RACC Blog

RACC announces final round of General Operating Support grants

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PORTLAND, ORE — The Regional Arts & Culture Council has awarded its final round of General Operating Support grants for the fiscal year ending June 30. RACC distributes these funds three times per year, after organizations submit comprehensive annual reports to RACC.

To qualify for General Operating Support, nonprofit arts organizations must demonstrate artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility, have an annual budget of at least $75,000, and be based in Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington Counties. Additional eligibility criteria are described at https://racc.org/grants/general-operating-support-grants.

A total of $2,933,855 has been distributed this fiscal year as unrestricted support to 48 different arts organizations, including 22 organizations receiving $546,046 this cycle. The arts organizations receiving general operating support in 2015-16 are:

Artist Repertory Theatre, $81,785

Bag & Baggage Productions, $10,000

Blue Sky Gallery, $12,367

*Bodyvox, $33,247

Broadway Rose Theatre Company, $23,000

Cappella Romana, Inc., $14,558

*Chamber Music Northwest, $46,619

*Children’s Healing Art Project, $14,135

*Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, $14,615

*Echo Theater Company, $16,148

*Ethos Music Center, $31,101

Friends of Chamber Music, $19,996

*Hand2Mouth, $8,000

Hollywood Theatre, $45,056

*Imago Theatre, $16,305

*Independent Publishing Resource Center, $11,118

Lakewood Center for the Arts, $21,000

Literary Arts, Inc., $52,929

*Live Wire! Radio, $16,033

Metropolitan Youth Symphony, $20,762

Miracle Theatre Group, $22,125

Northwest Children’s Theatre, $61,495

Northwest Dance Project, $40,216

*NW Documentary Arts & Media, $8,000

Oregon Ballet Theatre, $163,663

*Oregon Children’s Theatre, $83,292

Oregon Symphony Association, $502,394

*PDX Jazz, $18,093

Pendulum Aerial Arts, $8,256

PHAME, $14,383

Playwrite, Inc., $10,581

Portland Art Museum/Northwest Film Center, $608,805

Portland Baroque Orchestra, $30,237

Portland Center Stage, $281,149

*Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, $13,857

*Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, $15,460

*Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, $49,320

Portland Opera, $267,092

*Portland Piano International, $20,065

Portland Youth Philharmonic, $25,030

*Profile Theatre Project, $18,041

The Portland Ballet, $25,376

The Third Angle New Music, $8,000

*Third Rail Repertory Theatre, $30,684

*triangle productions, $13,654

White Bird, $49,585

*Write Around Portland, $14,074

*Young Audiences of Oregon, $54,185

(*) denotes organizations awarded RACC support on June 22. All other organizations received their grant awards earlier this year.

RACC General Operating Support Grants are funded by the City of Portland general fund ($1,054,869) and Arts Education & Access Fund (or “arts tax”) ($1,828,686), plus Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties ($104,300 combined). In addition, RACC will allocate proceeds from its 2015-16 Work for Art campaign to these General Operating Support organizations in the fall.

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

Yelena Roslaya brings “Visual Sound” to the Portland Building, July 5 – August 5

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PORTLAND, ORE – Multimedia artist Yelena Roslaya works to represent sound visually. “The idea of visually displaying sound is inspired by my experience with hearing-motion synesthesia, which occurs when one sense triggers another…personally it happens whenever I see implied motion or energy. I want to share this experience with viewers through my installation at the Portland Building and hear their response.”

Roslaya’s first step in this process was the recording of everyday sounds that occur in the Portland Building—people opening doors, conversing with each other, or simply walking down a hallway. Using FL Studio software, those recordings were then translated into graphic wave images which will be displayed in front of a set of three-dimensional forms, or “sound wave sculptures,” inspired by the wave shapes. These large scale ceramic sculptures draw on the Udu drum forms Roslaya has explored in previous work. Even the colors of the glazes on the sculptures will be determined by the corresponding sound’s “color noise” spectrum—violet noise, white noise, red noise, etc. To complete the full experience for the visitor, each of the sculptures will also include a mp3 device that will playback its original source material.

About the artist: Yelena Roslaya is a graduate student at Oregon College of Arts Craft in Portland where she is the Studio Assistant for both the Ceramics and Drawing/Painting Departments. Her work is inspired by the way humans perceive and process sound. Roslaya lives in Battle Ground, Washington, and has shown at multiple venues in both Oregon and Washington.

About the Installation Space:  Each year the Portland Building Installation Space series reserves several exhibition opportunities for students engaged in creative study at the university level. The format and presentation requirements for the “student” installations are identical to those for established professional artists. The Regional Arts & Culture Council created this separate eligibility category to help introduce emerging talents to the world of public art.

