RACC Blog

2016-17 RACC Professional Development Grants (Cycle 1)

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The RACC Professional Development Grant Program individual artists and arts organizations in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties with activities that improve their business management development skills and/or brings to them to another level artistically. A total of $44,905 was awarded to 35 individuals and 3 organizations. These grants were approved by the RACC Board on May 25, 2016:

* First Time Professional Development Grant Recipient

Except where noted, recipients are from Multnomah County

Individuals

*Amorin, Dominic – Travel to San Francisco to attend and exhibit at SoundWave Biennial – $400

*Barrera, Claire – Travel to dance residency in Stolzenhagen, German – $1,400

*Barrett, Eowyn – Travel to present work at the Edinburgh Fridge Festival – $1,250

*Bombardier, Cooper Lee – Attend Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Workshop in San Francisco – $1,200

*Bund, Wayne – Attend Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Workshop in San Francisco – $1,200

Campbell, Carolyn – Mentorship in visual editing software with Kathryn Delany and Susan Bein – $1,250

Chilstrom, Robin – Attend Circlesongs vocal improvisation workshop in Rhinecliff, NY – $1,500

Davis, Quincy – Attend an artist residency at The Organic Art Ranch in Cluj-Napoca, Romani – $1,500

*Dieng, Modou – Attend residency at Pulsar, a gallery in Antwerp, Belgium – $1,500

Farrell–Smith, Ka’ila – Attend Djerassi residency program in Woodside, CA – $800

Fuemmeler, Tony – Travel to attend academy with Familie Flöz in Tuscania, Italy – $1,500

*George, Christy – Attend ArtCOP22 event in Marrakech, Morocco – $1,500

*Gray, Lucas – Development of an artist website – $1,250

*Griffin Hébert , Paloma – Attend masterclasses and workshops with violinist Simon Fischer in Ann Arbor, Michigan – $1,000

*Hannegan, Karen – Travel to monastery in Pecos, New Mexico to study retablo painting with master teachers – $1,000

*Hoyman-Browe, Alanna – Attend 10-day workshop with Dance Exchange in Washington, DC – $800

*Hunter-Ishikawa, Eien – Travel to Tokyo, Japan to study Edo Bayashi with master musician Kyosuke Suzuki – $1,500

*Iaboni, Stefano – Travel to Oxford, England to work with mentor and coach Joe Dieffenbacher – $1,500

*Lantz, Ruth – Shipping of work for show at Governors State University in University Park, IL and travel to attend opening – $900

*LaPrade, Jessica – Attend five day intensive painting workshop on Mischtechnik in Loveland, Colorado – $900

Lin, Fuchsia – Work with consultant Morrie Warshawski on values, vision, marketing, and fundraising – $650

*Marlitt, Michael – Attend “Advanced Photo Workshop: New York City” in New York, NY – $1,500

*Martin, Chas – Study with glass artists Marjorie Anderson in Denver, CO – $1,500

*Mavor, Anne – Work with artist coach Gigi Rosenberg – $600

*Neuenschwander, Ronna – Produce a catalog of recent work – $1,000

*Padian, Brian – Attend the Fall Narrative Lab at Stowe Story Lab in Stowe, VT – $750

Perini, Julie – Attend Signal Culture Residency, present work at NY State Summer School for the Arts, and participate in the NY Arts Practicum in NY – $1,100

*Rudolph, Shelly – Update artist website, rebranding, and creation of print promotional materials – $1,750

*Salazar, Souther – Travel to present work at the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, WI and the creation of displays – $1,500

Stolowitz, Andrea – Travel to Berlin, Germany to attend casting and opening of premiere production of new play at English Theatre Berlin – $1,250

Stoner, Deb – Attend the Medium Photography Festival Review and Lecture Series in San Diego, CA – $1,500 (Clackamas County)

*Westby, Denise – Travel to New York, NY to study with master flutist Keith Underwood – $1,500 (Washington County)

*Whitten, John – Travel to Colorado River Basin to participate in Signal Fire retreat – $800

*Williams, Gina – Participate in photography software class at Newspace and portfolio review with photographer Geoffrey Hiller – $460 (Clackamas County)

*Wren Stottrup, Jeni – Attend Podcast Movement conference in Chicago, IL – $1,000


Organizations

MediaRites – Travel for five company members to attend National Asian American Theater Conference & Festival hosted by OSF in Ashland – $2,000

*Newspace Center for Photography – Travel for curator Yaelle Amir to attend FOCUS Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada – $1,000

*Portland Storytellers’ Guild – Upgrades of organizational website – $1,195 (Washington County)

