Collections Management

L-R: Yalcin Erhan and Linda K. Johnson, The View from Here: Hillsboro/Cedar Hills, 1999; Deb Stoner, Knapweeds and Spiderwort, 2014; Herbert Dreiseitl, Artwall, 2005; Spencer Keeton Cunningham and Jaque Fragua, Untitled, 2015 

Permanently Sited

Indoor and outdoor artworks can be found in many locations throughout Multnomah County and the City of Portland — in parks, along the downtown Transit Mall, in City Hall, police and fire stations, libraries and health clinics. Artwork is selected for its ability to respond to the site’s function and to complement or contrast with the architecture and/or landscape.

Portable Works

For more than forty years, the City of Portland and Multnomah County have acquired a collection of two and three-dimensional artworks which the Regional Arts & Culture Council manages. Over 900 portable artworks representing hundreds of regional artists are sited throughout approximately thirty City and County buildings. The collection strives to reflect a diversity of populations, artistic disciplines and points of view. Artworks are sited in publicly accessible spaces for a minimum of six months.

Visual Chronicle of Portland

The Visual Chronicle of Portland is a city-owned collection of works on paper—prints, photographs, paintings and drawings—focusing on artists’ views of the city’s social and urban landscapes. The collection captures the spirit of the times as our city evolves and changes. It is both an eclectic view of life in Portland as well as a record of artists working in the city. The artworks are exhibited in City and County buildings.

Caring For The Collections

Collections Management

RACC organizes and manages the information and disposition of all objects for which it has permanently or temporarily assumed responsibility. This includes developing, maintaining and enforcing collection policies and procedures that address the care, handling, placement and storage of artwork in a professional manner. Collections documentation includes such information as: inventory, acquisition records, incident reports, condition reports, legal ownership papers and histories, artist biographies, location histories and photographic images.

To report vandalism/graffiti damage to any piece of Portland or Multnomah County public art, please contact jrabin@racc.org

Deaccessioning

As part of RACC’s Collection Management responsibilities, artworks identified as meeting certain criteria are occasionally removed from the public collection following a careful and impartial evaluation of the artwork within the context of the collection. The PAAC forwards recommendations for deaccessioning to the RACC Board for approval. The criteria for deaccessioning are outlined in the Percent for Art Guidelines. Conservation and Maintenance. RACC is responsible for the care and maintenance of all artwork owned by the City of Portland and Multnomah County. Maintenance technicians provide routine and emergency maintenance for the collection. Each summer techs assess and/or clean outdoor sculptures. RACC cares for approximately 140 outdoor sculptures in the Portland Metropolitan area, approximately 260 indoor site specific artworks, as well as the 1000+ portable works. For more information, see the Deaccession Policy Guidelines.