RACC Blog

Second Round of Portland Arts Project Grants Awards $1,220,000 to 274 Artists and Organizations

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In partnership with the City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) has awarded $1,220,000 in arts funding to 274 Portland-based artists and arts and culture organizations through the second round of Portland Arts Project Grants. This round supports 179 individual artists and 95 arts and culture organizations, with 107 recipients indicating this is their first time receiving a grant from RACC. Funded projects reflect the breadth of Portland’s creative community, spanning visual and performing arts, music, film, literature, and interdisciplinary practices. 

Portland Arts Project Grants are a citywide funding initiative designed to support innovative, publicly engaged artistic projects. Grants ranging from $1000 to $5000 help artists and organizations advance programming, presentations, events, and artistic development that contribute to Portland’s cultural vitality and strengthen connections across neighborhoods. 

“At its core, this program is about trust in artists and the value they bring to our city,” said Patricia Rojas, Executive Director of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. “This second round of grants invests directly in the people and ideas shaping Portland’s cultural landscape, reinforcing that the arts are a shared public resource.” 

This funding round continues RACC’s long-standing collaboration with the City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture, expanding access to resources for artists and organizations throughout the city. Funding for this round of grants is made possible through the City of Portland’s general fund, and proceeds from the City’s voter-approved Arts Access Fund. Grant awards were determined through a competitive, peer-led review process grounded in community knowledge and disciplinary expertise. 

“These Portland Arts Project Grants help sustain Portland’s arts ecosystem by awarding funds to individual artists, arts and culture organizations, and creative businesses,” said Office of Arts & Culture Director Chariti Montez. “Projects funded through these grants are vital—underpinning many of the arts and culture experiences enjoyed by Portlanders all year long.”  

For this round, RACC received 625 applications, which were evaluated by 19 peer review panels composed of 38 community reviewers from across Portland’s arts and culture sector. Reviewers assessed proposals based on artistic quality, project concept, community engagement, public benefit, readiness to carry out the project, and alignment with RACC’s values and the City of Portland’s commitment to inclusive service. 

“The range of projects funded in this round speaks to the creativity, care, and ambition of Portland’s artists,” said Ingrid Carlson, Senior Programs Officer at RACC. “It’s especially meaningful to facilitate a process that engages the community in allocating public funds. It wouldn’t be possible without the numerous creative professionals who thoughtfully serve on the review panels or the incredible team who work together to manage a values-driven process.” 

The Portland Arts Project Grants program builds on RACC’s decades-long partnership with the City of Portland, centering transparent, community-driven grantmaking practices. In addition to these grants, the City has offered other funding opportunities for Portland creatives over the past year, as detailed on the Office of Arts & Culture’s website. RACC is proud to serve as a grantmaking partner for small grants, alongside MusicOregon and Friends of IFCC. 

Please find a full list of grantees here. 

 

Contact

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

Kelly Knickerbocker, Communications Coordinator, Office of Arts & Culture, kelly.knickerbocker@portlandoregon.gov  

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. 

Two Oregon Artists Chosen to Create Murals at Portland International Airport

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Left: Lettie Jane Rennekamp. Photo by Christopher Diego. Right: Mark Small. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Portland, OR —January 14, 2026. In collaboration with the Port of Portland, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is excited to announce that Oregon artists Lettie Jane Rennekamp and Mark Small have each been chosen to create a mural design for the exit halls at the Portland International Airport (PDX), anticipated to be installed in spring 2026. The artists were selected through a competitive process by the PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) Public Art Committee that considered applications from an applicant pool of 78 artists and artist teams from across the region.

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

The vibrant 59-foot-long murals will celebrate local mural culture and promote pride of place and a sense of home. Custom-printed and installed in the north and south exit halls of the main terminal, the artworks will remain on display for one to three years. The exit 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. 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.

“We’re excited to collaborate with the Port of Portland on these new mural commissions by Lettie Jane Rennekamp and Mark Small,” says Kristin Law Calhoun, Director of Partnerships and Programs at the Regional Arts & Culture Council. “Located in the airport’s exit halls, these bold, site-responsive works will engage travelers as they arrive or depart, highlighting some of the distinct creative culture and landmarks of our region.”

