RACC Blog

RACC Statement on Federal Arts Funding and the Importance of Local Voices

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The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) stands in deep solidarity with our national and local partners as the arts and culture sector faces yet another wave of uncertainty—this time at the federal level. We have learned that DOGE has made its way to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and a reduction in force is anticipated. With that comes the real concern of significant cuts to the NEA’s grants budget.

As with our partners, we encourage all organizations that hold an NEA grant agreement, we encourage you to log into your grants portal immediately and request any outstanding disbursements or reimbursements.

At a time when we’re already seeing shifts in state-level support, the potential loss of federal investment is particularly alarming for our small and mid-sized organizations—many of which are led by BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and disabled creatives who’ve long been doing the grassroots work of cultural stewardship. These are the organizations keeping our region vibrant, connected, and evolving. All our arts, culture, and heritage organizations need our collective support more than ever.

In this critical moment, we also want to amplify the effort by Americans for the Arts (AFTA) to gather data through its National Pulse Survey, which seeks to understand how federal and state policy decisions are impacting your work, your organization, and your community.

Take the survey by May 9, 2025:

https://surveys.AmericansForTheArts.org/s3/ImpactOfFederalPolicies

It matters:

  • It will give voice to local challenges and provide nationwide insight into how policies are affecting communities like ours.
  • Results will be publicly available and sortable by geography, discipline, and organization size.
  • The survey takes only 6 minutes to complete and is available in Spanish to expand accessibility.

Your voice is essential. The more voices from Portland and across our broader region that  include Clackamas, Washington, Multnomah, and even Clark Counties to respond, the clearer our shared story becomes.

We see you. We’re with you. And we will continue advocating for the support you deserve at every level – local, regional, state, and federal.

With gratitude for all that you do,
The RACC Team

Portable Works Installed at Portland’s City Hall

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La Señora by Hampton Rodriguez (2023).

Portland’s City Hall serves as a vibrant cultural hub, reflecting the city’s essence through artwork that encapsulates its people, landscapes, urban evolution, diverse cultures, and their interconnections. RACC’s curation, led by Ivan Salcido, our 2D Curator & Collections Manager, aims to celebrate a spectrum of artists, from some of the city’s most established artists to rising talents exclusively from the region, who embody the richness of Portland’s artistic community. The artworks offer a compelling representation of what it means to live, work, and play in Oregon.

The Mayor’s suite features a curated collection of Oregon-themed artwork, blending seasoned artists with emerging talents. In the Commissioner’s offices, the curation focus shifts to the new districts of Portland. Each office features works specifically tailored to reflect the character and spirit of its respective community. Within the Conference Rooms suite, the theme of Portland’s identity continues through another curated mix of established and emerging artists.

All of the artworks installed come from two main collections: the Portable Works Collection, which features hundreds of regional artists’ two and three-dimensional pieces spread across City and County buildings; and the Visual Chronicle of Portland, a collection that captures the city’s evolving social and urban landscapes.

Artists

Artist Portfolio Link
Aaron Wessling http://aaronwessling.com/
Alison Bremner https://alisonobremner.com/
Álvaro Tarragó https://www.instagram.com/tarrago_art/
Amy Bay http://www.amybay.com/
Bobby Fouther https://about.me/bobby.fouther
Cameron Hawkey https://www.cameronhawkey.com/
Carolyn Hazel Drake https://carolynhazeldrake.com/home.html
Craig Conahan https://www.instagram.com/salaciousbcraig/
David Robert Boxley https://davidrobertboxley.com/
Dennis Cunningham https://www.arts.wa.gov/artist-collection/?request=record;id=1864;type=701
eatcho http://eatcho.com/blog/
Ed Archie NoiseCat https://noisecatart.com/
Epiphany Couch https://www.epiphanycouch.com/
Future Prairie (Brett Brown, Onry, Saeeda, and Joni Whitworth) http://www.futureprairie.com/
Hampton Rodriguez http://www.hamptonrodriguez.com/about-hampton-rodriguez/
Holly Andres https://www.hollyandres.com/
Isaka Shamsud-Din https://www.isakashamsuddin.com/
Jeremy Okai Davis https://www.instagram.com/jeremyokaiart/
Jo Hamilton https://www.johamiltonart.com/
Joe Cantrell https://www.instagram.com/joem.cantrell/
Joe Feddersen https://www.joefeddersen.com/
Jolene Cleo Thompson https://publicartarchive.org/artist/Jolene%20Cleo%20Thompson
Josh Gates https://www.joshgatesart.com/
Judith Pacheco-Lujano https://publicartarchive.org/artist/Judith%20Pacheco-Lujano
Kanani Miyamoto https://www.instagram.com/mamakanani/
Kristine L. Kordell http://www.klkfineartstudio.com/
Latoya Lovely https://llovely.artspan.com/artwork-gallery/-3588650/neon-woman.html
Lehuauakea Fernandez https://lehuauakea.com/
Lli Wilburn https://www.pernoctalian.com/
Marne Lucas https://www.marnelucas.com/
Matthew Earl Williams https://www.mearlwilliams.com/
Melanie Stevens http://melanie-stevens.squarespace.com/
Menka Desai https://www.msmonocles.com/
Michael Espinoza https://www.michaelespinozaart.com/
Mike Vos https://www.mikevos.com/
Nancy Watterson Scharf https://www.nwattersonscharf.com/
Onry http://www.onrymusic.com/
Paul Harcharik https://publicartarchive.org/artist/Paul%20Harcharik
Rankin Renwick http://www.odoka.org/
Rebecca Rodela https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaarte/
Rene Rickabaugh https://www.russoleegallery.com/artists/ren-rickabaugh
Sadé DuBoise https://sadeduboisestudio.com/
Samantha Wall https://www.samanthawall.com/
Sarah Bouwsma http://www.neuhengen.net/sarah/
Shelbie Loomis https://www.shelbieloomis.info/
Shobha Jetmalani https://www.shobhajetmalani.com/
Simone Fischer https://www.simonef.com/
Stephen Hayes https://www.stephenhayes.net/
Terrance Burton https://publicartarchive.org/artist/Terrance%20Burton
Terrence Gasca https://terrencegasca.com/home.html
Terry Toedtemeier https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/toedtemeier_terry_1947_2008_/
William Kucha https://freedgallery.com/artists/bill-kucha/

