"The City of the Arts and Outdoors" is losing another visual art space. Jacobs Art Gallery at the Hult Center in Eugene has announced plans to close. They say the community gallery doesn't receive the financial support necessary to operate.
The last few days have been tough for Alex Brokaw. After being a part of the decision to close, the Jacobs Gallery Board President is still coming to terms.
Brokaw: "You know I haven't had time to mourn yet. As some of the other people have because I've had some new challenge everyday. Today, I called scheduled artists that go into 2017 and telling them that they can't have their shows there. Now that's depressing."
In 1997, Brokaw and a group of die-hard arts supporters entered into a Public Private Partnership with the City of Eugene. The city offered free space, utilities and security. Jacobs' supporters had to come up with the money to *run the art gallery. And they did it for 18 years. But now, Brokaw says, private funding is drying up. And if there is a benefactor waiting in the wings, she hasn't heard about it. The Jacobs Gallery will shut its doors on January 16, after the last exhibit, "Small Pleasures."
