying equipment or supplies for a project/program
- Construction or Capital Investments
- Operations
- Overhead
- Local advertising (including TV, such as KZTV, posters, local newspapers such as The Source or Bend Bulletin, etc.)
The BCTF identifies cultural activities defined as “activities, projects or programs that are primarily organized for the purpose of producing, promoting or presenting the arts, heritage or humanities to the public.” For more detailed definitions of each sector, click here.
Yes, see the Projects page for examples of funded cultural tourism grants.
Visit Bend has a lot of public information on the website here.
The amount available is determined on an annual basis – funds are allocated from Visit Bend, with 7.5-10% of the total annual public funding allocated by the City of Bend.
You can ask for what you need to have a successful project. Do keep in mind that there are limited public funds available, and not all competitive applications will receive funding. It is possible that an applicant will only receive a portion of their request.
No, however this is a competitive process, so an organization or individual that has more resources invested in the project may be viewed as more competitive.
The grant deadline is generally in March of each year. Specific dates and times will be included on the grant application. This is an on-line application so please plan accordingly.
The Commission will review and make award recommendations each year in May. The recommendations will be presented to the Visit Bend board of directors for its final approval in June.
The funding period for each grant is July 1st through June 30th of the following year, with the cultural activity occurring in September – May.
No. You will have to apply at the next deadline.
No, you may apply once in either category, not both.
Yes
If it is a different activity, yes.
The Commission will review, comment, score and make recommendations to be approved by the Visit Bend Board of Directors.
Yes – an application must receive a minimum of 80 points to be eligible for funding.
Yes, please contact the program administrator with any questions.
At this time, no. As we develop more funds for the application we anticipate increasing the number of deadlines.
Contact Laurel MacMillan, BCTF program administrator: laurel@laurelmacmillan.com or 503.803.8260.