Touch Glass: Urban Foraging with Kate Newby

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11 am – 1 pm, Sunday, May 4

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art

15 NE Hancock St, Portland, OR 97212

 

You’re invited to participate in the creation of a large-scale, permanent 2D public artwork for Portland International Airport (PDX)! Artist Kate Newby has been commissioned to create “The Sound of Trees,” a 76-foot-long mural that evokes Oregon’s forested landscape through a richly textured surface of glazed ceramic tiles, for PDX Airport. Community members are invited to participate in “Touch Glass,” an urban foraging workshop led by Newby, in partnership with Portland Institute for Contemporary Art and the Regional Arts & Culture Council. During the workshop, participants will collect discarded glass, which will be embedded into the clay tiles and fired, becoming a permanent part of the mural. The mural is anticipated to be installed in late 2025 and debuted to the public in 2026.

RSVP Here

Learn more about the commissioned artwork for PDX airport

Kate Newby (b. 1979, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand; based in San Antonio, TX) is a sculptor known for her site-responsive installations, architectural interventions, and material-driven explorations. Working primarily with glass, ceramics, and found materials, Newby engages with space’s physical and atmospheric qualities, creating sculptures that emerge from sustained engagement with a place. Her work incorporates elements reflecting a site’s social and environmental rhythms—wind, light, rain, and human and non-human activity traces.

PDX Terminal Redevelopment Public Art Request for Qualifications Mural Design

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The Regional Arts & Culture Council (“RACC”) and the Port of Portland (“Port”) in Portland, Oregon, are inviting artists to submit their qualifications for the design of a temporary public art display that will be a part of the Portland International Airport’s (PDX) terminal redevelopment project.
The Port of Portland has contracted with the Portland area’s Regional Arts & Culture Council to manage the selection process for this public art opportunity.

INTRODUCTION

PDX has been recognized as the best airport in the United States eight times in the last decade. The airport consistently ranks high when it comes to customer service based on its facilities, accessibility, security, and is renowned for its local restaurants, beverages, and retail offerings, as well as short films at no cost, rotating art exhibits, and permanent artworks throughout the airport.

PDX seeks to commission distinctive, site-specific, original public artwork for the $2 billion terminal redevelopment project. These two unique artwork locations have been identified for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) within the newly designed terminal. All public artwork locations in the new facility are identified on the attached Exhibit A. This is anticipated to be the final RFQ document released for art installations in the terminal redevelopment project.

A Selection Committee of community representatives, arts and culture professionals, and Port staff has been assembled to recommend artists or artist teams. Each piece of work shall reflect the essence of the region and create a memorable experience that passengers have come to expect from PDX.

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) will determine artist(s) eligibility to propose artwork for the specific locations described in this document.

PDX AIRPORT OVERVIEW

PDX serves as the unofficial welcome to the Pacific Northwest with nearly 20 million travelers a year passing through. Once the TCORE project is complete, in 2026, the facility will be capable of serving 35 million passengers. In addition to passengers, PDX supports a workforce of over 10,000 employees.

PDX operates primarily as an Origination and Destination (O&D) airport. Only 8% of passengers are connecting to other cities. The other 92% of travelers start or end their journey at PDX, and for all those passengers, the airport will be their first or last impression of the region.

PDX is largely a leisure airport, with a smaller percentage of business travelers. This means that most airport users are either nearby residents or are deliberately choosing to visit our region for vacation or the like, so both groups are particularly interested in a localized experience.

PORT OF PORTLAND PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

The PDX Art Program seeks to create an environment that embodies the unique character of the Pacific Northwest. PDX provides multiple venues for artists and community arts organizations seeking exposure for their works and collections. The program includes permanent art, temporary rotating exhibitions, an art gallery, and a microcinema that showcases short films by Oregon filmmakers. More information on the Art Program can be found on the PDXArt website.

PORT OF PORTLAND ART PROGRAM GOALS

Artists should keep in mind the goals of the Port of Portland art program:

  • Represent artists of diverse races, genders, geographic origins, ethnicities, and ways of being with the purpose of advancing fair and equitable inclusion
  • Incorporate a variety of artistic mediums/materials and aesthetics
  • Reflect the region’s creative and cultural wealth
  • Respond to the airport environment in consideration of designated architectural factors and features supporting the general character of the Port and PDX as described above
  • Artworks should be made of durable materials and easily maintained

PDX TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The redevelopment of the main terminal doubles the footprint of the terminal and invites passengers and employees to celebrate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with a design evoking a walk in the forest; with vast windows and skylights providing daylight, interior landscaping of living plants, and a monumentally scaled wood roof produced from locally sourced timber.

Overall, the project will grow, modernize, and beautify PDX, preparing it to meet the demands of a new generation of travelers. The upgrades include a 150-foot-wide building expansion that houses two new security checkpoints with increased capacity.

