Congratulations to the 74 Professional Development Grantees! These awards, totaling $116,000, will support artists and arts administrators by offsetting expenses related to unique opportunities that will significantly impact their artistic career or business development. This spring, RACC received a total of 234 applications and 32% of applicants were selected to receive funds. Of this pool, 55% of these grantees are receiving a RACC grant for the first time(*)! Our grantees will use these funds to attend artist residencies, conferences and workshops; consult with mentors; produce artistic research; and present work in exhibitions outside our region.
| Aaron Wong* | Multnomah County | Film/Video | Workshop or Class: Stowe Story Labs Producer’s Lab in Stowe, VT | $1,500.00 |
| Adayl Lost, Portland Cultural Dance Collective* | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Consultant or Mentor: Leandro & Nayara, Brazilian Zouk artists | $1,500.00 |
| Alex Gray* | Clackamas County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Artist Residency: Fundación´ace and Proyecto´ace in Buenos Aires, Argentina | $2,000.00 |
| Alia Lux | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Workshop or Class: Dancehall Mecca Dance Festival 2025 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica | $1,500.00 |
| Alison Lutz | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: One Week Holiday Course // The Drawing Week at the Royal Drawing School in London, UK | $2,000.00 |
| Amanda Arroyo | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Marketing Materials: documentation photography with Briana Morrison at Wilma Studio | $850.00 |
| Amy Stewart* | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Camp Glass 2025 north of Spokane, WA | $895.00 |
| Andrea Deeken* | Multnomah County | Literature | Conference: AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) Conference 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland | $1,590.00 |
| Arjan Khalsa* | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Camp Glass 2025 north of Spokane, WA | $1,000.00 |
| Audra Beaudoin* | Clackamas County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: 3 Deep Space Sparkle classes called Ease Art Technique, Wild for Watercolor, and Creative Juices | $500.00 |
| Aurora Rupert | Multnomah County | Theatre/Movement | Workshop or Class: 2 week Suzuki/Viewpoints Summer Intensive Workshop by PETE (Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble) | $900.00 |
| Austin Brague, North Pole Studio | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Present or exhibit work: LOOK HERE exhibition of work by 30 artists from progressive studios at Atelier in Philadelphia, PA | $1,410.00 |
| Balamurali Balu | Washington County | Music | Conference: The NAMM Show 2026 (National Association of Music Merchants) in Anaheim, CA | $1,750.00 |
| Becky Springer | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Abstract Alchemy II: Emphasis on Design with Liz Murphy in New Orleans, LA | $2,000.00 |
| Bettina McEntyre* | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Online glaze composition classes followed by website upgrade | $1,100.00 |
| Cassandra Majewski | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Conference: Chicago Tap Summit hosted by M.A.D.D. Rhythms | $800.00 |
| Celeste Noche | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Artist Residency: Interlude Artist Residency in Hudson, NY | $1,500.00 |
| Cherie Savoie Tintary | Washington County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Coastal Collage Camp at Sou’wester Lodge in Seaview, WA | $575.00 |
| Chris Harmon | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Consultant or Mentor: Susan Goldman, owner of Lilly Press in Rockville, Maryland | $1,500.00 |
| Chris Maunu, Pacific Youth Choir | Multnomah County | Music | Conference: 2026 Envision ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Eastern Region Conference in Providence, RI | $2,000.00 |
| Claire Barrera | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Artist Residency: La Clinica gallery and residency in Oaxaca, Mexico | $1,500.00 |
| Diana Cuartas | Multnomah County | Art and Social Practice, Folk Arts/Cultural Arts | Consultant or Mentor: Rational Unicorn Legal Services to establish El Conocimiento Migrante (The Migrant Knowledge) nonprofit | $2,000.00 |
| Drew Swatosh* | Multnomah County | Music | Conference: Northwestern American Choral Directors Association Conference in Tacoma, WA | $1,500.00 |
| Dunja Marcum, Vibe of Portland | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Online courses from Dyslexia and Structured Literacy Certificate Program by the Dyslexia Training Institute in San Diego, CA | $2,000.00 |
| Esther Saulle* | Multnomah County | Music | Workshop or Class: Week-long “Viols West” Viola da Gamba intensive workshop in San Luis Obispo, CA | $2,000.00 |
| Evelyn Holbrook* | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Workshop or Class: Irish Aerial Dance Festival in LetterKenny, Ireland | $1,400.00 |
| Freddy Vilches | Multnomah County | Music | Artistic Research: on Indigenous languages and musical compositions in Chile with CENIA, a Santiago-based institution | $2,000.00 |
| Genevieve DeGuzman* | Multnomah County | Literature | Conference: AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) Conference 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland | $1,800.00 |
| Harry Armstrong, Harry’s Room | Washington County | Multi-Discipline | Conference: Interwoven Textile Fair by ITA in North Carolina | $1,650.00 |
| Hector Ornelas* | Clackamas County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Artist Residency: Programa de Producción at Radio 28 in Mexico City | $1,975.00 |
| Jasmine Karcey | Multnomah County | Film/Video | Workshop or Class: underwater cinematography PADI courses and training with Eco Dive Center in Southern CA | $2,000.00 |
| Jeremy Rotsztain | Multnomah County | Media Arts (Audio/Computer/Technology based) | Consultant or Mentor: lenticular imaging specialist Isaac Cheung | $2,000.00 |
| Jess Perlitz | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Artist Residency: Yucca Valley Material Lab focus on bronze casting in California | $2,000.00 |
| Jessica Tyner-Mehta | Washington County | Multi-Discipline | Workshop or Class: online course in Folklore/Mythology and Occult Sciences via the American Institute of Metaphysics (AIM) | $1,500.00 |
| Jessica Wallenfels | Multnomah County | Theatre/Musical Theatre | Present or exhibit work: “Fire Season” at the 12th International Digital Storytelling Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil | $2,000.00 |
| Jesus Contreras* | Washington County | Film/Video | Conference: 2025 NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show New York | $1,775.00 |
| Jody Read* | Multnomah County | Theatre/Musical Theatre | Workshop or Class: Portland Experimental Performance Ensembles Institute for Contemporary Performance (PETE/ICP) | $1,500.00 |
| Jonathan Walters | Multnomah County | Theatre/Musical Theatre | Workshop or Class: travel to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to work with Zimbabwe Theatre Academy, Center for Talent Development, and Project Impakt | $1,500.00 |
| Joseph Henderson* | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: advanced ceramics workshop at Radius Community Art Studio in Portland, OR | $500.00 |
| Josie Mae | Multnomah County | Multi-Discipline | Conference: Twist & Shout balloon art convention in Las Vegas, NV | $1,000.00 |
| Karen Christie Fisher* | Clackamas County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Consultant or Mentor: Victoria J. Fry of Visionary Art Collective | $2,000.00 |
| kelly williams | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Conference: Olive Stack Gallery Decennial Artist Exchange in Listowel, Ireland | $2,000.00 |
| Kenny Frechette* | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Consultant or Mentor: Gracie Whyte & Laura Berg, founders of Ground Grooves | $1,500.00 |
| Kenzie Mitzner* | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Conference: Irish Aerial Dance Festival (IADF) in Letterkenny, Ireland | $1,400.00 |
| Kirk Read* | Multnomah County | Literature | Workshop or Class: Parakeet online writing community lead by Beth Pickets of San Franciso, CA | $1,200.00 |
| Kristi Balzer, Youth Music Project | Clackamas County | Music | Workshop or Class: Enrollment in The People’s Nonprofit Accelerator Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) program | $2,000.00 |
| Laura Heit | Multnomah County | Multi-Discipline | Artist Residency: Fall Open Studio Residency at Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine | $1,900.00 |
| Linda K Johnson | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Artist Residency: Archival Bootcamp in Valencia, Spain | $1,500.00 |
| Lisa Neher* | Multnomah County | Music | Consultant or Mentor: Aligned Artistry to rework website, social media, and marketing materials | $1,500.00 |
