WORDS FROM THE DIRECTOR

From Literary Arts’ 2024/25 Annual Report

Dear Friends, 

The work of artists and storytellers could not be more important than right now. We have entered an era flooded with propaganda that is both as old as power itself and being delivered in new ways. It’s an era filled with misinformation, rumor, and conspiratorial thinking that prioritizes spectacle over integrity, with algorithms building walls between us. It is an era where false narratives challenge our basic freedoms. 

Our work at Literary Arts is to uplift truth tellers—be it a personal truth, or the facts of a subject or a time—and to do so for an intergenerational audience. Our work is to center voices from all walks of life here in Oregon and connect us all to some of the most inspiring artists, writers, and thinkers from around the world. We approach this work with sincerity, deference, joy, humor, and tenderness. 

Forty years after our founding, we are still here to serve you. Because of the generosity, talent, and determination of so many in our community—see the hundreds of people who work, give, serve, partner, or support the organization on pages 16–20—we have reinvented Literary Arts, making it larger, more resilient, and capable of reaching more people. All the programs you love are still thriving, serving tens of thousands in concert halls, classrooms, on the airwaves, and also online. To house these programs, we have now completed a new permanent home for books, storytelling, and ideas, a place rooted in our city’s history that is open seven days a week and includes a bookstore, cafe, classrooms, a recording studio and staff offices. Our historic building at 716 SE Grand Avenue is named The Susan Hammer Center after the transformative gift from the estate of Susan Hammer which kickstarted our $22.5 million fundraising campaign, The Campaign for Literary Arts. Through the generosity of our community, I am proud to say that we own our building outright, with no debt whatsoever. This means the organization stands firmly here in Oregon, braced for the coming years and ready to offer shelter to the most important stories and ideas for readers and writers of all ages. 

Thank you for the trust you have put in this organization, and for all the time, feedback, and resources you have given to our mission. We are here to continue to serve our community and adapt to the difficult times, in these moments of increased need. At Literary Arts, we are ready—and honored—to keep showing up for readers, writers, and dreamers across Oregon. We hope you’ll continue to be part of this story. 

ANDREW PROCTOR,
Executive Director | andrew@literary-arts.org 

Read the full report below.

Click here for a PDF version of the report.