Old Church Society

THE OLD CHURCH (TOC) IS A NON-RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION WITH A DUAL MISSION: TO PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE THIS HISTORICAL AND VITAL ARCHITECTURAL CARPENTER GOTHIC STRUCTURE WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1882; AND MAKE THE MOST OF ITS UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES AS A PERFORMANCE SPACE BY CREATING AND FOSTERING PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY. IN 2022 WE REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC AFTER MANDATORY COVID-19 CLOSURES FROM MARCH 2020 - SEP 2021. WE DEVELOPED A HYBRID IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PLATFORM TO ADDRESS ANY AUDIENCE HESITATION OF ATTENDING LIVE PERFORMANCES. AUDIENCE COUNT IN 2022 WAS 36,220 WHICH REFLECTS 24,088 IN-PERSON AND A DIGITAL AUDIENCE OF 12,132. 2022 MARKED OUR 54th YEAR OF OFFERING FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS. THESE PROGRAMS PARTICULARLY BENEFIT LOW-INCOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SENIORS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN 2022 WE RAN THE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS SERIES ONLINE-ONLY TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE POPULATION WE SERVE FROM THE COVID-19 VIRUS. THE LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES WAS STREAMED LIVE AND RAN WEEKLY ON COMMUNITY TELEVISION AND WE WERE ABLE TO REACH A BROADER AUDIENCE. WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE 9TH YEAR OF OUR FREE "LITTLE EARS" CONCERTS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WAS POSTPONED A THIRD YEAR DUE TO COVID CONCERNS. WE RECORDED AND SHOWCASED LOCAL ARTISTS ON COMMUNITY TELEVISION. OUR "WE CAN LISTEN" PROGRAM FEATURED BLACK OREGONIAN FARMERS AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. CULTURALLY DIVERSE PROGRAMMING OF ALL KINDS OF MUSIC FROM AROUND THE NATION AND WORLD, AND DISCOUNTED RENTAL RATES MAKES US AN INCUBATOR FOR OTHER NONPROFITS, YOUNG MUSICIANS AND A RESOURCE FOR TEACHERS AND LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. WE PROTECT THIS HISTORIC TREASURE BY MAINTAINING ITS DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES, SUCH AS THE POVEY BROTHERS STAINED GLASS AND THE ORIGINAL HOOK AND HASTINGS PIPE ORGAN, NOW THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE CITY.