Viewing Hours & Location: The Portland Building is located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland and is open 8 am to 5 pm, Monday – Friday. Visual Sound opens July 5 and runs through August 5, 2016.

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

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

Regional Arts & Culture Council elects new board members and officers

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PORTLAND, ORE – The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) board of directors has elected Mike Golub board chair for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016. Mike is the President of Business for the Portland Timbers and has more than 25 years of experience in professional sports marketing and management, including leadership positions with Nike, the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Rangers and the National Basketball Association. For the past two years Mike has co-chaired RACC’s annual Work for Art campaign. He also serves on the board of the Portland Business Alliance, Children’s Cancer Association, Oregon Sports Authority and the Oregon Cultural Trust.

Phillip T. Hillaire has been re-elected vice chair. Hillaire is a member of the Lummi Tribe. He is involved in protecting tribal sovereignty, cultures, arts and traditions. He has coordinated fundraising events for Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, and planned conferences and handled communications for the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians.

Eileen L. Day has been re-elected treasurer. She became a CPA in 1997, and has experience in financial reporting, development and analyses of key performance indicators for finance and operations, budgeting and forecasting. In 2003 she joined Portland Center Stage as the Finance Director. In 2005, she joined Holmes & Company and has been the audit partner since 2007.

Steve Rosenbaum has been elected secretary. Steve is an independent marketing consultant and the founder of Pop Art, a digital marketing agency. He believes that arts education is critical to the innovation economy, and has served on the boards of City Club of Portland, the Software Association of Oregon, Tech America Oregon, Chess for Success and the Oregon Bus Project.

Other continuing RACC Board members include Nik Blosser, Verlea G. Briggs, Katy A. Brooks, Robert Bucker, Raymond C. Cheung, CPA, Representative Lew Frederick, Debbie Glaze, Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Gonzalez, Angela Hult, Dana Ingram, Susheela Jayapal, David R. Lofland, Jr., Linda McGeady, Brenda L. Meltebeke, Joanna Priestley and Shyla M. Spicer.

In addition, four new members have been elected to the RACC board:

  • Parker Lee is president of the design consultancy Compass52, and co-author of The Art of Opportunity. He is a veteran of the technology, entertainment and sports marketing industries. Most recently, Lee was president and executive vice president of business development at XPLANE. He also co-chairs RACC’s Business Committee for the Arts.
  • Anita Menon is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Anjali School of Dance. She is recognized as one of the leading exponents of Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form originating in Southern India. Anita has directed theatrical productions here in Oregon that are Indian adaptations of Classical Western plays by Shakespeare and Agatha Christie.
  • Mitchell Nieman is the Assistant to the City Manager in Milwaukie, Oregon. He liaises the city’s arts committee and manages public affairs, communications, and neighborhood services departments. He has experience managing public and private capital and redevelopment projects and bringing together diverse groups of stakeholders and underrepresented community members.
  • Anita Yap is the founding partner of the MultiCultural Collaborative, a partnership of professionals of color providing consulting services for equity, inclusion and diversity services for non-profits and governments. Her team focuses on authentic community engagement with culturally specific communities, urban design, equity policy, facilitation, strategic planning and organizational development.

Board and staff profiles are available online at http://www.racc.org/about/staff-board.

Eric Hormel and Joe Krumm rotate off the RACC Board on June 30, 2016. RACC greatly appreciates their long and committed service to the organization and the local arts community.

parker-lee600x654 AnitaMenon600x652 AnitaYap_600x651

New RACC board members (from left) Parker Lee, Anita Menon, and Anita Yap.

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

RACC seeks submissions for the “Visual Chronicle of Portland”

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PORTLAND, ORE — The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is seeking works on paper—prints, drawings, paintings on paper and photographs—to purchase for the Visual Chronicle of Portland collection. Deadline for submissions is Monday, July 25, 2016.

The Visual Chronicle of Portland is a city-owned collection of original works on paper that portray artists’ perceptions of what makes Portland, Oregon, unique. Since its inception in 1985, the Chronicle has grown to 330 works by nearly 200 different artists. Works are displayed in publicly accessible spaces in City of Portland and Multnomah County buildings.

The Chronicle reflects a diversity of populations, artistic disciplines and points of view. The collection can be viewed as a timepiece that provides a visual narrative of greater Portland, and is meant to reveal our city’s distinctive and diverse personality as seen and interpreted by artists who are intimately familiar with the region. The Visual Chronicle represents a living archive, and RACC is committed to engaging and expanding the communities of artists and the range of artistic and cultural expression that it represents.