“Talented local artists Lettie Jane Rennekamp and Mark Small are creating two massive inspiring murals for PDX, bringing their unique transformative designs to the airport’s new North and South passenger exit lanes. These fantastic and colorful mural designs represent Portland’s resilience and potential, celebrate our thriving community spirit, and welcome everyone,” says Wendy Given, Art Program Manager at the Port of Portland.

About the Artists

Lettie Jane Rennekamp (she/they) is an artist, muralist, teacher, and parent originally from Kentucky and now based in Portland, OR. Here, she also owns and runs Ulna Art Studio with Cole Lyons and Jolyn Fry. Through illustrations depicting people, plants, and patterns, Rennekamp aims to capture abstract ideas such as moving through grief, self-acceptance, or a sense of place. Her work ranges from more serious yet tender contemplative work about what it means to inhabit a body in this world to whimsical depictions of nature and the humans and animals that occupy it. Rennekamp has had murals commissioned by many clients in Portland and beyond, including Boeing, The City of Tigard, Advantis Credit Union, Leach Botanical Garden, Scratch Meats, and Radius Art Center, among others, and numerous private individuals.

Rennekamp’s mural, entitled Watercolor Walk, presents a dreamlike walk through a park, providing the diverse travelers to PDX an experience that is both joyful and soothing. As people pass by the mural, they will find themselves meandering through a visually rich landscape of watercolor washes and collaged elements.

Based in Portland with deep roots in Brooklyn, New York, Mark Small is a visual artist and graphic designer who creates distinctive visual narratives at the intersection of classical design principles and contemporary urban culture. His practice draws from mid-century modernist traditions and Renaissance compositional structures, interwoven with the visual language of hip-hop’s golden era and graffiti culture.

As co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Les Sapeur, a design studio established in 2023, Small develops work that centers themes of place, identity, and collective experience. Through his practice, he advances representation and accessibility within the Pacific Northwest’s cultural and design sectors, contributing to the region’s evolving creative landscape and commitment to diverse artistic voices.

Small’s mural presents a panoramic view of Portland’s urban landscape, incorporating recognizable architectural landmarks, neighborhood scenes, and symbolic imagery—including a sneaker-wearing sasquatch integrated into the city’s streetscape. The composition is designed to align with the flow of passengers moving through the Exit Hall, creating visual rhythm that corresponds to pedestrian movement through the terminal.

The artwork offers moments of recognition for returning residents while introducing visitors to Portland’s cultural character and sense of place. Through its layered references to local landmarks and community identity, the mural reflects the city’s creative spirit and establishes the airport as a threshold between travel and homecoming.

Please find a folder of images for use here. 

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

About Port of Portland: 

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

Contact Information

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

Port of Portland, media@portofportland.com

 

Northwest Library: A transformed space in Slabtown

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Exterior of the new Northwest Library along Pettygrove St.; rendering courtesy of Hennebery Eddy Architects

Northwest Library has moved to a brand new location, going from a small, leased space at 2300 NW Thurman to 2030 NW Pettygrove Street. This new location is approximately 11,000 square feet, more than twice the size of the former library at 4,700 square feet.

Multnomah County Library is growing library spaces as part of a November 2020 capital bond. As part of this work, in 2021, the library purchased the new Northwest Library building, which sits on NW Overton Street to the south and on NW Pettygrove Street to the north. The library and its partners renovated and transformed this building into a brand new space for the community as part of the library’s goal to reduce costs and uncertainty related to leased spaces.

Northwest Library has long been a small but beloved location for Northwest Portland, and its expansion means more space for the community. That’s why insights from community members have guided the vision and purpose for the space, with the design team gathering feedback from senior citizens, families, teens, people experiencing homelessness and the neighborhood association. Gifts to The Library Foundation supported an interactive early learning space, a mobile creative learning lab, and a study space for teens at Northwest Library.

