Current Lane County Cultural Coalition Committee Members
Ann Craig: Museums of Springfield and Eugene (MUSE)
Ann Craig is the Assistant Director of Education at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History (MNCH) and is the Co-Chair of Museums of Springfield and Eugene (MUSE). Ann earned her BA at the University of Oregon in History and her MA in Arts Management in 2006. Ann’s position at the Museum helps her connect Oregon communities to the state’s 15,000 years of cultural life and 200 million years of natural history.
Lucille Herr: West Lane County district #1
Lucille Herr serves on Florence Events Center Advisory Committee – GALA Board (Gallery Association for Learning and Arts) in Florence, which sponsors the monthly Art Ride Tour in Florence. She also serves on the Florence Events Centers Art Gallery Committee that works to further the Arts in Florence and Lane County. Retired from teaching 25 years ago she has been an active volunteer since, serving on many boards and assisting her husband, who is a watermedia artist. Lucille has served on the Coalition since 2006.
Sue Sweatt: West Lane County district #1
Sue Sweatt moved to Oregon from New Mexico in 1985 and has lived in Springfield, Junction City and Florence. A retired designer with an M.A. in Design from Michigan State University, she has been active in the theater arts since her move to Florence. She designs costumes and acts, sings, and dances on stage as often as possible. A founding member of the Florence Dance Guild and working with The Last Resort Players and The Florence Playhouse, Sue has gained insight into the financial difficulties of organizations in small towns and would like to encourage first-time grant applicants to seek local, county, and state money for their funding. Susan has served on the Coalition since 2008.
Kuri Gill: Springfield district #2
Kuri Gill is the coordinator for the State Historic Cemeteries Program, supporting individuals and organizations in the preservation and interpretation of Oregon’s historic cemeteries. Kuri earned her BA at the University of Oregon in Art History and MA and California State University, Chico in Museum Studies. She was formerly Curator and Education Coordinator at Mission Mill Museum in Salem and worked at the Linn County Historical Museum in Brownsville. Kuri believes strongly that heritage and the arts make stronger communities. She lives in Springfield with her wonderful son and husband. Kuri has served on the Coalition since 2007.
Billie Moser: Springfield district #2
Billie Moser graduated with the equivalent of a BA from the Higher Institute for Tourism Professions in Bad Ischl, Austria. After working in the hotel industry, she worked for Travel Oregon for 8 years, where she was in charge of international tourism marketing for the state. In October of 2004, Billie started her arts carrier in the position of Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. In October of 2009, Billie accepted the challenging position of Community Events Manager for the City of Eugene. Billie lives in Springfield’s historic Washburn District and serves on the board of the Wildish Community Theater in downtown Springfield. Her passions include the arts, specifically performing arts, running, and protecting and enhancing what’s special about our state. Billie has served on the Coalition since 2009.
Meg Trendler: South district #3
Meg Trendler (Coalition Chair) is the Tourism Sales Manager for Travel Lane County. Meg received her B.A. from the University of Oregon in 1977 and a certificate of Museum Management from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1994. She was the executive director of the WISTEC and the Science Factory, children’s science museum for 10 yrs, during which she was also on board of the Friends of the UO Natural History Museum and a two term board member of the Oregon Museum Association. As a board member of the Lane Arts Council, Meg coordinated the First Friday ARTWalk for 18 months. Meg was on the Lane County Cultural Coalition Planning Committee in 2002-04 and is the currently the chair of the Lane County Cultural. She is also the mother of two children and has lived in Eugene since 1973. Meg has served on the Coalition since 2004.
Tina Rinaldi: South district #3
Tina Rinaldi (Coalition Chair-Elect) is the Program Manager for the University of Oregons Arts & Administration Program, where she has also taught as adjunct faculty. She is a founding member of the Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene, which is an initiative that came out of the Cultural Policy Review, which she chaired in 2006. She is a member of the Arts Foundation of Western Oregon and past president of Oregon Crafted. Currently she is serving on the Eugene Public Art Master Planning Committee. Tina has worked extensively in visual arts organizations in a variety of capacities including exhibit design, education, collections management, and executive leadership. Tina has a B.A. with Honors in Art History and an M.A. in Arts Management, with a concentration in Museum Studies from the University of Oregon. Tina has served on the Coalition since 2006.
Robert Canaga: North Lane County district #4
Robert Canaga is a Eugene artist who operates a website devoted to arts and cultural interests. Canaga also teaches printmaking in his studio. His artistic mediums include painting and printmaking. He also has owned a gallery in Eugene, featuring large format works and a gallery in Portland, presenting objective (representational) artwork. He serves as President of Oregon Mozart Players and is a board member of Travel Lane County. Canaga received a BA in Anthropology from the University of Oregon, is a Vietnam veteran and grew up in Lebanon, Oregon. Robert has served on the Coalition since 2006.
North Lane County district #4
Position vacant.
Alice Doyle: East Lane County district #5
Alice Doyle is the co-founder of Log House Plants, a wholesale nursery nestled in the foothills of the southern Willamette Valley east of Cottage Grove. Over the past 35 years, Log House Plants has become an established trend-setter, renowned for excellence and innovation. Their pioneering programs have introduced two generations of gardeners to the art of gardening with new and uncommon plants. After graduating in education from University of Oregon in 1974, Alice’s “first career” was as an elementary teacher in Lane County schools. The emphasis on education is apparent at Log House Plants. Alice’s involvement in various groups (long term member Cottage Grove Historic Society; founding board member Cottage Grove Blackberry Pie society; founding board member LandWatch Lane County; founding board member Avid Gardeners, Lane County; former board member Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group) give her a diverse, wide-ranging network to help spread awareness of the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Lane County Cultural Coalition. Her special interest is the importance of historic preservation. Alice has served on the Coalition since 2007.
Cathy Bellavita: East Lane County district #5
Cathy Bellavita serves on the board of the South Lane Mental Health, Friends of Mt. David and Another Way Enterprises in Cottage Grove. She is on the organizing committee for the Cottage Grove Garden Tour, an annual benefit for South Lane Mental Health and serves as a volunteer for the Cottage Grove Historical Museum. She has worked for the Library of Congress, The Washington Post and other news media outlets. Cathy earned a BS in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, and a MS in Library Science from Columbia University. Cathy has served on the Coalition since 2009.