NAO is excited to spotlight nonprofit members, share their success stories and exciting news, and raise awareness of their cause and the impact these amazing nonprofits make in our communities.  

With the sun out and beautiful days ahead, we’re shining a light on the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center in Baker City, a proud NAO member since 2011!  

Crossroads Carnegie Art Center’s purpose is to create opportunities for the entire community to be engaged, inspired, and transformed by the arts through participation in classes, workshops, exhibits, mentorships, and partnerships – a welcoming place where people meet and the arts speak. Founded in 1963, It is also the oldest continuously operating art center east of the Cascades. 

Crossroads works to fulfill its mission through community-wide programs such as First Friday, which showcases actors and musical artists, and acts as a community partner to attract art-based industries. In addition, they host workshops and course offerings developed through individual community partner requests, including: 

  • Programs for K-12 children through Art Speak at school sites during the school year and summer; 
  • Established networks to aid, encourage, and advise artists; 
  • Scholarship programs for financially disadvantaged participants; 
  • Support systems and Gallery space for artists to showcase and sell their work; 
  • Partnerships with public agencies to provide programs and services for at-risk and underprivileged youth and families, and adults in recovery programs; 

 Executive Director Ginger Savage shared with us some of what Crossroads has been up to and some of their incredible achievements. 

 “In the last few years Crossroads has grown substantially but 2024 was a milestone year. We hosted the final major gallery show and retrospective of local born Contemporary Western Artist, Gary Ernest Smith with a 6-weeks exhibition entitled ‘Towards Home:  The Art of Gary Ernest Smith’ which was the largest exhibition in our history and touched all parts of Baker County.  

Crossroads also became the new Friends Organization for the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, telling the Oregon Trail Migration story from the Oregon perspective. This allowed us to support the Interpretive Center’s mission by assisting their staff with Arts and Culture programming, grant writing, and fundraising work.  Crossroads also now operates the Lone Pine Mercantile Gift Shop at the Center where we are expanding opportunities for local artisans and makers.” 

Crossroads has also been making strides in increasing access to the arts through a full update of their Arts Education Program. 

 Ginger said, “In 2022, we beta tested a ‘Pay What You Can’ Model for all ages in our Art Education program, having our students select what their budget allows to access our classes.  This eliminated barriers caused by a scholarship form and process. The first year was successful, but we did not have the increase in student participation we had hoped for.  The Crossroads education committee then went back to work and looked at every aspect of our arts education program.  In 2024, we moved all teachers to $50 an hour, with a $25 prep and kept ‘Pay What You Can’ for the students.  With both of those changes, in the last year we have had a 78% increase in class income as families consistently pay something towards tuition and participants have increased the number of classes they are taking because they enjoy them so much.  

We had to take a whole lot of ‘leaps of faith’ in 2024, but with our Board’s support, we learned that you can’t stop learning, changing, and growing how you fulfill your mission.  Change is scary – but it is needed and can lead to exciting growth!” 

Crossroads is currently looking at an ever-shifting funding landscape and, like so many, are deeply concerned about what the next year will bring.  

“Crossroads just had to announce that we will not have our major fundraising event in 2025 due to a scheduling challenge with our committee.  Losing this big part of our annual budget is a blow and we are working to find additional resources. We continue to work to find foundations and donors who can help us and encourage you to donate.” 

Thank you to Ginger Savage for her time and all the work Crossroads Carnegie Arts Center does to support communities in Eastern Oregon and engage and welcome them into the arts. Learn more at  https://www.crossroads-arts.org/ or visit them in Baker City at 2020 Auburn Ave. Admission is free to all! 

If you would like to support this work, monetary donations can be made here.