The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) invites nonprofit organizations and individual artists in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties to submit proposals for artistic projects and cultural events planned for calendar year 2014. “Intent to Apply” forms must be submitted online – http://racc.org/GrantsOnline – by 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2013. 

RACC Project Grants support a wide range of artistic activities throughout the Portland tri-county region. To be eligible, projects must involve the creation or presentation of a performance, exhibit, or other work of art that is available to the general public. Proposals must address one of the following objectives:

• Artistic Focus: These projects will demonstrate high artistic quality, innovation, creativity in programming and excellence in artist selection.
• Community Participation: These projects support cultural and artistic programs with high levels of community participation. Projects in this category should impact participants by providing them with a greater sense of self, family, community and place through learning and participating in their own artmaking experience.
  A third category of Project Grants are specifically for artists working in schools. “Arts-in-Schools” applications and guidelines will be available after August 28th with deadlines in October.

Approximately $585,000 is available for projects in 2014, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 each. RACC encourages submissions from new, emerging, and established artists alike. All eligible proposals will be grouped by discipline and adjudicated by a panel of community volunteers with interest and experience in arts and culture programming. 

Guidelines and other important materials – including a list of projects that were funded in 2013– are available online at www.racc.org/grants. All applications must be submitted using RACC’s online grants system atwww.racc.org/GrantsOnline; RACC provides computer access and technical support for people who require assistance.

RACC staff are available to guide applicants through the process of submitting a competitive application. First-time applicants should contact Helen Daltoso at 503-823-5402 or hdaltoso@racc.org for assistance. Returning applicants should contact Ingrid Carlson at 503-823-5417 or icarlson@racc.org. RACC also provides over-the-phone interpretation services for people with limited English proficiency; call 503-823-5071.

In addition to providing one-on-one support and online video tutorials (available at http://www.youtube.com/RegionalArts), RACC provides free orientation sessions to help applicants better understand RACC Project Grant guidelines and application procedures.

Orientations for individual artists will be held on Thursday, June 20th from 2:00 to 4:00pm (PASSED); Thursday, July 18th from 3:00 to 5:00pm (PASSED);  Monday, July 29th from 2:00 to 4:00pm. (PASSED)
Orientations for not-for-profit organizations will be held on Tuesday, July 16th from 2:00 to 4:00pm (PASSED) and Wednesday, July 24th from 2:00 to 4:00pm. (PASSED)

All orientations will be held at the RACC offices, 411 NW Park Avenue, Suite 101. RACC staff will notify applicants via email as to whether their “Intent to Apply” proposal meets the intention of the Project Grant. Final proposals must be submitted electronically through the online system by August 21, 2013 at 5:00pm, and uploaded supplemental materials and physical application copies received at the RACC offices no later than August 28, 2013 at 5:00pm. Awards will be announced in mid-December.