RACC Blog

Call for Artists: CityFleet Art Opportunity

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Figure 1. Birds-eye photo showing the Cutter Garage on Swan Island with the Willamette River in the background. Photo credit: Macadam Forbes.

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), in partnership with CityFleet and the Office of Arts & Culture at the City of Portland, invite artists/artist teams to submit their qualifications for art opportunities at CityFleet’s facilities on Swan Island. Made possible by the City of Portland’s Percent for Art Program, which specifies that up to 2% of qualifying infrastructure project budgets be dedicated to public art, this Call for Artists is for two separate opportunities: 1) artwork that will attach to two functional aluminum gates and 2) a large-scale sculpture. The budget for each opportunity is $150,000. Submitting artists may choose whether to be considered for the gates or sculpture, or both opportunities. The submission due date is Monday, November 24, 2025. Artists/artist teams representing communities of color are encouraged to participate.

RACC and CityFleet anticipate launching three additional calls for artists between November 2025 and April 2026 for other art opportunities at CityFleet’s facilities on Swan Island. Those opportunities will include an interior wall treatment or mural, an interior graphic, and a large-scale exterior mural.

About CityFleet

CityFleet is part of the City of Portland’s Division of Asset Management within City Operations. CityFleet is responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, repair, and disposal of all City-owned vehicles and related equipment (except fire apparatuses). CityFleet provides safe, reliable, affordable, and clean vehicles and equipment to all City bureaus. Approximately 83 staff perform acquisition and leasing, upfitting, parts management, maintenance, repair, and decommissioning services for over 150 types of vehicles and specialized equipment.

Figure 2. Historical photo circa early 1900s of men with hats sitting in the back of trucks driving out of a Kerby Garage bay. Photo credit: Portland Archives, A2000-025.125. Courtesy CityFleet.

About the Project Site

This project moves CityFleet from the Kerby Garage in North Portland, which was built in 1922 as the City’s first public works building, to an existing warehouse located on Swan Island which will be renovated into a vehicle maintenance facility. CityFleet’s office headquarters are located at the same site. The leased site includes over 105,000 sq. ft. and 125 parking stalls. Surrounding neighbors include FedEx, Swan Island Wholesale Flower Market, Portland Community College’s Swan Island Trade Center, and Maletis Beverage.

Swan Island has been an important historical site for Portland’s industry as well as for Indigenous peoples of the area (including the Multnomah, Clackamas, and Cowlitz peoples) prior to White settlement.

Art Goals

The artwork created for CityFleet’s Swan Island facilities should meet one or more of the following goals:

  • Contributes to an inviting space that evokes a sense of well-being for staff & visitors
  • Evokes a sense of place, which may include natural, historical, industrial, or cultural themes
  • Honors the legacy of industry and trade workers
  • Recognizes CityFleet’s key role in essential functions of the City the Portland
  • Takes inspiration from a technologically advanced future

Art Opportunities

Artists may apply to either or both opportunities using the same application.

Opportunity 1: Gates

Vehicle movement and security are essential functions of the CityFleet facility. There will be two functional gates that open to enable movement of vehicles into and out of the facility, while keeping cars and trucks parked within the perimeter fencing secure. The gates will be publicly viewable from N. Cutter Circle, as well as benefit the drivers and mechanics that access the facility.

Figure 3. Image showing the existing aluminum and chain link gate.

Both gates will be made of aluminum framing with multiple sections. One of the gates is existing (see Figure 3) and measures 39’ w x 6’ h. The intention is to design the second gate to be similar to the existing gate, but it may be modified to enable more potential design opportunities for the selected artist. The second gate will measure 23’ w x 6’.

This art opportunity is for an artist to design and fabricate permanent artwork that will attach to the aluminum framing or chain link elements of one or both of the functional gates. Optionally, the artist may also design decorative elements for the chain link aluminum fencing between the two gates. The artist will work closely with the project design team to ensure that all requirements—structural, security, safety and otherwise—of the project and City of Portland are met. The artist will be responsible for design, fabrication, structural engineering of art components/attachments, delivery of the artwork to the site, and installation of the artwork.

Opportunity 2: Exterior Sculpture

This is an opportunity for an artist to create a large-scale sculpture that welcomes staff and visitors to CityFleet and provides an art experience on Swan Island. The identified areas for the sculpture placement are in two identified landscaped areas along N. Cutter Circle.