The main entrance and ticket lobby have been fully redesigned to replace the 1950’s original, integrating today’s travel technologies. The concourse connector lets visitors move between the two sides of the airport without passing through security twice. We’re also adding a new airline lounge, along with stunning artwork, lush greenery, and an impressive wood lattice roof.

The ticket lobby is now a bright and airy space with ample space for passengers to check in at their ticket counters while admiring the new works of art.

The pre-security concessions surround a large community gathering space with stadium-style seating, which all departing travelers will pass through. The gathering space will regularly host special events, celebrations, and entertainment.

The Concession Halls immediately after each security checkpoint will be reconstructed with 30-foot ceilings, expansive window views, tons of natural light, greenery at eye level, and a lineup of concessions designed to look like a city streetscape, complete with pergola-style canopies and sidewalk seating. To get a more concrete idea of what the new main terminal will look like, visit pdxnext.com, where you’ll see renderings and construction photos.

SOCIAL EQUITY POLICY

The Port of Portland’s Social Equity Policy promotes social equity, using a racial equity focus, with the purpose of advancing fair and equitable inclusion and creating the conditions in which all people can participate, prosper, and achieve equitable outcomes with respect to the Port’s employment, business, and services.

Cultural and racial equity will be considered throughout the process of selecting artists or artist teams, in terms of the demographics of the artists selected, the cultural communities served, and the diverse perspectives represented through the artwork. The Port encourages partnerships among artist/artist teams that reflect our region’s cultural heterogeneity.

ART SITES

The terminal redevelopment project has included eleven separate opportunities for artwork, each with different budgets dependent on the project’s size, location, and anticipated material and fabrication needs. The Selection Committee intends to select a different artist or artist team for each RFQ.

Two Mural Designs, Each by a Different Artist/Artist Team

Budget for Each Mural Design: Not to Exceed $15,000

Eligibility: Open to artists living in the service area of PDX. The PDX service area includes all counties in Oregon, as well as Southwest Washington counties: Cowlitz, Clark, Klickitat, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, and Yakima. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply.

RACC staff, Artist Selection Panelists, and Port of Portland employees or their immediate families are not eligible to apply.

This is an opportunity for two separate artists or artist teams to each create an original digital artwork or a 2D artwork translated into a high-quality digital file that will be custom-printed and installed as a large-scale mural to be displayed in the Exit Halls for one to three years. Each mural site is 59’ w x 11’ h.

The primary goals of this opportunity are for the art to:

  • Celebrate contemporary mural culture and local mural artists
  • Evoke a feeling of being on a city street
  • Promote pride of place, culture, and/or a sense of home
  • Be vibrant and iconic, providing wayfinding cues for travelers

The Exit Halls are located to the east of the post-security Concession Halls symmetrically on the north and south ends of the terminal building. These Halls are the last post-security area passengers will walk through before they meet friends, family, or other meeters/greeters, leave the terminal, or travel downstairs to baggage claim to pick up their luggage. Any exiting passenger will pass through the space, providing a great location for visibility of these art pieces. The look and feel in the Exit Halls is to be reminiscent of a city streetscape, including trees, seating, and in the future, may also provide a location for pop-up kiosk-type shops for local vendors and products. Art murals will be an added touch to the streetscape atmosphere. The murals will be the first cycle of two new rotating art exhibition locations post-security at PDX that will be refreshed with new murals every two to three years.

The commission will be awarded to two artists or artist teams, with a budget for each original 2D artwork not to exceed $15,000, inclusive of all artist design fees for the digital or 2D original artwork, professional digitization of original 2D artwork, and the delivery of a digital file. A separate budget managed by the Port of Portland will cover the production and installation of the mural in PhotoTex or another similar material, onsite at PDX. The expected lifespan of this artwork is approximately 3 years.

APPLYING FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY

In response to the RFQ, applicants will be asked to submit the following items through RACC Opportunity Portal. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to complete and submit materials by the application due date: 11:59pm (PST), Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Applications must include the following:

  1. Statement of interest. In 2000 or less characters and spaces:
    1. Explain why this project is of interest to you.
    2. Describe how your work/practice could address the site and primary goals for this project.
    3. Address how your experiences, artistic practice, or values connect to or align with the Port’s Social Equity Policy detailed above.
    4. Include any other comments that you think are important for the committee to know.
    5. Do not submit a project proposal for the commission at this time.
  2. Two-page résumé uploaded as a PDF that outlines professional accomplishment and includes two professional references (name, affiliated organization, email address and phone number) for both individual applicants and teams (2 total references per team). For team applications, include a 2-page résumé for each team member combined into one PDF.
  3. Up to 10 images of past work, with accompanying information about each image. These images are the primary way the quality of your work is judged. Provide the following information for each visual: title, year produced, dimensions, budget, medium, and a brief description. Do not embed label information into the jpeg image. Up to 2 videos may be included as part of the total 10 submitted visuals.
  4. Potential future opportunities. Mark the provided checkbox if you would like to be considered for additional future potential mural opportunities at this same site at PDX airport.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Selection Phase

During this phase, qualified applicants will be ranked by the Selection Committee on a 100-point system based on the following points distribution:

  • 30 points: Artistic vibrancy of submitted past work
  • Statement of interest to include:
    • 15 points: Artist’s interest in project
    • 15 points: Connection/Alignment to Port’s Social Equity Policy
  • 20 points: Ability to create impactful artwork for PDX Airport
  • 20 points: Meets the goals of Port of Portland’s art program

Proposal/Interview Phase

During this phase, applicants will be ranked by the Selection Committee on a 100-point system based on the following points distribution:

  • 50 points: Demonstrated artistic vibrancy and feasibility of the proposed concept
  • 25 points: Ability to create impactful artwork for PDX Airport
  • 25 points: Alignment of proposed concept with the primary goals of this art opportunity

Artistic vibrancy is defined as an artistic practice that:

  • Demonstrates integrity of process
  • Embodies excellence of craft and skills
  • Demonstrates imagination, distinctiveness, and originality
  • Contributes to artistic practice
  • Engages with the diversity and complexity of contemporary life
  • Is relevant in a local, national and global context

SELECTION COMMITTEE/PROCESS

Members of the Art Committee include artists, arts professionals, the project architect, Port staff and community members. Non-voting advisors to the panel include additional Port staff.