New features include:

  • A large early learning and play space for children and their families.
  • A teen area with space for technology, homework and creative expression.
  • A larger, more diverse collection of books.
  • Five small community rooms for study, homework and small group meetings; one medium and one large room for group meetings, library programs and presentations.
  • Updated wi-fi and technology, including more laptops, iPads and creative software for patron use.
  • New Automated Materials Handling system, ensuring materials get to patrons much faster.
  • Modern self checkout stations to provide a better patron experience.
  • New art that represents the community in partnership with the Regional Arts and Culture Council including:
    • A suspended artwork by artist Christine Clark
  • Artwork from the Portland Street Art Alliance including:
    • A room-spanning mural that covers the adult seating area, teen area and kids’ area by artist Kyler Martz
    • Mural in the gallery seating area by artist Nia Musiba

Centering the community 

Northwest Library has been a vital center of the community for decades. To amplify the community’s ideas, the library worked with the design team to table at existing community events and host focus groups, public meetings and public surveys. We engaged over 1,700 people during more than 19 activities. Community members cast 1,189 votes for Northwest’s color palette, with the winning theme being beautiful blues inspired by the Vaux’s Swift migration. The color palette reflects the sky and sunset as the birds would funnel into the chimney at Chapman Elementary School.

Project teams held paid affinity focus groups with neighborhood elders, families, teens and social service providers and clients. The local neighborhood association was also engaged in the design process.

Learning and playing in the kids area

Northwest Library is continuing the commitment to early learning and development with a 919 square foot kids area. This includes an interactive learning and play installation developed by the Burgeon Group, the premier firm designing, building, and installing creative early learning spaces in public libraries. With an engaging nest theme that evokes the Vaux’s Swift migration, kids can let their imagination soar. The updated kids area will also have technology and seating for youth and their caregivers to learn and play side-by-side.

A new teen area

Northwest Library’s new 275 square foot teen area is a special addition. Guided by teen input, teens will have access to an area where they can study, play games using state-of-the-art video equipment on a 75” screen and just be in community with other teens. Teens have an opportunity to plug-in (or unplug!) in a new area complete with artwork from artist Kyler Martz, which was inspired by an art workshop held with local teens. Participants shared a desire for artwork that is tranquil with a connection to nature.

Places for connection

With multiple community rooms available for patron use, people can connect much easier than before at Northwest Library. Going from one meeting room at the old location to seven new community rooms for a total of about 1,300 square feet after construction in the new building, the library is excited to expand these places for connection. Overall, the community rooms consist of one large, one medium and five small community rooms. Whether attending a library event, a community meeting, or just needing a quiet room for a one-on-one conversation, these spaces are for the public.

To increase connection, all community rooms in Northwest boast audio/visual-equipped spaces (A/V-equipped) to accommodate advanced meeting needs and collaboration. Need to connect remotely for a job interview or host a presentation? Northwest has you covered! All of the meeting rooms support state-of-the-art presentation and video conferencing when connected to a library-supplied laptop.

Additionally, these community rooms are even more accessible thanks to assistive listening systems (ALS) which amplify sounds from lectures, presentations, storytimes, and events, allowing hard-of-hearing patrons to fully engage with library programs and resources. Northwest offers assistive listening systems via two different methods: a wireless system that allows patrons to use library provided receivers or their own smartphones and a portable offering which includes a microphone for the speaker and a listening device for the audience.

Northwest is yet another library location to introduce Multnomah County’s new fiber network, providing increased internet speeds and bandwidth. The building boasts a strong wi-fi signal throughout.

Entryway and community room at the new Northwest Library; rendering courtesy of Hennebery Eddy Architects

Diversity in building

A wide range of tradespeople, experts and construction workers with diverse backgrounds built Northwest Library. Over the life of the project, 320 trades workers from the local area built this library with great pride.

  • Apprentice utilization: 21.4%
  • Apprentice-level woman: 38.9%
  • Apprentice-level minority: 64.8%
  • Journey-level minority: 35.4%
  • Journey-level woman:12.4%

Not only was there a diverse workforce building the new Northwest, the companies who employed these workers also represented a wide range of communities.

