Courtesy of RACC Arts3C Grantee Jennifer Wright who’s grant funded music in the project Break to Build: Anthropocene, by Laura Cannon and ProLab Dance. Photo by Rowdy Webb.
At RACC, we believe in the power of arts and culture to unite communities, spark innovation, and drive economic vitality. As the central arts organization for the Portland metro region, we bridge creatives with opportunities, advocate for a thriving cultural ecosystem, and foster deep connections between artists, organizations, and public and private partners.
RACC plays a crucial role in ensuring that arts and culture are at the heart of our region’s future. By working alongside artists, cultural organizations, and policymakers, we are building a more inclusive, sustainable, and interconnected arts landscape. Our work includes:
Recognizing the need for a unified approach to arts and culture, representatives from government agencies across the tri-county metro area—including Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, the cities of Portland, Hillsboro, and Beaverton, Metro, and RACC—came together to launch a cultural planning process to define the next generation of arts and culture for our region.
This collaborative effort, initiated in October 2022, engaged a diverse 20-person steering committee, prioritizing voices that have historically been underrepresented in cultural planning. The result is Our Creative Future, a dynamic and flexible framework that reflects our community’s vision for arts, culture, and creative expression.
RACC is proud to have played a key role in this effort, ensuring that the perspectives of artists, cultural organizations, and creative workers were embedded in the plan’s foundation. As we move forward, RACC continues to lead and advocate for the implementation of important tenets of Our Creative Future, leveraging our expertise and regional partnerships to turn vision into action.
Our work is grounded in the belief that arts and culture are essential to the growth and well-being of the tri-county region and beyond. Inspired by cultural planning models and guided by ongoing input from local creatives, we are shaping a regional vision that:
Whether you’re an artist, arts organization, policymaker, or community leader, we invite you to partner with RACC in advancing a vibrant and equitable cultural landscape. Together, we can create an arts ecosystem that supports creativity, empowers communities, and ensures a sustainable future for arts and culture in our region.
Learn more about how you can get involved by signing up for our monthly newsletter!
Posted May 25, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 25, 2023 PORTLAND, OREGON: On Monday, May 22, 2023 RACC received an email from the City Arts Program Manager announcing the development of the City of Portland’s own arts and culture program to be completed by June 2024. RACC entered into its partnership with the City of Portland in 1995 via […]
Posted May 18, 2023
As part of the Our Creative Future we invite community members in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties to connect to the process and shape the future of arts and culture in our region – celebrating successes, identifying gaps, and developing strategies to meet those needs. Led by steering committee member, Sushmita Poddar with support from […]
Posted May 3, 2023
As an advocate for the arts, I firmly believe that art and culture has the power to change lives and transform communities. Art is not only a means of self-expression of culture, but is a tool for learning, connecting, and social change. However, despite its immense benefits, arts and culture often struggle to receive […]
Posted February 28, 2023
In the midst of freezing rain, unpredictable snow fronts, and the clear but frigid air, Oregonians from across the State gathered at the historic Elsinore Theatre in Salem last evening on February 27th in celebration and launch of the first ever Oregon Legislative Arts and Culture Caucus. Legislators echoing many voices across the state, from […]
Posted February 15, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Portland, OR – ### As our school districts across the state look to their budgets, reorganize, and prioritize in the coming months, we know that teachers’ jobs are in danger once again. When public education loses teachers, we lose educational opportunities for all of our students. This in turn affects our entire […]
Posted December 21, 2022
Americans for the Arts (AFTA) and the Americans for the Arts Action Fund issue joint statement on the FY23 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) would like to share with you a recent press release from our partner, Americans for the Arts (AFTA). We would like to extend our gratitude to […]
Posted November 22, 2022
Join Us! SIGN BY FRIDAY, NOV. 25, 2022 The final FY23 Interior Appropriations budget, which includes annual funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will be negotiated by current members of both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. Currently the House version […]
Posted November 17, 2022
Released to media on 10/3/22 from the Portland Parks Foundation CONTACT: Randy Gragg, 503-799-2655; rgragg@portlandpf.org Thompson Elk Fountain Restoration Feasibility Study Update Portland Parks Foundation’s team completes study and preliminary cost estimate The Portland Parks Foundation has completed its feasibility study and preliminary cost estimates for the restoration and reinstallation of the Thompson Elk Fountain. […]
