Harsch Investment Properties
Portland, Oregon

Real Estate Investment/Development

Arts and culture are embedded in the operating philosophy of Harsch Investment Properties, a 52-year-old family-owned business. For decades the company has been supporting the arts and cultural facilities in the Western United States. Recently, it created and supports the initiative Contemporary Art Exhibition and Education Program Featuring Single and Traveling Exhibitions and Cultural Outreach Support, a collaboration with regional educational and community institutions to increase knowledge and appreciation of the print as an art form.

Harsch Investment Properties had benefited the arts, business and the community by:

Creating three traveling exhibitions Pressure Points, Andy Warhol's Dream America, and Keys to the Koop-featuring works of both established and emerging artists with a special emphasis on those living and working in the Northwest from the Schnitzer family's private collections of more than 3,000 prints. As part of this initiative, the company underwrites all costs associated with presenting the exhibition in each cultural site and all printed and visual materials such as catalogues, curriculum guides and exhibition brochures. The exhibition venues include: The Art Gym, Marylhurst, OR; Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR; Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT; the Western Gallery at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA; the Art Gallery at the University of Texas, El Paso, TX; the Nicolaysen Museum and Discovery Center, Casper, WY; The San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA; The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO; and The Pendleton Art Center and Crow's Shadow Institute, Pendleton, OR.

Providing each institution with a grant up to $5,000 to underwrite educational and outreach activities that include bringing students to exhibitions, sponsoring artist talks with the public, developing and distributing curriculum materials to all schools in each exhibition community and supporting efforts that encourage college professors to incorporate the exhibitions in art, literature and philosophy courses.

Encouraging appreciation of printmaking, building awareness of artists working in the Western United States and helping participating institutions present exhibitions and offer educational programs that increase their audiences and support.

Nominated by Harsch Investment Properties, Portland, OR.

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