“Industry of Aloha,” an art installation by Kanani Miyamoto opens at the Portland Building, June 1 – June 24

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PORTLAND, ORE — Employing a unique color palette that ranges from vivid and natural to strange and artificial, artist Kanani Miyamoto has covered the Portland Building Installation Space with images of tropical Hawaiian flora. (Miyamoto paints and creates block prints on paper and then attaches the paper in sheets to the surface of the wall.) But what appears familiar and known at first glance transitions into something more uncertain upon closer inspection…something compromised. According to the State of Hawai`i  6,414,197 tourists visited the islands this last year. Hawai`i is a valuable commodity. Unfortunately, the tourist industry has altered and negatively impacted traditional Hawaiian culture and the environment. While many generations of Hawaiians have depended on tourism for economic stability, are they working seven days a week, eight hours a day selling a false Hawai`i?

About the artist: Kanani Miyamoto was born and raised in Hawai`i and now lives in Portland, Oregon. She is a recent graduate of Pacific Northwest College of Art’s MFA program in print media and has shown her work in Oregon, Idaho and Hawai`i. “I have lived in Portland for five years and visit Hawai`i as often as I can.  Returning to the islands as a visitor has really opened my eyes to the tourist industry.”

Meet the artist and make a lei: Join us for an “Aloha Friday” on June 24th at 3:30 pm at the Portland Building. Hele Mai, come meet the artist and talk story as you make a lei!

Viewing Hours & Location: The Portland Building is located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland and is open 8 am to 5 pm, Monday – Friday. Industry of Aloha is open now and runs through Friday, June 24th.

For more information on the Portland Building Installation Space, including images, proposals, and statements for all projects dating back to 1994, go to  http://racc.org/installationspace.

RACC awards inaugural Arts Equity Grants

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The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) has awarded $119,380 in Arts Equity Grants to 21 organizations for activities that advance RACC’s goals for equity in Portland and Multnomah County. These grants are funded by City of Portland’s Arts Education & Access Fund, along with support from Multnomah County.

The Arts Equity Grant program is an evolution of RACC’s former Expanding Cultural Access program. Following extensive community outreach, 90 organizations submitted letters of interest in February, and 30 were invited to submit full applications. Of the 21 organizations that were selected for grant awards, 11 are receiving RACC support for the first time.

“Access to the arts remains a top priority of all of us at RACC, and we have been working for several years to diversify the pool of grant applicants and awards,” said executive director Eloise Damrosch. “These new Arts Equity Grants will help get us to the next level, investing in programs and organizations that reach communities of color, underserved neighborhoods, people with disabilities and other under-represented populations.”

Two rounds of panels made up of RACC board members, staff, and community volunteers reviewed letters of interest and applications, evaluating them for impact, organizational capacity, and alignment with RACC’s equity goals. The RACC board of directors approved the final grant awards on May 25, 2016.

First Time Recipient Applicant Name Summary Award Amount

 
APANO Provide support for APANO’s Arts & Media Project to present “Mic Check! Voices from the Margins,” a series of cultural events in  summer 2016. $7,000
* Association of Russian-Speaking Compatriots United States (ARSCUS) Provide visual art classes for children in Russian at the East Portland Neighborhood Office. $5,000
* Community Vision, Inc. Outfit and support the first exhibition in a street level window gallery in Community Vision’s new headquarters building at SE 19th and Division. $5,850
* Division Midway Alliance for Community Improvement Produce the Festival of Nations, a multicultural event featuring traditional music, art, food, and culture from around the world. $5,950
* East County PFLAG Partner with Springwater Studio to create yOUTh OUT Arts, a 12-month series of multi-disciplinary art workshops for LGBTQ youth in East Multnomah County. $4,500
FusionArte Produce LenteMovil: “The Other Side of my Community,” a mobile multimedia project that interweaves video, photography and storytelling. $6,570
Hacienda CDC Produce a series of cultural events at the Portland Mercado, a Latino public market, that will showcase the music, dance, and cultural craft of Latino artists. $5,950
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization – IRCO Work with artists Jacob Wachira Ezigbo and Baba Wagué Diakité to produce 8 monthly cross cultural arts workshops for youth and two events to showcase participant art. $7,000
* Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl Produce Dia de los Muertos ceremony including workshops, mural making, traditional dance, and sharing the history of Dia de los Muertos. $3,500
Kukatonon Children’s African Dance Troupe Collaborate with the Portland Ballet to provide offering fundamental of ballet classes as part of ongoing West African Dance education programing. $5,000
latinoartnow Work with students from Scott K-8 School and PSU to learn about the history and creation of murals and Latino art. $5,950
LAX IdeAL Provide support for one day conference for Latino artists, hosted at Milagro Theatre. $5,000
Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon Produce arts performances and artist vendor marketplace to strengthen intercultural understanding and economic stability for underserved populations. $3,400
* Morpheus Youth Project Offer 8 weeks of breakdancing workshops for youth at Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center. $7,000
My Voice Music Provide songwriting, music instruction, and live recording sessions for unaccompanied migrant youth, in partnership with Morrison Child and Family Services. $7,000
* National Indian Parent Information Center Produce Native American Inclusive Culture Days which support cultural opportunities for youth with disabilities and learning challenges, and their families. $4,860
* Right 2 Survive Create art for Right 2 Dream Too location in SE Portland and host a House(less) Warming Party including art-making between houseless and housed neighbors. $5,950
* Russian Speaking Community Leaders Group Present a film, and a music and dance performance, at the 2016 Slavic Festival in Ventura Park. $6,750
* The Geezer Gallery Support for Story Catchers Art Therapy program to work with 4 groups of LGBTQ seniors of color for 13 week workshops in writing and visual arts. $7,000
* The Giving Tree Provide two 8-class series of Art Explorations classes for residents of affordable housing in Portland. $3,150
Wisdom of the Elders, Inc Produce Climate and Native Wisdom documentary film and radio series for Discovering Yidong Xinag Program. $7,000

Other awardees:

Latinoartsnow

Latinoartsnow

Association of Russian-Speaking Compatriots United States (ARSCUS

Association of Russian-Speaking Compatriots United States (ARSCUS

Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl 

Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl

 

RACC awards inaugural Arts Equity Grants

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PORTLAND, ORE — The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) has awarded $119,380 in Arts Equity Grants to 21 organizations for activities that advance RACC’s goals for equity in Portland and Multnomah County. These grants are funded by City of Portland’s Arts Education & Access Fund, along with support from Multnomah County.

The Arts Equity Grant program is an evolution of RACC’s former Expanding Cultural Access program. Following extensive community outreach, 90 organizations submitted letters of interest in February, and 30 were invited to submit full applications. Of the 21 organizations that were selected for grant awards, 11 are receiving RACC support for the first time.

“Access to the arts remains a top priority of all of us at RACC, and we have been working for several years to diversify the pool of grant applicants and awards,” said executive director Eloise Damrosch. “These new Arts Equity Grants will help get us to the next level, investing in programs and organizations that reach communities of color, underserved neighborhoods, people with disabilities and other under-represented populations.”

Two rounds of panels made up of RACC board members, staff, and community volunteers reviewed letters of interest and applications, evaluating them for impact, organizational capacity, and alignment with RACC’s equity goals. The RACC board of directors approved the final grant awards on May 25, 2016.

A summary of all 21 funded projects can be found at http://bit.ly/20RFdw8.

First Time Recipient Applicant Name Summary Award Amount

 
APANO Provide support for APANO’s Arts & Media Project to present “Mic Check! Voices from the Margins,” a series of cultural events in  summer 2016. $7,000
* Association of Russian-Speaking Compatriots United States (ARSCUS) Provide visual art classes for children in Russian at the East Portland Neighborhood Office. $5,000
* Community Vision, Inc. Outfit and support the first exhibition in a street level window gallery in Community Vision’s new headquarters building at SE 19th and Division. $5,850
* Division Midway Alliance for Community Improvement Produce the Festival of Nations, a multicultural event featuring traditional music, art, food, and culture from around the world. $5,950
* East County PFLAG Partner with Springwater Studio to create yOUTh OUT Arts, a 12-month series of multi-disciplinary art workshops for LGBTQ youth in East Multnomah County. $4,500
FusionArte Produce LenteMovil: “The Other Side of my Community,” a mobile multimedia project that interweaves video, photography and storytelling. $6,570
Hacienda CDC Produce a series of cultural events at the Portland Mercado, a Latino public market, that will showcase the music, dance, and cultural craft of Latino artists. $5,950
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization – IRCO Work with artists Jacob Wachira Ezigbo and Baba Wagué Diakité to produce 8 monthly cross cultural arts workshops for youth and two events to showcase participant art. $7,000
* Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl Produce Dia de los Muertos ceremony including workshops, mural making, traditional dance, and sharing the history of Dia de los Muertos. $3,500
Kukatonon Children’s African Dance Troupe Collaborate with the Portland Ballet to provide offering fundamental of ballet classes as part of ongoing West African Dance education programing. $5,000
latinoartnow Work with students from Scott K-8 School and PSU to learn about the history and creation of murals and Latino art. $5,950
LAX IdeAL Provide support for one day conference for Latino artists, hosted at Milagro Theatre. $5,000
Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon Produce arts performances and artist vendor marketplace to strengthen intercultural understanding and economic stability for underserved populations. $3,400
* Morpheus Youth Project Offer 8 weeks of breakdancing workshops for youth at Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center. $7,000
My Voice Music Provide songwriting, music instruction, and live recording sessions for unaccompanied migrant youth, in partnership with Morrison Child and Family Services. $7,000
* National Indian Parent Information Center Produce Native American Inclusive Culture Days which support cultural opportunities for youth with disabilities and learning challenges, and their families. $4,860
* Right 2 Survive Create art for Right 2 Dream Too location in SE Portland and host a House(less) Warming Party including art-making between houseless and housed neighbors. $5,950
* Russian Speaking Community Leaders Group Present a film, and a music and dance performance, at the 2016 Slavic Festival in Ventura Park. $6,750
* The Geezer Gallery Support for Story Catchers Art Therapy program to work with 4 groups of LGBTQ seniors of color for 13 week workshops in writing and visual arts. $7,000
* The Giving Tree Provide two 8-class series of Art Explorations classes for residents of affordable housing in Portland. $3,150
Wisdom of the Elders, Inc Produce Climate and Native Wisdom documentary film and radio series for Discovering Yidong Xinag Program. $7,000

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 The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) provides grants for artists, nonprofit organizations and schools in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties; manages an internationally acclaimed public art program; raises money and awareness for the arts through Work for Art; convenes forums, networking events and other community gatherings; provides workshops and other forms of technical assistance for artists; and oversees a program to integrate arts and culture into the standard curriculum in public schools through The Right Brain Initiative. RACC values a diversity of artistic and cultural experiences and is working to build a community in which everyone can participate in culture, creativity and the arts. For more information visit racc.org.

City Club Forum: Are the arts getting squeezed out?

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Eloise’s Blog:

On Friday, May 20th,  several of us from RACC attended the Friday Forum at City Club of Portland to hear a timely dialogue about what artists and arts organizations are facing in our booming city. The panel consisted of MaryKay West, Vice President at Colliers International, and City Commissioner Nick Fish. Kelley Roy, owner and founder of ADX, moderated.  Interspersed into the panel were individuals working in the arts who told their own stories about the extremely challenging current climate.

Commissioner Fish described the very real housing crisis for low income and homeless Portlanders and the City’s commitment to working on all aspects of this problem as it drives people, including artists and arts organizations, from the core of our city to the fringes and suburbs. The city he said has a “moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable people” but recognizes that artists, creatives and  non-profits help make Portland a vibrant and envied cultural destination and contributes to the fact that the Portland is one of the fastest growing urban economies in the US.

MaryKay West, who specializes in finding spaces for just these kinds of creative people and organizations, commented that many of them need large scale raw industrial spaces, many of which are now being snapped up and redeveloped for higher paying tenants. Zoning often is an obstacle, but also has the opportunity for change to accommodate the needs of a range of renters and owners. She also mentioned REITS (Real Estate Investment Trusts) which enables anyone to invest in large scale real estate properties and earn income from their shares, without having to personally own the buildings and land.

Commissioner Fish looks forward to exploring what the new PDC will look like as it experiences leadership change for itself and for our City. He suggested a partnership between RACC and PDC to undertake an inventory of cultural assets (following Seattle’s model) and to bring in the Bureau of Planning to explore potential and protected cultural hubs around the area.

He questioned whether the City cares as much about the 95% of businesses who have 5 or fewer employees as it does about luring in a Daimler Trucks or Airbnb. These companies are in fact attracted to Portland because it is a city of small businesses. Both panelists cited the Creative Advocacy Network, which conceived of and helped pass the Arts Education and Access Fund in 2012 , and challenged that group of smart and strategic people to not only repair the tax once and for all, but also tackle the pressing problems discussed at the forum.

We at the Regional Arts and Culture Council welcome the opportunity to work with the City, businesses, real estate developers and of course all of our friends and colleagues in the arts to shine a very bright light on these issues before it is too late. We must ensure that artists can continue living and working here and that nonprofit arts organizations can thrive in affordable spaces strategically placed throughout our City and region. Let’s all pledge to keep the conversation moving and to taking action. I suspect a meeting with our Mayor-elect will be an important next step. Thank you City Club for this informative, timely and provocative discussion.

You can watch the entire Forum at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RulcumBeOkM .

