Art Center East Community Spotlight from Latino Partnership Program

Art is an essential form of expression that affects comunidad (community) in myriad ways. At Art Center East in La Grande, Oregon, the nonprofit has been increasing access to the arts since their founding in 1977 and continues to do this important work today through five core programs: Youth and Adult Arts Education, Galleries, Artists in Rural Schools, Community Music, and Artist Economic Development.

We were thrilled to award Art Center East with a small grant in 2024 to support an initiative for a Dia de los Muertos youth exhibit that aimed to provide space for self-expression, heritage, and community connectedness. We are excited to share reflections on that event and more in this Q&A with Executive Director, Darcy Dolge.

Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your role with Art Center East?

Art Center East’s mission is to inspire, enrich, and interlace Eastern Oregon communities through creative expression. I’ve been honored to serve that mission for ten years, bringing my experiences as an artist and small business owner to my work as Executive Director. I provide oversight of program development and delivery, financial management, administration and human resources, and conservation of the organization’s artistic spaces in the historic 1913 building we call home. It’s a privilege to build local, regional, and statewide partnerships that help support these programs, and getting to know other people who believe in the power and beauty of the arts is a real pleasure.

What are some of the fulfilling aspects of the work? Challenges?

I find it fulfilling to see how the arts bring people together—whether through a child’s first art class, an artist discovering new opportunities, or a community event that celebrates creativity—especially alongside an enthusiastic staff and board of directors who all aim to bring the arts to as many people as possible. Art Center East (ACE), like many arts and culture nonprofits, encounters challenges in securing sustainable funding that allows us to continue offering free and reduced-cost participation in our arts opportunities, especially in underserved communities. The support of and encouragement from our partners and our communities makes all of our efforts worthwhile!

How has the partnership with LPP impacted your work? We loved seeing the photos of the celebration!

Our partnership with LPP has helped us to broaden connections with our local Latino communities and expand our Día de los Muertos programming. Thanks to LPP’s support, we were able to offer more inclusive and culturally enriching experiences including a community ofrenda, interactive educational activities for children, and a celebratory community gathering. Our partnership made it possible for many community members who had never heard of Día de los Muertos to experience its art traditions and rich cultural significance.

What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead?

In the year ahead, I’m excited to see how having a larger staff will enhance our programming and community impact. With more hands on deck, we’re looking forward to growing our educational initiatives and cultural events, continuing to build connections and make the arts accessible to even more people in our region. We are looking forward to sharing exciting news about projects we’ve undertaken with new partners!

What’s the best way the community can show support for your organization? How can readers stay connected?

We’d love to have more people involved as volunteers, art class participants, and as visitors to our beautiful art galleries. Encourage a friend to take an ACE class with you or visit our galleries together. We always enjoy hearing from community members, and we hope that readers will contact us to share feedback, suggestions, and ideas.

We encourage readers to speak up for the arts at city and county government meetings; input from community members helps policy makers gain an understanding of how important it is for arts and culture organizations to have the support of local government. Readers can also support Art Center East through donations which help us expand programs and increase the number of arts education opportunities we offer. Every contribution makes a significant and positive difference!

Lastly, we’d love for everyone to get connected with all the exciting things happening at Art Center East by signing up for our newsletter. It’s a great way to stay informed and involved with upcoming events, classes, arts exhibits, and in the vibrant arts community we’re building together in Eastern Oregon!

We love shining a light on LPP community members doing amazing work! If you’d like to nominate yourself, a colleague, or an organization, please reply and we’ll keep all suggestions in mind for upcoming newsletters.