Evaluation of the applicants will be in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria listed above. The issuance of this RFQ and the receipt of applicants does not obligate the Port to award a contract. The Port may cancel this RFQ or reject any or all proposals in accordance with ORS 279B.100.

All questions relating to this RFQ must be posed through RACC’s online question form. Questions received fewer than five (5) business days prior to the deadline for receipt of submissions may not be considered. All questions and answers will be shared with all prospective submitting artists.

RACC and the Port reserve the right to make changes to the RFQ. Changes will be made by written addendum which will be issued to all prospective artists on RACC’s list of RFQ holders. An artist may amend or withdraw its proposal any time prior to the time and date established for proposal submission. Refer to Exhibit B for specific disclosures and protest rules associated with this RFQ.

Selection Phase

Prior to the selection phase, a subcommittee comprised of Selection Committee members will review all applicants and narrow the initial pool of RFQ applicants to no more than 50 artists/artist teams.

Proposal/Interview Phase

From these applicants selected by the subcommittee, the Selection Committee will choose up to 6 finalists for the interview phase. Finalists are expected to attend a site visit and orientation session with the Port of Portland. Each finalist/team will be paid a $1,500 honorarium to develop a proposal and will be reimbursed for travel expenses. Finalists will present their proposals in an interview format four to six weeks from the site visit with the entire Art Committee. The proposal shall include: art concept, description of materials, manner of execution, and proposed budget and timeline. At the interview visual representation of the proposal and material samples should be provided.

Following the presentations/interviews, the Art Committee will select two artists/teams who will enter into a Personal Services Contract with the Port of Portland and begin collaborating as needed with the design team of ZGF and the Port of Portland. Following approval of the final design by the Art Committee, the artist/team will begin fabrication. A sample contract is attached as Exhibit C.

WORKING PROJECT TIMELINE *

Information Session: Interested applicants are highly encouraged to watch and listen to the recorded information session. The session provides information about the physical sites including spatial renderings, an overview of the goals and selection process for the opportunity, and answers to frequently asked questions.

All questions relating to this RFQ must be posed through RACC’s online question form. Questions received fewer than five (5) business days prior to the deadline for receipt of submissions may not be considered. All questions and answers will be shared with all prospective submitting artists.

Application due date: 11:59pm (PST), Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Artist interviews and final selection: July-September 2025
Final design development: Fall 2025
Fabrication and digitization: Winter 2025-2026
Installation completion: Spring 2026

* Dates provided are estimates based upon current knowledge of preliminary project schedules and are only intended to assist artists in determining their own availability to participate. Above dates in no way represent final approved schedules and are subject to change through future iterations of design and construction phases.

RFQ PDF

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

East County Library Elevator Bays Artworks

Written by

Rendering of the south lobby of the new East County Library. Image provided by Holst Architecture.

In partnership with Multnomah County Library (MCL), the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) invites artists/artist teams living in the Portland metropolitan region to submit qualifications for multiple site-specific digital designs for 2-dimensional interior artworks in the newly constructed East County Library as part of the Library Capital Building Projects. The budget available for the commission comes from Multnomah County’s Percent for Art Program and is up to $25,000 – $30,000. Submissions are due by Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 11:59pm PDT.

Art Opportunity

One artist/artist team will be selected to create digital designs that will be scaled and installed as two-dimensional artworks on five site-specific 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. This is an opportunity for studio artists, illustrators/comic book artists and/or graphic designers interested in scaling up their work.

Below you can find each of the sites organized by building floor, wall dimensions, renderings of the finished sites, and architectural plans.

PARKING GARAGE
1. Long Wall

  • (no elevators):
  • 26’9”L x 8-10’H

2. Elevator Wall

  • (2 elevators):
  • 11’10”L x 8-10’H
1ST FLOOR
3. Elevator Wall

  • (2 elevators):
  • 26’3”L x 8-10’H
2ND FLOOR
 4. Elevator Wall

  • (2 elevators):
  • 17’3”L x 8-10’H
ROOFTOP DECK
 5. Elevator Wall

  • (1 elevator):
  • 8’4”L x 8-10’H

Each of the artworks’ designs will be digitally printed on a vinyl-like substrate that will be adhered to the walls and elevators, allowing for custom graphics, a smooth finish and durability. The artist/artist team is expected to provide a high-resolution digital file for printing as a final deliverable. The artist/artist team is not required to have experience in digitizing their work, but it is highly desirable. If needed, RACC can support with meeting this technical criteria. RACC will coordinate fabrication and installation of the wallcovering with the contractor, and the artist/artist team will be invited to review samples, installation drawings and the final install.

Library staff, patrons and community members will benefit from close interaction with the artwork as they enter and navigate through the building. The artwork will be installed at heights accessible to the general public, where many people will be able to reach and touch it, including children. Therefore it should be assumed that people will touch the artwork over time. However, the wallcovering substrate is easily cleanable, has a semi-long lifespan and can be reprinted if damaged.