Figure 4. Birds-eye view plan showing plantings and hardscaping along N. Cutter Circle with sculpture zones circled in orange.

Highly visible from the public road, these sites are also regularly viewed by the mechanics, drivers, and other CityFleet staff members working in the Garage. In line with the Art Goals, the siting of the sculpture is a way to recognize and honor the industry and trade workers at CityFleet Garage. The two available zones for sculpture are each approximately 20’ w x 15’ d x 15’ h. The artist will be responsible for design, fabrication, structural engineering, delivery of the artwork to the site, and installation of the artwork and base.

Figure 5. Photo of Sculpture Zone 1, the grassy area between the curb and the first tree. If the sculpture is placed in Zone 1, the sign may be relocated.

Budgets

The budget for Opportunity 1: Gates is not to exceed $150,000. The budget for Opportunity 2: Sculpture is not to exceed $150,000. The budget for each opportunity is inclusive of all project expenses including artist fees, design development, any permits and engineering required, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation and subcontractors who may help to fabricate or install the artwork.

Are you eligible?

Artists or artist teams living in Oregon, Washington, California, or Idaho are eligible to apply. RACC is committed to reflecting the cultural richness of our city by promoting opportunities for emerging and historically underrepresented artists. RACC is committed to engaging new communities of artists and expanding the range of artistic and cultural expression represented in the City’s public art collection.

Anticipated Timeline*

  • November 24, 2025: Submission due date
  • January 2026: Finalists notified
  • February 2026: Finalist site visit
  • March/April 2026: Design proposal interviews
  • June 2026: Final artwork design
  • July 2026 – January 2027: Fabrication
  • Early spring 2027: Installation

* The above dates are estimates based on current information and may be subject to change depending on the project’s design and construction timeline.

Selection Process

Members of the Art Selection Panel include CityFleet representatives, local artists, community members, and project design team members. The Art Selection Panel will utilize the published criteria below during the Selection Phase to review artists’ submitted materials and select up to six (6) finalists total for both the Gates and Sculpture opportunities.

During the Proposal/Interview Phase, each finalist/team will be paid a $2,000 honorarium to develop a design proposal and will be reimbursed for travel expenses. Finalists will present their proposals in an interview format with the Art Selection Panel. After the interviews are completed, the Selection Panel will select the artists/artist teams to receive the award for each of the two artwork commissions.

The Selection Panel reserves the right to select different artists/teams for each of the Gates and Sculpture opportunities or to select one artist/team for both opportunities. The selection panel also maintains the option to make no selection from submitted applications and to reopen the selection process or propose other methods of selection if no applicant is accepted.

Evaluation Criteria

During the Selection Phase:

  • Artistic vibrancy of submitted past work**
  • Potential of the artist(s) to meet one or more of the Art Goals described above
  • Artist’s interest in the project and project art goals

During the Proposal/Interview Phase:

  • Demonstrated artistic vibrancy of the proposed concept**
  • Feasibility of the proposed concept
  • Demonstrated competency of materials and fabrication through own skills or subcontracted fabricators
  • Potential to work successfully with the project design team
  • Ease of maintenance and durability of materials

** “Artistic vibrancy” is defined as an artistic practice that:

  • Demonstrates integrity of process (artist’s commitment to their authentic vision and values)
  • Embodies excellence of craft and skill
  • Demonstrates imagination, distinctiveness, and originality
  • Contributes to the development of artistic practice
  • Engages with the diversity and complexity of contemporary life
  • Is relevant in a local, national, and global context

How to Apply

All application materials must be submitted through the RACC Opportunity Portal, an online application system. Applicants will need to create an account, or log into their existing account at racc.smapply.org. If you are applying as a team, please assign one person to apply and be the contact on behalf of the team.

Application Requirements

  • Opportunity Consideration. Check the box to indicate whether you would like your application to be considered for the Gates opportunity, the Sculpture opportunity, or both.
  • Artist Resume/Bio. Upload a PDF of no more than two pages that outlines your creative activities and artistic accomplishments. If applying as a team, submit one PDF that includes a resume/bio for all team members, with no more than two pages per team member.
  • Statement of interest. In 3,000 characters or less, provide a statement that addresses the following. (Do not submit a proposed artwork at this stage of the process.)
    • Why this project’s focus and art goals interest you
    • Why you’d be a good match for the project
    • Your capacity and/or experience to create these artworks
    • If you are applying as a team, describe your individual roles on the team and how you anticipate working together
  • Images of up to 8 past work samples (no larger than 5MB each). These images are the primary way the artistic vibrancy and quality of your work is evaluated. You may provide one or two images per artwork. For each artwork, please provide title, year completed, dimensions, media, budget, and location if applicable. Conceptual information is desirable but not required.

