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The roots of the Hult Center for Performing Arts reach far back into the history of the Eugene-Springfield area. The idea of a facility that could accommodate not only local but also national and international art groups predated the Hult’s official ground-breaking on July 14, 1979 by decades. Bond levies to fund the arts center were twice defeated but key arts supporters and community members refused to accept defeat. When the Hult Center finally opened its doors, their accomplishments were hailed by local citizens and by performers and critics throughout the world. Eugene-Springfield was finally on the international performing arts map.

A significant event was the formation of the Lane County Auditorium Committee (LCAA) made up of people representing civic, governmental, and social agencies, was to spend a decade waging a “sweat and tears” campaign to persuade voters to approve funds for a performing arts complex. Even though LCAA’s efforts were defeated in two separate bond elections, one in November 1972, and the other in May 1973, the organization’s decade-long campaign laid the groundwork for success in a third election in 1978.By then, the LCAA had already given way to the Civic Center Commission, a new organization created by the Eugene City Council, signaling the city’s decision to get directly involved for the first time in the auditorium project. In 1965 the LCAA produced a preliminary report on the concept for a performing arts facility that would consist of a concert theater with a large stage, a repertory theater, a little theater, a spacious foyer and lobby, and a basement with meeting rooms and office space.

The long climb toward yet another bond election got an immediate boost when Eugene’s performing arts backers turned out in force to show their support. Financial support for the commission’s planning activities came in the form of room tax funds approved by Eugene voters in the late 1960’s. The council agreed to dedicate the city’s hotel and motel room tax funds for the commission’s operations. The commission recommended to the City Council in April 1978 that a measure be placed on the June ballot seeking approval of the city’s issuance and sale of general obligation bonds totaling $18.5 million. Commission member Nils Hult, in whose honor the center would later be named, agreed at the time that private contributions to the construction effort would not start flowing in until after the bond issue was approved and the public was assured the civic center would be built. The final vote count read 10,473 yes to 6,846 no, nearly a three to two margin which caught even the most fervent supporters by surprise.