The selected artist/artist team must be able to create, complete and deliver the digital files of their artwork designs by October 2025.

Artwork Goals and Qualities

The artwork’s design should reflect and compliment the natural and organic elements of the building’s design which is informed through the use of wood and earth tones on both the interior and exterior and the vast amount of windows which allow natural light into the library. Since the allocated sites are on several floors of the building, there is an opportunity for the artwork to have a storytelling quality, threading themes, motifs and narratives into a cohesive work. The artwork should be memorable, colorful, and engaging since these areas of the building will be the some of the most frequented by members of the community, including folks who may have disabilities, use mobility devices, strollers or anything else that may require frequent use of the elevator to navigate the building.

Another main goal for the artwork is to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity and richness of cultures that will utilize the building. Currently, 40 percent of the county’s population lives east of I-205, and East County is one of the most diverse areas of the region. To appeal to the diverse groups of users at this significant location, the artwork should be meaningful and dynamic. Some key approaches in accomplishing this is to align with the library’s programming and be relevant to the library’s users and communities; generate art that connects to contemporary and/or traditional art-making practices; and stimulate and engage the senses for passersby.

We are seeking artwork that considers culturally specific color palettes, shapes, patterns, symbols and storytelling inspired by the various communities served by East County Library. Innovatively connecting the vast array of community stories and experiences together is desired. Further collective visioning through engagement with the community will likely inspire even more creative suggestions.

Community Engagement

Community engagement has been a central component to this project. The broader community that will be served by the library were invited to participate in the building’s design process by contributing their experiences and ideas through open houses, tabling events, leave-behind boards, and community design advocate conversations. The selected artist/artist team will have access to the community engagement report that was created from these sessions to ensure a better understanding of the local communities and their priorities.

We are seeking an artist/artist team who welcomes and reflects the diverse communities that are served by East County Library within their process and work. Genuine understanding and demonstration of community engagement practices in existing artistic practice, past work and/or other key areas of experience where skillsets may be transferable, such as teaching, mentorship, community organizing, care work and other non-typical/non-traditional examples of embedding community into process and practice, are desired.

Prior to finalizing a design, the selected artist/artist team will plan and facilitate at least two engagement sessions to meet with community stakeholders to gather information and insight into the library, community and area. The artist(s) is expected to welcome and encourage community participation within the design phase, seeking feedback, input and inspiration from key stakeholders to ensure the final artwork meets the intended goals as outlined above, specifically community representation. The project team is able to work with neighboring community partners to provide venues to host such community engagement events. Interpretation, translation and other access services can be made available, if needed, and coordinated through MCL and/or RACC, if enough time is given in advance.

Budget

The selected artist/artist team will receive up to $25,000 – $30,000 for this opportunity to create an artwork design that will be delivered as a digital file. This fee is inclusive of the following expenses; artist fees, design development, digitization of artwork designs, community engagement and communication/coordination with the design team, construction team and third-party contractors who will help to print and install the artwork.

About East County Library

Located in Gresham, the 95,000 sf building will be located at the corner of two busy thoroughfares, NW Division and NW Eastman Pkwy, with the Gresham City Hall TriMet Max stop north of the site that also includes a civic space for farmer’s markets and public events. Designed by Holst Architecture and PLACE Architecture, the new library will serve as a transformative space for community members. Being the second largest library in the county, this site will provide much needed services and access to library resources for a large swath of the region’s communities. The mass timber and symmetrical building will consist of four floors that include an auditorium, flex rooms, creative learning spaces, child, teen and learning areas, gathering spaces, rooftop deck, a collection of over 200,000 library materials, and a parking garage on the bottom floor.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to artists/artist teams based in the Portland metropolitan area (including Washington, Clackamas, Multnomah and Clark Counties). Those with significant current or past connections, or those with interest and ability to create meaningful connections, to East County Library and the surrounding East Portland neighborhoods and as well as neighboring cities are preferred. Artists who have an interest in and/or experience with community engagement processes, including social practice, which inform their approach and art practice are strongly encouraged to participate. Strong consideration will be given to artists who have experience working with youth and residents from historically underrepresented communities to develop their artwork including communities of color as well as immigrant and refugee communities.

MCL and RACC are committed to reflecting the cultural richness of our city by promoting opportunities for emerging and historically underrepresented artists. Artists/artist teams representing communities of color are strongly encouraged to participate. 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.

Selection Process

At this time, the selection process will be entirely virtual. A selection panel composed of MCL representatives, project team members, local artists, and community members will review artists’ submissions and choose more than one finalist to invite to  interview for the commission.

Overall, the purpose of the interview will be to allow the artist(s) and the panel to meet each other and engage in a mutually beneficial and informative conversation. It’s an opportunity for the artist(s) to better understand the context of the project and the intentions the selection panel has for the final art piece. Both parties will be given the chance to ask questions and determine best alignment and artist selection for the project. After the interviews are completed, the selection panel will choose a final artist/artist team to award the public art opportunity to. Criteria for selecting semifinalists for interviews are (1) quality of past work as demonstrated in submitted images; (2) ability  and interest in creating site-specific artwork; (3) how past artwork has fit one or more of the general goals described above through demonstrated processes and/or final design.

(Note: the selection panel reserves the right to select an artist who does not directly apply to this call, if appropriate. Likewise, the panel 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.)