Coming to the Portland Building Installation Space: “Industry of Aloha,” an installation by Kanani Miyamoto, May 31 – June 24

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Using a color palette that can range from vivid and nature to strange and artificial, artist Kanani Miyamoto will cover the Installation Space with images of tropical Hawaiian flora that she paints and block prints onto the walls. But what appears familiar and known at first glance can transition into something more uncertain upon closer inspection…something compromised. According to the State of Hawai`i  6,414,197 tourists visited the islands this last year. Hawai`i is a valuable commodity. Unfortunately, the tourist industry has negatively impacted traditional Hawaiian culture and the environment. While many generations of Hawaiians have depended on tourism for economic stability, are they working seven days a week, eight hours a day selling a false Hawai`i?

Each year the Installation Space series reserves several exhibition opportunities for art students at the university level. The format and presentation requirements for these installations are identical to those for established professional artists, RACC created this separate eligibility category to help introduce emerging talents. Kanani Miyamoto has just completed her MFA in Print Media at Pacific Northwest College of Art.

The Portland Building is located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland and is open 8 am to 5 pm, Monday – Friday. For more information on the Portland Building Installation Space, including images, proposals, and statements for all projects dating back to 1994, go to http://racc.org/installationspace.

Kanani Miyamoto’s installation at the Portland Building draws on her mastery of print media presented in large scale, as seen in here in Shrine Base from 2015.

Kanani Miyamoto’s installation at the Portland Building draws on her mastery of print media presented in large scale, as seen in here in Shrine Base from 2015.

NEA Approved for Arts Funding Increase

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Issued by Americans for the Arts on May 25, 2016.

Today (May 25)  the House Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations approved a $2 million increase in federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), matching the President’s budget request for a total of $149.8 million for fiscal year 2017. The National Endowment for the Humanities was approved at the same increased funding level as the NEA.

This bill will next be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee and later by the entire House and Senate chambers. Amendments to add or cut funding could happen along the way. We will keep you informed of major legislative developments and/or calls to action.

Check the Arts Action Fund website for details of the proposed increases allocated to the other federal cultural agencies and institutions.

Kaiser Permanente, The Standard and ZGF Architects win top prizes at Work for Art’s Battle of the Bands

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Seven employee bands competed in Work for Art’s first annual Battle of the Bands, which drew more than 400 music fans to the Crystal Ballroom on Thursday, May 12. Celebrity judges Christopher Brown, Steve Pringle and Rindy Ross awarded the top prize – best company band – to Pencil Skirt Paula and The Straight Edge Rulers, from ZGF Architects. The Best Showmanship prize went to Kaiser Permanente’s 1980s cover band, Members Only.

The Audience Favorite award, as determined by the band that raised the most money from the audience, went to The Standard’s Smoke Before Fire. In all more than $75,000 was raised through event sponsorships, ticket sales, a silent auction, a raffle and other cash donations.

Kaiser Permanente’s 1980s cover band, Members Only.

Kaiser Permanente’s 1980s cover band, Members Only, photo by Erica Ann Photography.

All event proceeds will help Work for Art draw closer to its fundraising goal of $1 million by June 30. Work for Art is a program of the Regional Arts & Culture Council that raises money and awareness for local arts and culture organizations, primarily through workplace giving. RACC distributes all campaign proceeds to more than 100 local nonprofit organizations – including Oregon Children’s Theatre, Ethos Music Center, Portland Opera and the Children’s Healing Art Project.

The Standard’s Smoke Before Fire.

The Standard’s Smoke Before Fire, photo by Erica Ann Photography.

Battle of the Bands was the first-ever public fundraising event for Work for Art, which is now in its tenth year. The event was emceed by Joe Vithayathil of KPTV Fox 12 Oregon, and by singer-songwriter Merideth Kaye Clarke. The Brothers Jam, led by BodyVox artistic director Jamey Hampton, opened the show, and one of the Timbers Army bands, Greenhorn, played the final set.

Other competing bands included The Legal Limit (Tonkon Torp), The Red Keys (KeyBank), Larry and the Lightbulbs (PGE), and Dystopia (Burgerville). Companies that are interested in competing in next year’s Battle should contact Jeff Hawthorne, Director of Community Engagement for the Regional Arts & Culture Council, at jhawthorne@racc.org, 503-823-5258.

To make a donation that will help Work for Art reach its million-dollar goal, visit workforart.org.

Celebrity judges Christopher Brown, Rindy Ross and Steve Pringle. Photo by Erica Ann Photography.

Celebrity judges Christopher Brown, Rindy Ross and Steve Pringle. Photo by Erica Ann Photography.