By LORI TOBIAS/Oregon ArtsWatch
NEWPORT — Carrie Lewis was driving when she got news that the Oregon Coast Aquarium had been awarded a $5 million grant.
“Literally, I had to pull over,” said Lewis, president and CEO of the Newport aquarium. “It was such a surprise. It had been such a time of despair. I had tears in my eyes. It was just amazing.”
The unexpected gift from the Sisters-based Roundhouse Foundation was followed by the recent announcement that a previously canceled $5 million state grant was on again.
Just like that, the aquarium was $10 million richer. The past decade of struggling was finally over.
The aquarium is one of the largest tourist destinations on the Oregon coast, with an average of 420,000 visitors annually before pandemic restrictions took effect last year. It opened in 1992 on 39 acres in the South Beach area of Newport, and has a staff of 65-85 and an annual operating budget of $7 million.
Lewis knew the hard times all too well. She agreed to take over as director of the aquarium in 2010 when a crippling economic downturn threatened its existence.
“The first thing we had to do was furlough 10 percent of the workforce; we had a huge reduction in expenses. It took years to climb out of that mess,” Lewis said. “It seems every 10 years we go through some crisis. The sleepless nights, crying jags, fretting and worrying, it never leaves you. But we got through it.”
First state request
And they did so without ever asking the state for help — not even during the darkest days.
But, in 2018, they tried their luck.
“We met with 90 legislators,” Lewis said. “Not one of them discounted us. Not one said a negative thing about the aquarium. They were so proud of the work we’ve done. We had so much support from every single legislator, it was humbling and shocking.”
And it resulted in a $5 million appropriation from state Lottery bonds for the aquarium’s capital construction project, with construction set to begin in January 2020. Then came COVID.
For 10 months of 2020, the aquarium was shut down nearly as often as not. Sixty-five percent of the workforce was let go, keeping only those necessary to ensure the animals’ health. Everyone took a reduction in pay and benefits.
And that eagerly awaited $5 million from the state? Rescinded, when the state pulled back the bond sale.
But the aquarium “is like a phoenix,” Lewis said. “Last year was crushing. We were going along at such a good clip; staff morale was great. Then, all of a sudden, the world shuts down. But here we go with the light coming through. We really came through it, and we are doing so incredibly well because we have so much support from donors, members, the board of directors. People want us to be successful.”
What $10 million will do
Now, the $10 million windfall will pay for long-overdue remodeling projects as well as building a new animal rehabilitation center.
Of the Roundhouse grant, $1 million will go toward building a new entrance and the first phase of the new Headwaters feature, with a new amphitheater and nature play area overlooking the estuary on Yaquina Bay. The other $4 million of the Roundhouse grant will be used for a new marine rehabilitation center.
The aquarium is one of three facilities in the Pacific Northwest and the only one in Oregon — the others are in Seattle and Sausalito — authorized to provide critical care to endangered marine wildlife such as sea turtles, northern fur seals, and snowy plovers, Lewis said.
“This gift will not only enable us to realize our dreams, but it will have a tremendous impact on our treasured marine life and will leave a lasting legacy for Oregon,” Lewis said.
The Roundhouse grant provides about 70 percent of the funds necessary to build the center, which will not be open to the public.
The Roundhouse Foundation supports finding solutions to the challenges associated with rural culture and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, with a primary focus on arts and culture, environmental stewardship, and social services and education.
The $5 million grant from the state will be used to modify the aquarium’s three indoor galleries, including changes to improve visitor traffic flow, upgrade exhibits, provide new signs and interpretative materials, as well as a touch pool, live coral exhibit, and sea jelly gallery.
“We haven’t had any renovations or facelifts since we opened 30 years ago,” Lewis said. “It’s kind of like coming out of the abyss. We can renovate the aquarium. It’s just really great.”
- Lori Tobias of Newport is a freelance writer, author and regular contributor to Oregon ArtsWatch. This story is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Cultural Trust, investing in Oregon’s arts, humanities and heritage, and the Lincoln County Cultural Coalition. For more arts news coverage go to Oregon ArtsWatch.