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Cultural assets list collected By BILL VARBLE Arts mavens Tuesday in Ashland told representatives of a state cultural committee that the Rogue Valley has lots of cultural assets. Agreement on how to mold those assets into a viable shape proved more elusive than listing them, however. "How do we deal with access?" Diane Mataraza asked some three dozen people in a forum in Pioneer Hall. Mataraza was one of two consultants from ArtsMarket Inc., a Bozeman, Mont., firm, holding forums around the state with artists and others interested in culture. The Task Force on Cultural Development was appointed by Gov. John Kitzhaber, Rep. Lynn Snodgrass and Sen. Brady Adams. The goal is to provide cultural opportunities, promote collaborations among arts, heritage and humanities groups and develop guidelines for investment. "One purpose is to see what's working well in little corners. We have a lot of good models," said task force member Amy Cuddy of Ashland. Among the assets Southern Oregonians told Mataraza they would hate to lose were libraries, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, dance groups, historic heritage and the combination of cultural sophistication and natural resources. Participants also valued parks, arts councils, historical societies, artists, galleries, writers, poets, musicians and music, volunteers, craftspeople, churches that share their buildings with the community, micro-breweries and more. "You have extraordinary resources here," Mataraza said. "Sometimes that leads you to take things for granted." An opposing viewpoint arose regarding the consumer culture. One man said many young people can't afford to take advantage of the region's cultural assets, saying, "You have to pay for it." Instead, one person said, they hang out at the mall, or go over to somebody's house and get drunk. "That's not entirely fair," said Bill Patton, of Ashland. "But you've got a point. More needs to be done" for young people. Others questioned why Oregon is consistently near the bottom in spending on arts, tourism, faculty salaries. "Unfortunately, a lot of it is about money," said Rep. Rob Patridge. Still others questioned why Ashland has become loaded with trophy houses but has to struggle to pay for arts in the schools. A report on statewide comments goes to the governor in 2001. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA