RACC Blog

Oregon Cultural Trust announces record $2.9 million in FY17 grants

Issued by The Oregon Cultural Trust on August 10, 2016:

The Oregon Cultural Trust will award a record 149 grants totaling $2.9 million to Oregon’s cultural nonprofits, a 9 percent increase over last year. The increase is the direct result of another record year of fundraising.

The awards include a total of $714,045 to the Cultural Trust’s five statewide partners (Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Humanities, Oregon Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation Office); $714,045 to 45 county and tribal cultural coalitions – for regranting in their communities; and $1,433,798 in competitive Cultural Development Grants to a record 99 cultural organizations across the state.

The Cultural Development Grants include first-time awards to 45 organizations and the largest grants ever awarded – $40,000 – to eight groups: The Benton County Historical Society; The Dalles-Wasco County Library Foundation; Japanese Garden; Miracle Theatre Group; National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Oregon; Oregon Public Broadcasting; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; and Portland Center Stage. More than half of the grants were awarded to organizations outside of the Portland Metro area.

A full list of grantees by geographic region is here.


Work for Art concludes tenth anniversary campaign

On June 30, RACC concluded its tenth annual Work for Art campaign. And while it will take a few more weeks to count and confirm all of this year’s campaign contributions, one thing is certain: the 2015-16 fundraising drive will break all records for participation and revenue.

Ten years ago Work for Art burst onto the scene raising $447,000, but this year organizers expect to clear more than $900,000, with all proceeds benefiting local arts and culture organizations. Workplace giving campaigns remain the program’s largest source of revenue, with more than 2,000 individuals in 75 companies participating this year. In addition, 30 individuals stepped up with leadership contributions of $1,000 more, and Work for Art’s first annual Battle of the Bands competition added $70,000 to the campaign total in May.

Work for Art has also enjoyed significant exposure during its tenth anniversary, including a generous contribution from Portland General Electric. If you attended the Rose Festival Starlight Parade or Grand Floral Parade this year, you may have seen – and heard – the PGE float saluting Work for Art. Musicians from Metropolitan Youth Symphony (one of Work for Art’s 100 funded arts and culture groups) jammed out atop a colorful larger-than-life guitar. PGE employees have been the top donors to Work for Art for four years running.

The 2015-16 campaign total and top companies will be announced at a special event on August 4. Local arts and business leaders will celebrate outgoing campaign chairs, Mike Golub and Dave Lofland, and applaud Work for Art’s program manager, Kathryn Jackson, who departs this month after 10 years with the organization. Over the last 10 years, Work for Art has raised more than $7.1 million for local nonprofit arts organizations.

The 2016-17 campaign will be chaired by Kregg Arntson, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Portland General Electric and the Executive Director of the PGE Foundation.

For more information on Work for Art and the 2016-17 campaign, contact Jeff Hawthorne at jhawthorne@racc.org or call 503.823.5258.


NEA Approved for Arts Funding Increase

Issued by Americans for the Arts on May 25, 2016.

Today (May 25)  the House Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations approved a $2 million increase in federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), matching the President’s budget request for a total of $149.8 million for fiscal year 2017. The National Endowment for the Humanities was approved at the same increased funding level as the NEA.

This bill will next be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee and later by the entire House and Senate chambers. Amendments to add or cut funding could happen along the way. We will keep you informed of major legislative developments and/or calls to action.

Check the Arts Action Fund website for details of the proposed increases allocated to the other federal cultural agencies and institutions.


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

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, May 12. 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.

Kaiser Permanente’s 1980s cover band, Members Only, 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, photo by Erica Ann Photography.

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.


Your Input Sought for a new Arts Facility in Beaverton

The City of Beaverton needs your help to plan a proposed Arts and Culture Center facility that is currently under consideration.

We need your help to plan the Arts and Culture Center.  Please take the following survey and let us know how often you would use the facility, what type of performances you would like to see, and what you would be willing to pay to attend programs.

The survey is available until Friday, May 6.  Your participation will help shape the future character of the center – so please share your views!

http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/ACC

Below: Early Preliminary Rendering of Proposed Arts and Culture Center by Place Landscape Architects

Beaverton Arts April 2016


State of the Arts

Eloise’s Blog:

Many thanks to all who attended our annual presentation to City Council when we thank Council for their on-going support. While we also talk about how we invested the City’s allocation to RACC over the past year, we focus even more on how powerful the impacts of these dollars are to artists, arts organizations, schools, and arts enthusiasts around our region and beyond.

The Obo Addy Legacy Project opened the event on April 21st with rousing and reverberating Ghanean drumming as people entered Council Chambers. RACC’s Board Chair, Jan Robertson, and I then ran through some highlights of our programs in 2015 and we were all treated to music performed by a quintet from Bravo Youth Orchestra.

These talented Rosa Parks Elementary students are evidence of what magic can happen thanks to their music teacher paid for by the Arts Tax, and an arts organization, Bravo, providing learning experiences inside the school. Jan also described the ever growing Right Brain Initiative and how supportive our City leaders have been since day one.

I ran through images of recent public art projects including a Buster Simpson sculpture in South Waterfront and a wide array of murals funded in part by RACC’s Murals Program and Forest for the Trees, an organization that brings together local artists and others from around the world to create large scale murals around our city. The audience also saw sneak previews of upcoming public art  in the works. To see some of these images for yourselves, click here (slides 27-31).

RACC Board member and Chair of our Grants Review Committee, Susheela Jayapal, described the various ways we award City funds to artists and organizations and the challenges facing RACC and the organizations who benefit from the Arts Tax, which currently is not bringing in the full amount voted approved by Portland voters in 2012. Susheela also introduced jazz musician and PSU professor, Darrell Grant, who described what he was able to achieve thanks to a RACC Project Grant. Literary Arts Executive Director Andrew Proctor explained the phenomenal success of the inaugural year of its Wordstock Festival, newly adopted by his organization, a longtime member of RACC’s General Operating Support program. And finally Luann Algoso spoke about APANO’s Expanding Cultural Access grant, which supported their well-received Cultural Events Series in the Jade District.

RACC’s Board member Mike Golub introduced RACC’s on-going programs which beneficially connect arts and business. When Business for Culture and the Arts closed last summer, RACC was asked to take on two of the organization’s most successful programs. Art of Leadership under George Thorn’s leadership provides seminars to train business people to be Board members of nonprofit arts organizations. RACC now also hosts The Arts Breakfast of Champions, which recognizes top donors and champions of the arts. We hope to expand the event’s scope going forward to celebrate all the ways arts and business can partner to inspire employees and foster creative collaborations.

Mike Co-Chair’s Work for Art, our workplace giving program, which typically raises about $750k a year for arts organizations. In this 10th anniversary year RACC hopes to raise a $1 million, through workplace campaigns and events such as the upcoming Battle of the Bands, May 12th. Part of ZGF’s competing band, Pencil Skirt Paula and the Straightedge Rulers, treated the audience to a musical tribute to Prince.  Finally Ian Mouser of My Voice Music testified about the amazing work his organization can do for kids with City funding, and the grand finale was a moving duet sung by Matthew Gailey and Lea Mulligan of PHAME (below).

SOTAphame_CommFish1

We so value and appreciate everyone’s time and enthusiasm and the long-standing and heartfelt commitment by our supportive City Council!


Commissioner Steve Novick responds

Commissioner Steve Novick (Candidate for Portland Commissioner, Position 4) responded April 14, 2016:

(1) In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture in Portland?  

Personally, I’ve always been a big music fan (Commissioner Fish likes to point out how often I use musical quotes in Council comments) and an occasional local theatergoer. I really enjoy attending local music events when possible.  My wife Rachel’s family has introduced me to the wider performing arts community (her brother is a professional ballet dancer who got his start here in Portland), and the local theater (her other brother is a nationally recognized playwright whose plays have been performed or workshopped at small local theaters).

I also take advantage of the opportunity to support local artists by buying jewelry for Rachel at the Anne Bocci Boutique and Gallery in Multnomah Village.

(2) Artists and arts organizations add measurable value to our region’s economy, our education system and our quality of life, and yet there are a number of pressing needs in our community that often compete for attention and investment.  What is Portland’s proper role in supporting arts and culture in the region?

Ideally, the city would provide a greater level of financial support to the arts than it does now. But other services – from housing to parks and transportation maintenance – are also underfunded.

It’s become increasingly apparent just how important artists, arts organizations, and the creative community as a whole are to Portland. Beyond the many cultural benefits, the arts industry has become something of a traded sector in our region. Larger productions from Hollywood and beyond have recognized Portland as a great place for productions.  This bodes well for our “arts future”,  but we can’t forget the smaller theaters, artists, and art galleries, and we need to figure out how all we can keep them from being priced out of our city.

The City should be a promoter of our artistic community and a supporter of art programs. But we also should be an advocate for equity issues that help support art and artists, enabling them to stay in our region. We need to create more opportunities for investment in arts organizations that connect with underrepresented areas of our communities, including people experiencing homelessness and at-risk youth. Overall I believe City Council and the arts community must communicate more directly to determine projects that we can support to help increase equity and inclusion. As I have told arts advocates, in the future I want to have a ready list of high priority one-time investments in the arts (since we usually have more “one time” money than ongoing money) so that each year we can weigh them against other proposed one-time investments.

(3) The region’s affordability is a serious concern for all of us, including artists and arts-related businesses. What are your plans for making housing and creative spaces more affordable?

There is little debate that we need to address the problem of housing affordability for middle-income and low-income people, but I would say not enough attention is being paid to how it impacts our creative community and small businesses.  I’m glad the state legislature lifted the ban on inclusionary zoning (although I wish they went a bit further), but I also think we need to deal with the supply and demand aspect of the problem. We need to build more housing, and also build more types of housing.  Portland’s iconic bungalow and Craftsman neighborhoods are the reason why lots of people decide to move to Portland. However, these houses are also very expensive and will become more so as our population grows.

I think the concept of affordability should also include zoning changes so we can build diverse kinds of housing within neighborhoods. Townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and live-work spaces could offer great homes for people who can’t afford a single family house in Portland but aren’t interested in living in an apartment. Lots of close-in Portland neighborhoods already have lots of this “middle housing,” but much of it was built decades ago before the current zoning code was adopted.  Allowing more mixed use buildings could both address the need for housing, while providing opportunities for creative space and small businesses, which we know help build and define a community. I’m looking at ways to allow more of these kinds of projects, which will help keep our neighborhood housing diverse and affordable. As our city grows, it does so thoughtfully and equitably.

City Council needs to make sure we are staying in contact with arts organizations and businesses to better understand the issues they face, and work together to develop real, workable solutions.

(4) Are there other unmet needs when it comes to shaping Portland’s arts and culture policy for the future? If so, what steps would you take to help ensure those needs are met, and how should they be funded?

There are many unmet needs, from housing and commercial real estate affordability to working out a better collection mechanism for the arts tax, and also working to find more support for arts and culture through regional partners and federal programs. There’s a lot to do.

We must ensure that as the price of real estate throughout Portland increases, artists that haven’t made lots of money are still able to live here, and we also need to help smaller venues that house lots of arts to continue operating even if they aren’t owned by people with lots of money to keep them going. We alleviate some of the pressure through zoning changes, connecting arts organizations with available regional grants or low interest loans, and other ways to help support this community and enable it to thrive in our city.

The City has an opportunity to connect arts organizations and small arts businesses with resources they may not realize are available. One example is the Oregon Facilities Authority, who helps charities of all sizes secure low-cost financing to remodel, expand, construct, or purchase new facilities, through the use of tax-exempt conduit revenue bonds. This could be used to help nonprofit arts organizations purchase their properties, giving them security and helping them remain even as commercial real estate prices continue to rise.

(5) The Arts Education & Access Fund, or arts tax, has delivered on its promise of providing arts specialists for all K-5 schools in Portland, but the fund hasn’t generated enough revenue to support as many grants for arts and culture organizations as envisioned. If elected, would you take any steps to modify the arts tax, improve administration of it, and/or fulfill the voters’ vision of supporting arts education and access through other means?

First and foremost we must recognize the great benefit the Arts Tax has given to our schools, helping to fund important programs that are all too often first on the chopping block.

We also must acknowledge, as you have, that unfortunately the Arts Tax has not done as much for the creative community overall as we had expected. To some extent that is based on factors the city should have been aware of – such as state law requiring that PERS and Social Security be exempt. Some of it has to do with the number of people who just aren’t paying; compliance has improved as we go along, and as we move into territory where the threshold for sending multi-year tax avoiders’ bills to collections goes from $35 to over $100, collection action will make more sense.

Any brand-new taxing mechanism is likely to have high administrative costs. Ultimately, despite the complexities of our property tax system, I think it would have made more sense to have a small property tax. I would be open to considering a switch to that, which would – albeit to a limited degree – also make the tax less regressive.

Back to Candidates’ page.