Once you have started your application, you can save after each step and sign out—your application will be saved as a draft that you can continue to work on as needed. Once you hit “Submit,” your application is final.

Submissions due by 11:59pm PST on Monday, November 24, 2025

Information Session for Artists

The information in this RFQ, along with additional images for the project, are presented in a recorded video format that can be accessed online: Link to view the Information Session.

We’re Here to Help!

If you have questions about the overall opportunity or the RACC application portal; to set up a time for a phone call; or if you have any other needs for assistance, please email project manager Eleanor Sandys at esandys@racc.org.

If you would like to be considered for this opportunity and don’t have a computer or online access, please feel free to contact RACC for support. Also, if you prefer these materials in another language you can contact the RACC project team for translation services.

  • Interpretation services are available.
  • Servicio de interpretación disponible.
  • Предоставляются услуги переводчика
  • Có dịch vụ thông
  • 提供口译服务

RACC, City of Portland to Celebrate the Addition of 21 Artworks to Public Art Collection at October 2 Exhibition

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Contact Information

Meech Boakye, Communications Lead, RACC, mboakye@racc.org

 

Portland, OR — September 18, 2025. The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), in partnership with the City of Portland Office of Arts & Culture, is excited to announce an exhibition of 21 artworks newly acquired for the City’s Visual Chronicle of Portland collection. The exhibition will be hung in the City Gallery space on the second floor of the Portland Building. The public opening event is on Thursday, October 2, at 3pm, and all are welcome to attend.

The artists whose work was selected are Stephanie Buer, Jax Chow, John Cline, Paul Higgins, Hermon Joyner, Kendra Larson, Jim Lommasson, Ivan McClellan, Robert Minervini, David Rice, and Chris Russell.

“These 21 artworks speak to the rhythms and tensions of life in Portland, from the moments of joy and connection to the shifting relationships between people and place,” according to Kristin Law Calhoun, Director of Partnerships and Programs, Regional Arts & Culture Council. “They represent a wide range of voices and approaches that remind us of the depth of talent in our creative community, together they capture how artists make sense of our city.”

“The Portland Office of Arts & Culture is thrilled to present a new set works for the Visual Chronicle of Portland at the Portland Building,” said Eric Fredericksen, Public Art Administrator at the Office of Arts & Culture. “We look forward to further collaboration with the Regional Arts & Culture Council to create new opportunities for public engagement with this important project that collects artists’ responses to the city over the past 40 years.”

See images and key information about the selected artworks here.

About the Visual Chronicle of Portland

The Visual Chronicle of Portland is a City-owned collection of works on paper that offers a dynamic portrayal of artists’ views of the city’s social and urban landscapes. The intent of the collection is to capture “the spirit of the times” and artists’ sense of “Portlandness” as the city evolves and changes. It serves as both an eclectic view of life in Portland as well as a record of artists working in the city. The artworks in this acquisition were selected through a four-stage review process led by RACC and including the participation of an independent panel made up of artists, community members, and City employees.

The collection strives to reflect a diversity of populations, artistic disciplines, and points of view. Artists not yet represented in the collection were prioritized, to expand the range of expression and representation in the Visual Chronicle of Portland. The Visual Chronicle of Portland was started in 1985 following the suggestion of artist Henk Pender, whose hometown of Amsterdam has a similar collection. During its 40 years, this collection has grown to 463 works by 270 artists that are displayed in City-owned spaces throughout Portland.

About the Regional Arts & Culture Council

For decades, RACC has aimed to serve every neighborhood of our region to ensure that arts and culture are accessible to all. Our nationally acclaimed public art program enlivens parks, community centers, government buildings, libraries and health clinics; brings people and communities together; and makes our region a more vibrant and welcoming place to be. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we work to elevate the voices and visibility of individual artists, creative organizations and arts nonprofits – especially those that serve underrepresented communities – amplifying their impact through grants, professional development and other vital resources. Through strategic partnerships, our team works to build coalitions and lead new initiatives, crafting a shared vision for an equitable future for arts and culture in our region. For more information, please visit racc.org.

