RACC Blog

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.

Apply Now to Be a Community Reviewer for the Portland Arts Project Grants FY2026 Cycle

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RACC is currently accepting applications from individuals interested in serving as a Community Panel Reviewer for the Portland Arts Project Grant program in fall 2025. This grant program is an opportunity for artists and organizations to apply to support artistic projects, including programming, presentations, events, or artistic development that results in sharing a learning or activity with the public.

Community Reviewers will perform and complete their work between October and December 2025 and selected participants will serve on 1-3 grant panels. Reviewers receive a stipend of $300-$450 per panel on which they serve.

Reviewers should be practicing artists and/or have experience facilitating or curating arts programming or managing an arts-based business. Community members who have not recently or have never served on a RACC panel are strongly encouraged to apply!

Please note: Community Panel Reviewers are not eligible to apply for their own Portland Arts Project Grant while participating as a reviewer; however, past recipients of RACC grants, up to and including the most recent cycle of Portland Arts Project Grant and Arts3C, are eligible to participate.

Forms submitted by September 3, 2025 will be given priority. Apply Here!

Join Our Team! RACC is Hiring a Development Director

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POSITION: Development Director
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
SALARY RANGE: $95,000-$115,000 annually
LOCATION: Portland, OR (Hybrid)

Who We Are

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is at a transformational moment in its 30-year history. Long recognized as the designated arts council for Portland and Multnomah County, RACC has evolved into a dynamic steward of public art, a provider of professional development for artists and arts organizations, and a leading advocate for equitable arts policy and investment across the region.

As public funding structures and political landscapes shift, RACC is building a new, strategic, entrepreneurial approach to revenue generation, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement. We are expanding our public presence, deepening our relationships, and shaping a bold new identity that reflects the role of arts and culture in a thriving, just, and vibrant region.

The Opportunity

RACC is hiring its first Development Director to lead the creation of a comprehensive, sustainable fundraising program. Working closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership, the Development Director will be charged with launching and growing a culture of philanthropy at RACC—setting vision, building infrastructure, and cultivating deep relationships with funders, donors, and partners.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to build something new within a well-established organization with a strong regional presence and a powerful story to tell. If you are a builder, a strategic fundraiser, and a believer in the power of arts and culture to transform communities, we want to meet you.

Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Program Development

  • Design and implement a comprehensive development strategy that includes individual giving, major gifts, grant writing, corporate sponsorships, and earned revenue partnerships.
  • Build internal fundraising infrastructure, including tools, systems, and processes for donor management and gift tracking.
  • Set and achieve annual and long-term fundraising goals in alignment with organizational priorities.

Donor & Funder Engagement

  • Cultivate and steward relationships with individual donors, institutional funders, and government partners.
  • Represent RACC at events and in meetings with key stakeholders.
  • Work closely with the Executive Director and Board to activate networks and strengthen relationships with regional philanthropic leaders.

Communications & Storytelling

  • Collaborate with the communications and public engagement team to craft compelling fundraising messaging that reflects RACC’s evolving identity.
  • Translate RACC’s programs, values, and community impact into narratives that resonate with donors and inspire investment.

Grants & Institutional Giving

  • Oversee the grant writing process, including identifying opportunities, managing deadlines, and ensuring alignment with RACC’s values and voice.
  • Work across departments to gather content and track grant outcomes, compliance and stewardship

Internal Collaboration & Culture-Building

  • Partner with staff leadership and board of directors to foster an organization-wide culture of philanthropy.
  • Work alongside RACC’s program teams to identify revenue-generating partnerships and sponsorship opportunities.
  • Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director on organizational sustainability and growth.

Qualifications

  • At least 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a track record of securing individual and institutional gifts.
  • Strategic, entrepreneurial thinker with experience launching or significantly expanding a fundraising program.
  • Familiarity with the Portland Metro philanthropic and civic ecosystem is strongly preferred.
  • Exceptional storytelling, writing, and relationship-building skills.
  • Experience working with or within public agencies, advocacy organizations, or arts and culture nonprofits is a plus.
  • Cultural competence, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to equity and inclusion.

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and benefits package
  • Exceptional employer-sponsored healthcare coverage
  • Paid time off, paid holidays, and flexible scheduling
  • Hybrid work environment with downtown Portland office space
  • Opportunity to shape a high-impact development program from the ground up

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and a cover letter outlining your interest here. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by September 1, 2025.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information

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!