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 https://racc.org/apply. (If you are first-time user, learn how to create an account here). If you are applying as a team, please assign one person to apply and be the point of contact on behalf of the team. Submissions due Wednesday, April 16 2025 at 11:59pm PDT

Application Materials

  • Artist bio/resume. 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 bio/resume for all team members no more than 6 pages.
  • Statement of interest. Based on the information given, please address the following:
    • Your interest in this project
      • Why this project, its focus, and themes are of interest to you
      • Why you would be a good match for this project
      • How do you foresee your work connecting to the mission and values of the project
    • Describe your capacity and/or experience to complete the scope of work
    • If you are applying as a team, describe your individual roles on the team and how you anticipate working together
      • There are two options in submitting these responses:
        • Written Statement: 3000 characters or less
        • Oral Statement: Upload a video/voice recording no longer than 2 minutes
  • Up to 8 past work samples. These work samples are the primary way the quality of your work will be judged. Provide up to two images, no larger than 5MB each, for each work sample. For each image, please provide title, media, dimensions, year completed, budget and location. 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. Please note that after you click “Submit,” your application is final and no further edits can be made.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us throughout the process.

Questions

We are here to support and assist you! If you have questions about the overall opportunity or have any needs for assistance please email project manager, Salvador Mayoral IV, at smayoral@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.

We strongly encourage you to submit your application with enough time for any questions to be answered prior to when submissions are due as inquiries received towards the end of that period may not be responded to. We appreciate your understanding and consideration of our capacity.

Interpretation services are available, please email info@racc.org.

Servicio de interpretación disponible

Предоставляются услуги переводчика

Có dịch vụ thông

提供口译服务

Info Session

An info session for the opportunity was recorded. You can view that recording here.

Important Dates 

March 27, 2025 RFQ launch
April 16, 2025 Applications due
Late April-Early June 2025 Panel review and artist selection (including interviews)
June-August 2025 Design Phase (including community engagement)
September-October 2025 Fabrication
November-December 2025 Artwork complete and installed

 

Two Artists Chosen to Create Large-Scale, 2D Public Artworks for Portland International Airport’s Main Terminal

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Left: Portrait of Dyani White Hawk courtesy of the artist / Copyright Dyani White Hawk. Right: Portrait of Kate Newby ©Atsushi Nakamichi, Nacása & Partners Inc./ Courtesy of Fondation d’entreprise Hermès

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 25, 2025

Portland, OR — In collaboration with the Port of Portland, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is proud to announce that Dyani White Hawk and Kate Newby have been chosen to create large-scale, 2D public art works for Portland International Airport (PDX), anticipated to be installed in late 2025 and debut to the public in 2026. Newby and White Hawk were selected through a competitive process by the PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) Public Art Committee from an applicant pool of over 110 artists and artist teams from across the United States.

The renovation of PDX’s new 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.. White Hawk and Newby’s artworks are two of several exciting new public art projects RACC is managing during the airport’s redevelopment.

The unique works will be located on walls along the north and south exit routes for travelers, where greeters wait after security, with each spanning over 50-feet long. Not only will they provide natural wayfinding cues for travelers, but the works will also be an impactful, beautiful welcome to PDX for locals and visitors alike.

“The selection of artists Dyani White Hawk and Kate Newby reflects our commitment to curating impactful public art—works that resonate with our region’s landscapes, histories, and communities,” said Kristin Law Calhoun, Director of Partnerships and Programs at the Regional Arts & Culture Council. “Guiding a committee of artists, community members, and Port employees through this thoughtful selection process reinforced the power of collaborative decision-making in shaping public spaces. These works will create a uniquely  PDX experience as enduring landmarks that will welcome and inspire visitors and residents alike.”

“We are honored to have work from Kate and Dyani as part of the airport’s permanent collection, which aims to celebrate everyone’s life experiences, voices, and cultures,” said Wendy Given, Art Program Manager at the Port of Portland. “The proposals from each artist retain their unique voices, are strongly tied to the Pacific Northwest region and our community, and will further enrich PDX’s forest-inspired design.”

About the Artists and Artworks

Dyani White Hawk (Sičáŋǧu Lakota) is a visual artist based in Minneapolis, MN. White Hawk earned a MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2011) and BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM (2008). Her artistic work is multidisciplinary, drawing from her cross-cultural experiences as a woman of Sičangu Lakota and European American ancestry raised within Native and urban American communities.

Support for White Hawk’s work includes a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Creative Capital grant, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship along with many others. White Hawk’s work is in the collections of the Guggenheim Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art,  among other public and private collections. She is represented by Bockley Gallery in Minneapolis, MN.

White Hawk’s 55-foot long symmetrical glass and natural stone mosaic draws on the materiality of beading and weaving traditions as well as her own abstract painting practice to realize an abstracted view of the majestic silhouette of Mt. Hood reflected and situated in day and night cycles. The  artwork incorporates rich colors, lines, and patterns that prioritize Indigenous practices of abstraction within contemporary artistic expression.

Grounded in White Hawk’s identity as a Lakota woman and artist, the piece honors the aesthetic traditions of her own lineage while also honoring the land in which the work is situated. By drawing on motifs, patterns, and symbolism found within artistic languages of tribes indigenous to the Oregon region that are akin to the  aesthetics of her own lineage, she is able to speak to multiple and intersecting histories of Indigenous abstraction.

Kate Newby (b. 1979, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand; based in San Antonio, TX) is a sculptor known for her site-responsive installations, architectural interventions, and material-driven explorations. Working primarily with glass, ceramics, and found materials, Newby engages with space’s physical and atmospheric qualities, creating sculptures that emerge from sustained engagement with a place. Her work incorporates elements reflecting a site’s social and environmental rhythms—wind, light, rain, and human and non-human activity traces.