About the Office of Arts & Culture

Established in July 2024, the City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture supports Portland’s arts and culture ecosystem and expands opportunities for Portlanders to participate in creative experiences. It does so through arts education coordination, cultural planning, grantmaking, public art and the Percent for Art program, and more. Arts & Culture’s vision is to put arts at the center of public life in Portland.

About the City Gallery at the Portland Building

Formerly known as the Installation Space, the City Gallery is an open exhibition space on the second floor of the Portland Building, freely accessible to the public. The Office of Arts & Culture has recently assumed responsibility for programming the space, and will focus on presentations from City collections, including the Visual Chronicle of Portland, while developing longer-range plans for the gallery.

Three Oregon Indigenous Artists Chosen to Create Large-Scale Sculptures at Portland International Airport

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information

Portland, OR —August 20th, 2025. In collaboration with the Port of Portland, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is proud to announce that Oregon Indigenous artists Travis Stewart, Marie Watt, and Lillian Pitt with team members Juno Lachman and Ben Dye have each been chosen to create a large-scale sculpture for the entry of Portland International Airport (PDX), anticipated to be installed in spring 2026. The artists were selected through a competitive process by the PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) Public Art Committee that considered applications from a select group of invited Indigenous artists working and living in Oregon and SW Washington.

The renovation of the airport’s main terminal aims to increase the capacity, flexibility, and resilience of the airport, while improving the travel experience and adding more of what people love about PDX–including more art. These commissioned sculptures are among several exciting new public art projects RACC is managing within the new PDX.

The three new signature sculptures will be installed in three distinct sites within the expansive remodeled entry hall of the main terminal. The artworks will be experienced as the first impression and welcome to the airport from PDX’s front entry. The art will also be visible from the front exterior facade through the windows that face outward to the departures roadway. Inside, passengers will have a close-up experience with the art as they will be able to circulate 36 around the sculptures, and utilize them as wayfinding or meeting points.

“RACC is honored to commission these three projects by visionary artists from our region – Travis Stewart, Marie Watt, and Lillian Pitt with support from Juno Lachman and Ben Dye – whose work will center Indigenous narratives in the heart of PDX’s redesigned terminal. These signature pieces embody RACC’s commitment to voices that celebrate our region’s rich cultural heritage and will bring thoughtful enrichment to the traveler experience,” says Kristin Law Calhoun, Director of Partnerships and Programs at the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

“Working with exceptional local artists Travis Stewart, Marie Watt, and Lillian Pitt, with team members Juno Lachman and Ben Dye, is an absolute honor and a dream come true for the Port Art Program. The artists’ impressive new entry sculptures will share important stories of connection while celebrating living Indigenous traditions and histories, reverence for this land and place, and the unique perspectives and experiences of extraordinary contemporary sculptors in our region with PDX’s visitors, travelers, and Portland residents alike,” said Wendy Given, Art Program Manager at the Port of Portland.

About the Artists

Portrait of Lillian Pitt, Ben Dye and Juno Lachman. Courtesy of the artist team.

Lillian Pitt is a Pacific Northwest Native American artist whose ancestors lived in and near the Columbia River Gorge. Born in Warm Springs, Oregon, on lands of the Confederated Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute Tribes, Pitt incorporates the history and legends of her people into the contemporary art that she creates. Over her storied career, her artistic practice has spanned jewelry, glass, printmaking, metals, and ceramics. Her pieces can be found in personal collections, art galleries, and museums as well as in public spaces such as parks, schools, and cultural institutions.

Collaborating team members with Lillian Pitt for this project are Ben Dye and Juno Lachman. Dye specializes in large-scale public sculpture that enables communities and institutions to make a meaningful statement about their historic origins and contemporary aspirations. His work is installed in many Pacific Northwest towns and has been commissioned by businesses, institutions, and private collectors. Lachman is a Portland artist who specializes in the design and production of art and custom architectural glass. He incorporates the natural environment in his kiln-formed pieces, taking real-life objects and transforming them into works that are playful and magical. Both Dye and Lachman have been collaborating with Pitt for many years, including a publicly commissioned artwork that they created together for the Lake Oswego City Hall in 2021.

t’alapas tamanowas, 2019. Courtesy of Travis Stewart.