| Liza Faktor | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Present or exhibit work: “Roots” at the 2025 Yeast International Photo Festival in Italy | $1,980.00 |
| Lori Damiano | Multnomah County | Multi-Discipline | Artist Residency: Praxis Fiber Workshop Digital Weaving Lab in Cleveland, OH | $2,000.00 |
| Luke Wyland | Multnomah County | Music | Conference: Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter conference in Charlotte, NC | $1,500.00 |
| Luke Zwanziger | Multnomah County | Film/Video | Conference: Austin Writers Conference and Film Festival in Austin, TX | $1,100.00 |
| Maren Salomon | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Marketing Materials: installation documentation with Mario Gallucci Photo at Lan Su Chinese Garden | $500.00 |
| Maria Osterroth Sussman, Portland Latin American Film Festival | Multnomah County | Film/Video | Consultant or Mentor: Fernando Moreno Suárez, a respected Mexican film scholar, producer, creative director, and faculty member at Universidad Iberoamericana | $2,000.00 |
| Marissa Niederhauser* | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Workshop or Class: Fact/SF Summer Dance Lab in San Francisco, CA | $1,700.00 |
| Mashall Sharma* | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Five Day Intensive Signwriting Course with renowned sign painter Joby Carter in Street, Somerset, UK | $1,500.00 |
| maximiliano martinez | Multnomah County | Multi-Discipline | Artistic Research: Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero, Mexico to visit the Museo de las Culturas Afromestizas & attend the festival of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino | $2,000.00 |
| Melissa Rumsey* | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Conference: Dance Teacher Summit (DTS) in NYC | $2,000.00 |
| Melody Erfani | Multnomah County | Theatre/Musical Theatre | Workshop or Class: Frantic Assembly’s Advanced Training workshop in London | $2,000.00 |
| Mia Reiko Braverman* | Multnomah County | Folk Arts/Cultural Arts | Artistic Research: Awaji Island, Japan to study traditional incense-making in conjunction with the Hyogo Incense Cooperative | $1,500.00 |
| Ogochimere Ezendokwere | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Conference: Oyofe afrodance conference in Barcelona, Spain | $1,100.00 |
| Olivia Harwood | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: Felting class at John C. Campbell Folk Art School in Brasstown, NC | $2,000.00 |
| Paul Iarrobino, Our Bold Voices | Multnomah County | Literature | Artist Residency: Arrowmont School of Art and Design’s Pentaculum Residency in Gatlinburg, TN | $1,300.00 |
| Rae Sheridan* | Washington County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Artist Residency: Career Momentum: Professional Practices for Artists at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado | $1,750.00 |
| Sahar al-Sawaf* | Washington County | Photography/Film/Video | Workshop or Class: Copperplate photogravure intensive workshop at Paul Mullowney Printing in Portland, OR | $2,000.00 |
| Sam Orosz* | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Artist Residency: In Cahoots Residency in Petaluma, CA | $1,300.00 |
| Sarah Wertzberger* | Clackamas County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Conference: TC2 Loom 30th Anniversary Conference in Norway | $1,500.00 |
| Shannon Carlson | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Workshop or Class: “Building Depth, Texture and Expression with Cold Wax and Pigment Sticks” with artist Andrea Wedell at PaintSpaceNOLA in New Orleans, LA | $2,000.00 |
| Shaun Keylock, Conduit Dance, Inc. | Multnomah County | Dance/Movement | Workshop or Class: Introductory courses for Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) in Brooklyn, NY | $2,000.00 |
| Skye Moret* | Multnomah County | Media Arts (Audio/Computer/Technology based) | Workshop or Class: Visualizing Complexity Science Workshop 2025 run by Complexity Science Hub in Vienna, Austria | $1,200.00 |
| Tanner Lind* | Multnomah County | Visual Arts (2D and 3D) | Present or exhibit work: group exhibition at Main Projects gallery in Richmond, VA | $1,600.00 |
| TJ Orloski* | Multnomah County | Media Arts (Audio/Computer/Technology based) | Workshop or Class: Creative coding intensive workshop hosted by Gray Area in San Francisco, CA | $1,500.00 |
| Vanessa Micale* | Multnomah County | Literature | Workshop or Class: Weekly virtual writer’s workshop led by the author Mariela Peña followed by research at the Biblioteca Nacional library in Uruguay | $1,500.00 |