Advocacy & Community Engagement

Helping Hands, David Flores

Building and encouraging support for a strong arts and culture community and ecosystem. Embedded into RACC, we actively promote increased arts funding at all levels, encouraging more private sector giving; connecting artists to opportunities, and organizations to artists and creatives, through an equitable lens.

● Reduce and eliminate barriers to access and promote equity in the arts and culture through support and
promoting among city, state, and federal officials

● Encourage the expansion of the role of arts in community services, especially in health and recovery

● Foster, build, and grow partnerships and collaborations with community leadership in local, state, and
national arts and culture councils, commissions, and committees

● Initiate and support calls to action including state and national legislative initiatives

RACC helps build support for a strong arts and culture community. We actively promote increased arts funding at the local, state, and federal level, while also encouraging more private sector giving.


Advocacy In View


 

State of the Arts

I spoke with a colleague the other day who works at the National Endowment for the Arts where people are soldiering on every day not knowing whether or not they have a future there. I am reminded of how lucky we are here in the Portland region that support for RACC,  and all the artists, […]

Rock and roll dreams come true

Battle of the Bands is just around the corner and snakeskin print spandex, 80’s glam rock hair and impressive creative flair might just steal the show. David Nijhawan is taking Battle of the Bands and Portland by storm. An avid supporter of Work for Art, he has channeled his passion for music into arts activism […]

Lineup announced for May 17 Battle of the Bands

PORTLAND, ORE — On May 17 at the Crystal Ballroom, bankers, architects, lumberjacks and surgeons will represent their companies and compete for prizes at Battle of the Bands, a benefit for Work for Art. Tickets are $12, on sale now at the Crystal Ballroom box office at workforart.org/bob. A limited number of VIP tickets are available […]

4/24 Advocacy Day 2017

This is a challenging time for arts and culture. Budgets are tight at the state level and federal funding is in jeopardy. We must work together to defend arts, heritage and the humanities in our state legislature. Join us for Advocacy Day 2017! We need your voice and your passion! Join us for advocacy training, […]

Celebrating the Art of Leadership class of 2016-17

On March 1, 2017  RACC celebrated the 2016-17 Art of Leadership cohort with a graduation reception sponsored by Columbia Trust Company. This year’s cohort participated in six half-day workshops from October through March, helping participants become board members for local nonprofit arts organizations. The series covers topics from finances to fundraising, strategic development to legal […]

#SAVE THE NEA!

My post today will not be breaking news to followers of the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, but grassroots advocacy is essential over the next few months. While Oregon is lucky to have an arts supportive – even passionate – Congressional delegation, we all must make our voices heard […]

U.S. Senators send President Trump NEA/NEH letter

In light of recent information regarding the possible elimination by the Trump administration of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Americans for the Arts (AFTA) shared a recent letter by twenty-four U.S. Senators. The letter was sent on February 15, 2017 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and […]

Donations to the Oregon Cultural Trust top $4.5 million for a second consecutive year

Issued by The Oregon Cultural Trust, February 21, 2017 Salem, Ore. – Oregonians invested more than $4.55 million in the Oregon Cultural Trust in 2016, topping the $4.5 million mark for the second straight year. The funds will support cultural organizations across the state. “Once again Oregonians have shown their commitment to protecting our famous quality […]