Travis Stewart is a contemporary Northwest artist of Chinook, Rogue River, and Kalapuya descent. He lives in Grand Ronde, Oregon, and works in a variety of mediums to depict stories defined by the cultural landscape and design of the Willamette Valley and Columbia River people. He also works as an Interpretive Coordinator for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and has devoted his life to the preservation of the art and culture of the tribes of Western Oregon.

Portrait of Marie Watt by Sam Gehrke.

Marie Watt is a member of the Turtle Clan of the Seneca Nation of Indians whose work draws on images and ideas from Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) protofeminism and Indigenous teachings. Her practice is Interdisciplinary, incorporating printmaking , painting, textiles and sculpture. Watt conducts both solo and collaborative projects, but in all of them she explores how history, community, and storytelling intersect.

Please find a folder of images for use here. 

 

 

About the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC):

For decades, RACC has aimed to serve every neighborhood of our region to ensure that arts and culture are accessible to all. Our nationally acclaimed public art program enlivens parks, community centers, government buildings, libraries, and health clinics; brings people and communities together; and makes our region a more vibrant and welcoming place to be. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we work to elevate the voices and visibility of individual artists, creative organizations, and arts nonprofits – especially those that serve underrepresented communities – amplifying their impact through grants, professional development, and other vital resources. Through strategic partnerships, our team works to build coalitions and lead new initiatives, crafting a shared vision for an equitable future for arts and culture in our region. For more information, please visit racc.org.

 

About Port of Portland: 

With three airports, three active marine terminals, and five business parks, the Port of Portland is an economic engine for transforming the region into a place where everyone is welcome, empowered, and connected to the opportunity to find a good job or grow their business. The Port works to pull down barriers and provide access to people and local businesses who have been left out of the region’s economic growth—including people of color, low-income workers, and people with disabilities. Collectively, the Port leads big projects in the region, including building a new PDX with a community-centered approach; transforming a former marine terminal into a site for innovation in the housing construction and mass timber industries; and providing more options for Pacific Northwest businesses to send their products around the world. For more information, visit www.PortofPortland.com.

 

Multnomah County Library and Regional Arts & Culture Council announce community artists as part of expansive work at new East County Library

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  • Contact: Liz Sauer, Multnomah County Library Capital Building Projects Communications Manager, elizabeths@multco.us
  • Contact: Meech Boakye, Communications Lead, Regional Arts & Culture Council, 503.823.5111, mboakye@racc.org

PORTLAND, OR. — August 6, 2025

Multnomah County Library (MCL) and the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) are expanding their efforts to bring community-centered artwork to libraries throughout Multnomah County. This work is part of the voter-approved 2020 Library building bond which will build, rebuild or expand eight library buildings. Smaller upgrades to 11 libraries are also underway as part of the Refresh projects. Since the bond passed, Multnomah County Library has undergone transformative updates, including an incredible new East County Library undergoing construction.

East County Library will be a brand new building, built from the ground up with easy access for all East County residents. By building an almost 95,000 square feet new library on a new site, the library can dream big with the community and provide services in a diverse location.

Holst Architecture designed this transformative library space for community members. Currently, 40 percent of the county’s population live east of I-205, and East County is one of the most diverse areas of the region. That’s why insights from community members have guided the vision and purpose for the new library.

Exciting new features at East County Library include:

  • A large auditorium with flexible seating for cultural celebrations, lectures, performances and family programs
  • A makerspace to host classes to explore everything from construction to 3D printing
  • An audio visual studio with technology that provides users a professional studio experience
  • A teen room with space for technology, homework and creative expression
  • Secure family space with indoor and outdoor children’s play and learning areas
  • Outdoor space for community members to relax and connect including an outdoor theater and plaza for music, speakers and more

Public art for the East County community: Meet the artists

As part of these new features, local artists are creating unique installations that represent East County’s history, culture and diversity.

Paula Champagne: Elevator Bays

Photo by Terrellyn Faye

Paula is a Visual Storyteller whose work explores the healing intersection of Blackness and the natural world. Through mediums like film, photography, illustration, design, murals, painting, and printmaking, she weaves narratives that honor place, identity, and kinship with the earth. Inspired by the building’s architectural elements like the timber and reflection of nature, Paula will create large-scale two-dimensional artworks on five site-specific interior walls on each of the four levels of East County Library. The artworks will be placed in four high-traffic areas that include the building’s main elevator bays, accessing the parking garage, 1st and 2nd floors and rooftop deck. Currently, working on writing and illustrating her first children’s book, providing artwork for this library is a full-circle moment for Paula’s life-long support and passion for libraries.