  • Women Business Enterprise (WBE): 21.3%
  • Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE): 6.7%
  • Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE): 1.5%
  • Emerging Small Business (ESB): 0.3%

Artwork for all

As part of these building projects, each major location gains engaging new artwork. One of these exciting art pieces is thanks to the Multnomah County Percent for Art Program which is led by the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC). RACC advocates for equity, inclusion and access within the arts and connects artists and creatives to opportunities throughout the region.

Portland-based sculptor and installation artist Christine Clark has created a multi-piece suspended artwork throughout the library’s clerestory area. Inspired by the rich history of Slabtown and the Vaux’s Swifts, Christine’s powder-coated and mild steel artwork celebrates the people, waterways, and traditions that shaped the neighborhood and the larger Northwest area. Her suspended basket-like forms honor the Native weaving traditions of creating and selling baskets. The green leaves that accompany the multiple elements of the artworks symbolize the crops that were grown by Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s, cultivating vegetables and other produce that were sold locally. The interwoven blue strands that sinew their way throughout the clerestory area and around the baskets evoke the creeks that once flowed throughout Slabtown as well as the flight patterns of the Vaux’s Swifts as they descend into Chapman School. Christine’s hope is that this suspended artwork will allow the library users to look up, reflect, and connect to the past while being present in many of the library’s gathering spaces.

Throughout the room-spanning Bound for Slabtown mural, which covers the adult seating area, teen area and kids area, artist Kyler Martz explores the transformative power of reading and nature through the migratory journey of the Vaux’s Swift. By observing the surreal transformation of trees into books, books into birds, the viewer is encouraged to reflect on their relationship with nature and the ability to grow and change.

In the gallery seating area, artist Nia Musiba created this mural, drawing inspiration from Oregon’s natural landscape and its vibrant flora and fauna. The piece takes a colorful, abstract approach to depicting elements of the natural world, abstracted views of irises, ferns, Oregon swallowtails, Vaux’s swifts, oxalis, and more. It serves as a reminder to enjoy the beauty and balance of the environments that surround us.

Reading gallery in the new Northwest Library; rendering courtesy of Hennebery Eddy Architects

A resilient building

Hennebery Eddy Architects led the design for Northwest. Howard S. Wright, A Balfour Beatty Company, is the General Contractor. Northwest Library is on track to be LEED Silver certified. Northwest reduced its impact on the environment by reusing much of the existing building structure and facades. The building also boasts a seismic upgrade, highly efficient new mechanical and plumbing systems, all LED lighting, as well as low-emitting materials which contribute to improved indoor air quality.

Multnomah County Library is excited to present this larger, transformed Northwest Library to the community.

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

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Contact Information

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

 

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

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

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

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

See images and key information about the selected artworks here.

About the Visual Chronicle of Portland

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

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

About the Regional Arts & Culture Council

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

About the Office of Arts & Culture

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

About the City Gallery at the Portland Building

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

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information

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

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

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

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

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

About the Artists

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

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

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

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

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

Portrait of Marie Watt by Sam Gehrke.

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

Please find a folder of images for use here. 

 

 

About the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC):

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

 

About Port of Portland: 

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

 

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

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

PORTLAND, OR. — August 6, 2025

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

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

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

Exciting new features at East County Library include:

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

Public art for the East County community: Meet the artists

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

Paula Champagne: Elevator Bays

Photo by Terrellyn Faye

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

Ka’ila Farrell-Smith: Living Room Walls 

Photo courtesy of the artist

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

Michaela Goade: Exterior Play Area Walls

Photo by Bethany Goodrich

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

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

Photos courtesy of the artists

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

Mike Suri & Terresa White: NW Eastman Parkway Sidewalk 

Photos courtesy of the artists

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

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

Libraries centering community-engaged art

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

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

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About Multnomah County Library

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

About Regional Arts & Culture Council

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

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

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Contact Information: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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.