Newby has had solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney; Klosterruine, Berlin; and the Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, among others. She has participated in group exhibitions at venues including Mori Art Museum, Tokyo,  Blaffer Art Museum, Houston, and the Palais de Tokyo, Paris.  In 2018 she was included in the 21st Biennale of Sydney and currently has work in the Sharjah Biennial 16.

Kate has participated in numerous residencies, including The Chinati Foundation Artist in Residence in Marfa, TX; Artpace in San Antonio, TX; and Fogo Island Arts in Newfoundland. She won the Walters Prize, New Zealand’s most significant contemporary art award in 2012 and in 2019, she received a Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptors Grant.

“The Sound of Trees,” is a 76 foot long mural that evokes Oregon’s forested landscape through a richly textured surface of glazed ceramic tiles. The work will conjure up a distinct color palette drawn from the state’s diverse vegetation with a focus on the season of fall.

At a distance, The Sound of Trees will give the impression of a large-scale abstract landscape. Textures and shapes from Oregon’s native foliage, impressed and incised into the clay, will create a sensory touchstone for PDX visitors. The work connects seamlessly with the interior landscaping and design of the new PDX Terminal, while creating a direct connection between airport visitors and Oregon’s majestic forests.

Community Engagement 

As part of The Sound of Trees, community members are invited to participate in urban foraging workshops led by Kate Newby in partnership with the Regional Arts & Culture Council and Portland Institute for Contemporary Art. Participants will collect discarded glass, which will be embedded into clay and fired, becoming a permanent part of the mural. Interested in learning more? Sign up to be notified about the urban foraging opportunities.

In addition, Newby is also collaborating with students at The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science. Through art and science curriculum, students will imprint mural tiles with natural elements gathered from the local environment, integrating hands-on fieldwork with classroom learning.

Find additional images of the artists’ work here

Contact Information

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.

Apply Now for Professional Development Grant!

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The Regional Arts & Culture Council is excited to announce a new grant program to support professional development! This program assists artists or arts administrators by offsetting expenses related to specific, unique opportunities with the potential to significantly impact professional development.

An opportunity may be one of many things, but the proposal must clearly demonstrate how the activity will benefit the applicant long-term.

RACC is providing the Professional Development Grant Program in partnership with the estate of Harriet Beal Cormack.

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. Funding from the Cormack estate will be increased with investments of public funds from Multnomah County and Washington County.

Unlike grant programs that support the creation of new artwork, this program does not ask panelists to critique the applicant’s previous artistic projects with work samples. Instead, reviewers must determine from the application whether the applicant has made the case that the opportunity is impactful, timely, and will advance their career.

An applicant may request any amount up to $2,000. Due to the competitive nature of this grant program, funded applicants may receive less than the requested amount.

Applications for this grant must target activities happening only between July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Funded activities must take place within this timeframe. When applying for a RACC Professional Development Grant, you may submit only one application for consideration.

Please find more information, including an FAQ, info sessions and a link to apply here.

Beaverton High School Interior Public Art Opportunity

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Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

RFQ available in English and Spanish. If you need this document in another language, please contact RACC for translation services.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Project Overview

In partnership with the Beaverton School District and BRIC Architecture, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) invites artists/artist teams to submit qualifications for multiple interior site-specific public artworks at the newly constructed Beaverton High School in Beaverton, Oregon.

  • Overall Art Project Budget: [$25,000] (funded by Beaverton School District 2022 Bond; BHS Rebuild)
  • Application Deadline: April 6, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST

About Beaverton High School

The new Beaverton High School, located at 13000 SW 2nd St in Beaverton, OR, will serve up to 1,500 students in a state-of-the-art facility designed to be inclusive, welcoming, and culturally reflective. This newly designed building project prioritizes student and community voices, ensuring the school environment supports learning and connection. The new building is scheduled for completion in Fall 2026.

Art Opportunity

Artists/artist teams are invited to create 7 site-specific digital artworks or artworks delivered as digital files that reflect the themes of belonging, diversity, and student representation at Beaverton High School, a student body made of various cultures. The artworks will be located in highly visible areas of the school, known as “Jewel” spaces, which are locations in the building designed to highlight these different cultures and allow communities to be represented who don’t often see themselves in these spaces, ultimately, enhancing the student body experience. Final medium will be a vinyl application installed on walls or glass.

(Please review the attached Design Summary included as Exhibit A for details on the “Jewel”areas.)

Artwork Goals and Qualities

The selected artworks should:

  • Celebrate diversity and cultural representation.
  • Reflect the student body and Beaverton’s diverse community.
  • Be visually engaging, with layered meaning that resonates from a distance and up close.
  • Be site-specific, complementing the architectural and environmental elements of the school.

Seven (7) Art Opportunities

Below are the seven separate art opportunities, some with preselected themes, along with size, location, and respective individual budgets. All glass vinyl will need to have some level of transparency incorporated into the final design (opaque or completely clear). To ensure we have a myriad of styles and artistic voices represented, up to seven different artists/artist teams may be selected for the different sites.

(Please refer to Exhibit B for details on each location.)

Artist Opportunity Budget

Listed below are the various opportunities–each one comes with its own budget, location, size, recommended theme, the reference page to find a visual in the ‘Exhibit B’ document followed by the budget. The budget listed below covers artist fees, including time, labor and engagement with the school’s Art Advisory Committee to produce the digital file.