Ka’ila Farrell-Smith: Living Room Walls 

Photo courtesy of the artist

Ka’ila is a contemporary Klamath Modoc visual artist, writer and activist whose ancestral lands are in what is now known as Oregon and California. As part of her practice, she utilizes painting, drawing with wild-harvested pigments, and stenciling found-detritus. Ka’ila is creating large-scale, site-specific, wall-mounted 2-dimensional artworks for the grand two walls of the building’s central living room, a communal area in the heart of the library that encourages and fosters connection and learning. These walls frame the backdrop of the central living room which can be viewed from every corner of the new building, including the upstairs level. Ka’ila’s artwork is an opportunity for her to continue to explore the space in-between the Indigenous and western paradigms all the while instilling a sense of place, welcome and belonging as users of the library weave around the space.

Michaela Goade: Exterior Play Area Walls

Photo by Bethany Goodrich

A Caldecott Medalist and #1 New York Times Bestselling illustrator, Michaela’s work focuses on Indigenous KidLit. An enrolled member of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Michaela is of the Kiks.ádi Clan (Raven/Frog) from Sheet’ká. Her 2022 children’s book, Berry Song, will be the focus of the library’s interior children’s area. In addition, Michaela will create a 2-dimensional artwork that will span the two large-scale walls in the exterior children’s play area, inspired by the characters and imagery of Berry Song. Honored by her work with Indigenous authors and tribal organizations in the creation of these beautiful and necessary books, this artwork provides Michaela another opportunity to bring visibility to Indigenous art-makers to share their stories with the broader community.

Crystal Schenk & Shelby Davis: North/South Exterior Plaza & Rooftop Deck

Photos courtesy of the artists

Known as CR&SH Studio Art, Crystal and Shelby are a husband and wife artist team whose collaborative work stems from a shared interest in storytelling, history and symbolism. They will create a series of site-specific exterior sculptural artworks that will be located in the plaza area that is along the building’s west elevation that runs north to south as well as along the perimeter of the seating area on the rooftop deck. These artworks are being referred to as “folley sculptures” because their locations will be situated within the landscape areas next to the plaza and the rooftop deck, serving as a nod to the architectural practice of building follies which enhance the visual aesthetic of an environment, traditionally in a garden. Crystal and Shelby have drawn inspiration both from the terrain of the environment surrounding the library and the various communities that will utilize the building’s services. Like many of their projects in the public sphere, these sculptures will possess moments of tranquility and reflection, giving the community the ability to engage with the artworks in surprising and unexpected ways.

Mike Suri & Terresa White: NW Eastman Parkway Sidewalk 

Photos courtesy of the artists

Mike Suri is a sculptor whose artworks respond to landscape, built environments, and personal history. His forged and cast metal forms are often heavy yet appear soft and invite inspection, touch, and reflection. As a ceramist and public artist, Terresa White is inspired by her Yup’ik heritage, including Yup’ik stories of transformation and the Yup’ik understanding of the interrelationship and spirit of all beings including human and animal people, water and sky people, river, sea, and rock, and beings we cannot see. Together they will create a series of free standing, sculptural artworks that will be prominently located along the building’s east exterior elevation. These artworks will be highly visible to pedestrian, bike and vehicular traffic along NW Eastman Parkway and partially visible from NW Division Street, two of the main arterial roads in Gresham. Mirroring their artistic collaboration, Mike and Terresa’s artworks will play a vital role in welcoming the community as they integrate both of their sculptural practices, weaving a narrative of belonging and interdependence.

These artworks are developed in coordination with the Regional Arts & Culture Council through the Multnomah County Percent for Art Program, allotting two percent of the construction budget for all county-funded improvement projects toward the investment in public art. Artists are awarded projects as part of a robust public process, which includes selection panels led by local residents, business owners, artists, library staff and project partners.

Libraries centering community-engaged art

Community engagement is at the center of the library’s building projects. Each library’s selection panel, made up of residents of the neighborhood, artists, architects, and library staff, considered many artists, including those with demonstrated experiences of engaging communities in their work. This includes multicultural understanding and representation as well as the ability to create meaningful connections to, and for, the community around each library.

