Rep. McLain Secures $50,000 For Hillsboro’s Bag&Baggage

The Oregon Legislature voted to provide funding for their Cultural Innovation Program

SALEM – Rep. McLain worked closely with her colleagues on the Joint Committee on Ways and Means to secure funding for Bag&Baggage Productions, a professional theater located in Hillsboro. The funds will support their Cultural Innovation Program, which would update their current projection system to a 360 degree digitally immersive projection system.

“Bag & Baggage is an incredible theater company that lies at the heart of Hillsboro. The new system will not only enhance the quality of their productions, but also serve as a valuable resource for other members in the art community. This project has been part of my priority legislation since the beginning of session, and I appreciate being able to find a pathway of funding for their program,” Representative McLain said.

The Cultural Innovation Program allows for important Career and Technology Education that will benefit  community and workforce. It will also give designers, performing arts groups, digital artists, and students an opportunity to experiment with these available mediums and expand the potential of their work.

Scott Palmer, the Artistic Director for Bag Baggage said, “Representative McLain and her colleagues at the Legislature have our deepest gratitude for this transformational award. These funds will allow us to create one of the most flexible and advanced digital projection laboratories on the West Coast, providing our artists, students from throughout the state, animators, innovators, and digital content creators a playground where they can experiment, develop new applications, and perfect their skills. Our location in the heart of Oregon’s Silicon Valley, with Intel, Laika Studios, and dozens of other high tech industries literally on our doorstep, gives this project enormous potential. This is a game changer for us, for our work, and our community and it would not have happened without Representative McLain’s efforts.”

On July 3^rd, Co-Chairs Nathanson and Devlin along with the rest of the Joint Ways Committee passed HB 5006, which included allocations for Bag & Baggage Productions. The bill passed both chambers with bipartisan support yesterday.