For more information and to view images and details of the entire collection, visit http://bit.ly/visualchronicle

This year’s purchase decisions will be based on how well the work matches the purpose and spirit of the Visual Chronicle—conveying perceptions of what makes Portland unique. We encourage work that documents, describes, or evokes areas, communities, and issues that are under-represented in the Chronicle. The bridges, the Rose Parade, Washington Park and other Portland icons that come immediately to mind are all well represented, but the collection has fewer works that portray people and places that exist beyond the central city areas. While no absolute boundaries or subjects are mandated or excluded, we hope to add range to the Chronicle and better represent vital neighborhoods, communities, and artists that contribute to an equitable view of Portland.

An independent volunteer panel of artists, curators and historians will select artwork for purchase in a two-part process. First, the panel will review digital images that are submitted. Artists whose works are selected for further consideration will be asked to deliver the actual artwork to RACC for a first-hand review and final selection. The panel reserves the right to purchase work from artists who do not submit work, and is not obligated to spend the entire 2016-2017 budget of $20,000.

Works on paper—prints, drawings, paintings on paper and photographs—from professional artists familiar with Portland are eligible. For more information about guidelines, visit the RACC website at https://racc.org/resources/listings/racc-opportunity-call-for-artists-the-visual-chronicle-of-portland/, or contact program manager Kristin Calhoun at kcalhoun@racc.org or 503-823-5401.

For artists who are new to the submission process, unfamiliar with preparing digital images, or would like to get additional background on the Chronicle, RACC is hosting two free information sessions: Tuesday, June 21 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at RACC (411 NW Park Avenue, Suite 101) and Thursday, June 23 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at East Portland Neighborhood Office (1017 NE 117th Ave, Portland, OR 97220). Contact Salvador Mayoral at smayoral@racc.org to reserve a spot.

RACC is also hosting a free reception following the June 21st info session to highlight purchases made for the Visual Chronicle last year. Work by Avantika Bawa, Calvin Ross Carl, Garrick Imatani and Ralph Pugay will be on display, and Avantika Bawa and Ralph Pugay will be on hand to discuss their work. The event is free and open to the public, Thursday, June 21 at 6:45 p.m. at RACC.

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Ralph Pugay, Lonely Traveler, 2015, acrylic on yupo

Ralph Pugay, Lonely Traveler, 2015, acrylic on yupo

Susana Santos, City Dwellers, 1993, watercolor & gouache

Susana Santos, City Dwellers, 1993, watercolor & gouache

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RACC awards inaugural Arts Equity Grants

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

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

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

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

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

First Time Recipient Applicant Name Summary Award Amount

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

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

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

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

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

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

Members Only (Kaiser Permanente), photo by Erica Ann Photography.

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

The Standard’s Smoke Before Fire.

The Standard’s Smoke Before Fire.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Right Brain Initiative receives funding from National Endowment for the Arts to catalyze change in public schools

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PORTLAND, ORE — The Right Brain Initiative has received a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to deliver systemic and equitable arts programming to local K-8 schools. Right Brain, a program of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, works in partnership with local school districts to transform learning through robust arts programming that integrates with core curriculum. This is the fifth grant the Initiative has earned from the NEA.

“The arts are all around us, enhancing our lives in ways both subtle and obvious, expected and unexpected,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Supporting projects like this one from The Right Brain Initiative offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.”

Right Brain invests in the professional capital of its partner schools by providing educators with the tools to seamlessly blend the arts with all other subject areas. The grant will help Right Brain bring its four-year hands-on professional development program to more than 1,200 area teachers, arts specialists, principals and teaching artists in the 2016-17 school year. Through collaboration between Right Brain teaching artists and classroom teachers, the program will serve more than 26,000 K-8 students in urban, suburban and rural communities of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties, Oregon.

The NEA’s Art Works grants support the creation and presentation of work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement through 13 arts disciplines or fields. This award is part of $82 million distributed by the NEA to fund local arts projects across the nation. To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEASpring16. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov.

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The Right Brain Initiative is a sustainable partnership of public schools, local government, foundations, businesses and the cultural community working to transform learning through the arts for all K-8 students in the Portland metro area. Now in its eighth year, Right Brain serves 63 schools and approximately 25,000 students from urban, suburban and rural communities in the Portland area. In fall of 2014, Right Brain released data connecting the program to an above-average increase in student test scores, with greatest results for English Language Learners. Right Brain is an initiative of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington serves as Implementation Partner. Read more online at TheRightBrainInitiative.org.

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