The community will have the opportunity to contribute to the art in the library by attending a large art-making event at Gresham Library (385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham, OR 97030) on Wednesday, August 13 from 4-6:30pm. Artists Ka’ila Farrell-Smith and Paula Champagne will be facilitating multiple art activities for the community to participate in, including stencil-making, fabric weaving and silhouette portraits. This event is free, open to all and light refreshments will be provided. Those who attend will also have the chance to win an original art print.

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About Multnomah County Library

A treasured community institution since 1864, Multnomah County Library is one of the nation’s busiest public library systems, providing social, educational and cultural programs, resources and services, online and through its 19 public locations. With an eye toward the future of community-centered spaces, the library is working to build, rebuild or expand eight libraries through a voter approved capital bond. In addition to being Oregon’s largest provider of free internet access, the library offers millions of print and digital resources, in multiple languages for people of all ages. From kindergarten readiness to job training, computer-assisted design and 3D printing, the library supports all people in their pursuits to connect, learn and create. Learn more at multcolib.org

About Regional Arts & Culture Council

The Regional Arts & Culture Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides grants for artists and nonprofit organizations in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties; manages an internationally acclaimed public art program; convenes forums, networking events and other community gatherings; and provides workshops and other forms of technical assistance. RACC advocates for equity, inclusion and access, working to build a community in which everyone can participate in culture, creativity and the arts. For more information visit racc.org.

RACC Launches Second Round of Project Grants for Portland’s Arts Community

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Contact Information: 

  • Meech Boakye, Communications Lead, RACC, mboakye@racc.org
  • Ingrid Carlson, Senior Programs Officer, RACC, icarlson@racc.org

Portland, OR — The Regional Arts & Culture Council is excited to launch a second round of Portland Arts Project Grants, a funding initiative that supports innovative artistic projects in Portland. This program invites applications from Portland-based artists and organizations seeking to advance their work through programming, presentations, events or artistic development that engages and benefits the public. Grants between $1,000 and $5,000 will be awarded to support arts programs and activities that show community impact.

The Portland Arts Project Grant is a $1.2 million grant program building upon the community care, as well as the grantmaking expertise, that RACC team members have cultivated over decades of service. Eligibility for this grant is restricted to applicants legally residing or headquartered within the City of Portland service area.

Funding is awarded through competitive processes that include dozens of community members serving on peer review panels and evaluating each request. RACC has contracted with the City’s Office of Arts & Culture to be one of the organizations providing grantmaking services to artists and arts organizations. In addition to the Portland Arts Project Grant, two other grant opportunities for Portland artists are detailed on the City’s website here.

The grant application is now available with a deadline for submissions on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 by 5:00pm. Grant awards will be announced in late January 2026. Applicants can create an account and submit an application through the RACC Opportunity Portal. More information about the grant program, including the full grant guidelines, info sessions, budget office hours, and Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.

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About the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC): For decades, RACC has aimed to serve every neighborhood of our region to ensure that arts and culture are accessible to all. Our nationally acclaimed public art program enlivens parks, community centers, government buildings, libraries and health clinics; brings people and communities together; and makes our region a more vibrant and welcoming place to be. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we work to elevate the voices and visibility of individual artists, creative organizations and arts nonprofits – especially those that serve underrepresented communities – amplifying their impact through grants, professional development and other vital resources. Through strategic partnerships, our team works to build coalitions and lead new initiatives, crafting a shared vision for an equitable future for arts and culture in our region. For more information, please visit racc.org.

About the Office of Arts & Culture at the City of Portland: Arts and culture are integral to our community and vital to Portland’s identity as a center of creativity. Artists and creatives help define Portland’s culture, fuels its economy, and enhance the quality of life for the people who call it home. The City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture celebrates and supports Portland’s creative economy, expanding opportunities for Portlanders to participate in creative experiences through arts education coordination, cultural planning, grantmaking, public art and the Percent for Art program, and more. Our vision: arts at the center of public life in Portland. Learn more at portland.gov/arts.

$116,000 in Professional Development Grants Awarded to 74 Artists!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Portland, OR – June 25, 2025. RACC is proud to announce that 74 Professional Development Grants totaling $116,000 have been awarded! Of this pool, 55% of these grantees are receiving a RACC grant for the first time.

Our Professional Development Grant Program supports artists and arts administrators by offsetting expenses related to unique opportunities that will significantly impact one’s artistic career or business development. This spring, RACC received a total of 234 applications and 32% of applicants were selected to receive funds.