Grand Stair Wall Mural
29’W x 40’H Celebration & Family,
Culture and
Community		 Exhibit B,
Sec. a., pg 1		 $11,000
Mega Flex Wall Mural
Needs to be scaled to be legible from the street while providing interest up close as well.
26’W x 27’H Empowerment Exhibit B,
Sec. b., pg 2		 $1,000
Multicultural Glass Vinyl
29’W x 9’H Family, Culture and
Community		 Exhibit B,
Sec. c., pg 3		 $1,000
Mega Flex Glass Vinyls
Rounds a corner, forms an ‘L.’
8’W X 7’H
12’W x 7’H		 ***see note below Exhibit B,
Sec. d., pg 4		 $1,000
Flex Spaces Glass Vinyls (6 Flex space locations)
(4) 28’Wx7’H
(1) 20’Wx7’H
(1) 24’Wx7’H		 ***see note below Exhibit B,
Sec. e., pg 5		 $2,500
Library & CAD Lab Glass Vinyls
Library
24’W x 10‘H
5’W x 10’H
CAD
24’W x 7’H		 Nature and Local Exhibit B,
Sec. F., pgs 6-7		 $1,000
Future You Glass Vinyl
18’W x 7’H Empowerment, many
pathways to success,
career and college		 Exhibit B,
Sec. h., pg 8		 $500

***These spaces do not have prescribed themes; rather, they serve as special gathering areas for students, either as breakout spaces during class or in their free time. Artists should align their designs with the overarching goal and qualities rather than adhering to a specific theme. However, designs should consider the unique characteristics of the installation surface, particularly the interplay of transparency and opacity, given that the artworks will be mounted on glass.

Engagement with the Art Advisory Committee

We are seeking an artist/artist team who welcomes and reflects the diverse communities that are served by the school within their process and work. The artist/artist team will work with the Art Advisory Committee (comprised of students, staff members, and community artists) to develop and refine the final design of the art pieces.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to artists/artist teams based in Oregon and Washington. If applying as a team, at least one member must meet the residence eligibility requirement. Those with significant current or past connections, or those with interest and ability to create meaningful connections, to Beaverton, Washington County and communities served by the school are preferred. Applicants who have an interest in and/or experience with community engagement processes, including social practice, which inform their approach and art practice are strongly encouraged to apply. Strong consideration will be given to artists who have experience working with youth and residents from historically underrepresented communities to develop their artwork including communities of color, LGBTQIA+ as well as immigrant and refugee communities.

Beaverton School District, BRIC and RACC are committed to reflecting the cultural richness of our city by promoting opportunities for emerging and historically underrepresented artists. Artists/artist teams representing communities of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Selection Process

Round One: RFQ

An artist selection panel consisting of school representatives, community members, and art professionals will review submissions based on:

  1. Quality of past work
  2. Artistic approach
  3. References
  4. Connection to theme

Based on the artist selection panel’s scores, the panel will meet to create a shortlist of artists who will be advanced onto Round Two: Request for Proposals (RFP)

Round Two: RFP

Semi-finalists from Round One will be invited to Round Two where they will receive a design stipend for their conceptual proposal.

Artists will submit the following as part of their conceptual proposal materials:

  1. Initial sketches/drawings of design concept for the sites you are applying for
  2. Conceptual information that includes:
    1. Inspiration behind the design such as: imagery, narrative, symbols, and colors
    2. If applicable to your design, research process specific to this site and community
    3. Ability to deliver a digital file of the design

Top scoring RFP submissions will be invited to participate in Round Three: Presentations and Conversation with the Artist Selection Panel.

Round Three: Presentation and Conversation

Finalists will have the opportunity to present their initial design proposal to the Artist Selection Panel, further discussing their practice and qualifications and engaging in a mutually beneficial and informative conversation.

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 https://racc.org/apply. (If you are a first-time user, learn how to create an account here). If you are applying as a team, please assign one person to apply and be the point of contact on behalf of the team. Submissions due Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 11:59pm PDT.

Required materials include:

  • Artist Bio/Resume Upload a PDF of no more than 2 pages that outlines your creative activities and artistic accomplishments. If applying as a team, submit one PDF that includes a bio/resume for all team members no more than 6 pages.
  • Statement of Interest Two (2) options in submitting your responses:
    • Written Statement: 3000 characters or less
    • Oral Statement: Upload a video/voice recording no longer than 2 minutes
      • Items to Include
      • Your interest in this opportunity
        • Include demonstrated experience to complete a scope of work
        • Ability to deliver final design in an appropriate digital format.
      • Elements and themes you are most interested in
      • Why you value community engagement in your artistic process
        • Include demonstrated successful incorporation of community vision, values and voices into a project
      • If applying as a team, describe your individual roles on the team and how you anticipate working together.
  • Work Samples (up to 8 images with descriptions)
    Provide up to 2 images, no larger than 5MB each, for each past work sample. For each image, please provide title, artist name, media, dimensions, year completed, budget and location. Conceptual information is desirable but not required.
  • References Provide 2 references for past projects or clients. Please include name, email and/or phone number, title, organization/business and brief sentence or two how you know them and why they’re a reference.

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. Please note that after you click “Submit,” your application is final and no further edits can be made. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Questions & Support

For questions regarding the RFQ or application process, contact Mario Mesquita, Project Manager and Director of Advocacy & Engagement at mmesquita@racc.org. If you need access to a computer or translation services, please reach out in advance.

Important Dates

  • RFQ Release: March 14, 2025
  • Application Deadline: April 6, 2025
  • Semi-finalist Selections: April 25, 2025
  • Design Submissions Deadline: May 16, 2025
  • Final Design Announcements: June 13, 2025