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. Of this grantee pool, 34% of grantees identified as BIPOC, 32% identify as living with a disability, and 39% are members of LGBTQIA+ communities.

Examples of funded activities include:

  • Workshops in Irish aerial dance, underwater cinematography, creative coding, digital weaving, signwriting, and copperplate photogravure.
  • Mentorships with experts in Brazilian zouk, lenticular imaging, legal services, and digital marketing.
  • National artist residencies in New York, California, Maine, and Ohio and international artist residencies in Argentina, Mexico, and Spain
  • National conferences in Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Washington and international conferences in Spain, Norway, and Brazil

Read the full list of grantees here.

This round of grants was awarded through public investment from Multnomah County and Washington County and bolstered with funding from the estate of Harriet Beal Cormack. Harriet Beal Cormack was a civic leader with an interest in urban affairs, social justice, women’s rights, and the arts. She was known as a remarkable patron of the performing, visual, and literary arts, and RACC is pleased to honor her entrepreneurial spirit and artistic interests with this grant program to support the growth of artists and arts leaders across the tri-county region.

About the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC): For decades, RACC has aimed to serve every neighborhood of our region to ensure that arts and culture are accessible to all. Our nationally acclaimed public art program enlivens parks, community centers, government buildings, libraries and health clinics; brings people and communities together; and makes our region a more vibrant and welcoming place to be. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we work to elevate the voices and visibility of individual artists, creative organizations and arts nonprofits – especially those that serve underrepresented communities – amplifying their impact through grants, professional development and other vital resources. Through strategic partnerships, our team works to build coalitions and lead new initiatives, crafting a shared vision for an equitable future for arts and culture in our region. For more information, please visit racc.org.

FY25 Professional Development Grant Program

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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 Iost, 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

 

What $300,000 Less for in Arts Funding Means for Multnomah County — And What’s Next

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On Thursday, June 12th, Multnomah County adopted a budget that included a $300,000 cut to the Regional Arts & Culture Council’s (RACC) core county community program funding. These cuts are the result of Amendment #11 to the Chair’s proposed FY26 budget, reallocating funds from Program 10200—RACC’s primary County-based funding source—to other County services.

While we recognize the difficult decisions facing our County leaders, we must also speak plainly about what this reduction means: fewer programs, less support, and lasting impact on community access to the arts.

RACC has served as Multnomah County’s designated arts and culture agency. Through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking, we work to ensure that public investment supports a thriving, equitable cultural ecosystem. This loss of County support has real consequences for the services we provide.

What Will This Budget Cut Impact?

Direct Community Funding

Last year in FY24, RACC awarded $214,000 in Multnomah County funded grants to 54 community-based projects across our service area. These ranged from arts in public parks and classrooms to BIPOC artist retreats and cultural festivals.

Public Art Stewardship

RACC manages over 1,000 pieces in the County’s public art collection. Cuts reduce our capacity to care for, rotate, and restore this vital public asset.

Advocacy & Access

County funding supports RACC’s regional advocacy, policy leadership, and outreach to ensure arts and culture remain a core part of community well-being. Less funding limits our ability to keep Multnomah County’s creative community at the table.

Professional Development Grants

This year, 57 artists and creatives received support through our professional development grants with Multnomah County funding, helping them grow small businesses and gain skills. These grants were made possible by $90,000 in County support, which is now unavailable.

We know many of you—artists, residents, organizations, businesses—want to help. Here’s how:

How You Can Support Now

Make a Donation

Every dollar helps offset this cut and restore programs for the people and places that need them most. Donate to RACC. 

Share Your Story

Let us know what RACC’s support has meant for you or your organization. Submit a 30-second vertical video testimony here. Need a prompt? Answer one the following questions in your testimony:

  • Have you or your organization ever received funding, a commission, or attended a workshop provided by RACC? How and why did you choose us in particular?
  • What were their/your expectations about working with us? Has the experience you’ve had with RACC measured up to your initial expectations?
  • What problems, if any, did we (or are we still) helping you or your organization with through our programming?

Show Up

Civic engagement matters. Look for more conversations to come—about values, investment, and vision for the region.

Arts and culture don’t belong to one county, one agency, or one moment. They belong to all of us. And they need all of us—especially now. Thank you for standing with us and for helping carry this work forward!