Image: The kids community chalk area at La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival produced by Tualatin Valley Creates and supported by the Host Sponsor, the City of Hillsboro. Photo by Michelle Bauer (2022).

RACC recently piloted a sponsorship program with Washington County to distribute a total of $40,000 amongst 25 nonprofit arts organizations. The funds will support publicly accessible artistic programming and cultural events throughout summer 2026. Many of the projects include additional participatory community engagement activities, and the sponsorships will positively impact the recipients’ efforts to offer lively and meaningful encounters with the arts.

The sponsorees run the gamut of artistic disciplines and geographical areas of Washington County. Sponsored projects include local symphony orchestras presenting free summer concerts to theater companies uplifting youth through performance and storytelling workshops to open-air festivals bringing people together to experience Washington County’s vibrant cultural communities. 

With this program RACC is honored to continue our long history of investing in the collective creative power of our region, and we encourage folks from all around the area to participate in Washington County’s exciting summer arts calendar. See a complete list of the sponsored projects here.

Image: Community engagement workshop that supported the creation of a public artwork at Arbor Lodge Shelter. Hosted by artist team Paola De La Cruz and Lillyanne Pham. Photo by Yvanna Ramos.

Apply now! In partnership with Multnomah County and Do Good Multnomah, RACC invites artists/artist teams who are currently living in Oregon or Washington and producing work in visual, literary, media, social practice and/or interdisciplinary mediums to submit qualifications for up to a one year artist-in-residence opportunity at the newly constructed Harrison Community Village in Southeast Portland.

One artist/artist team will be selected to work with and among village residents and staff to create work in any medium that engages and/or is a result of collaborating with the community. A combination of temporary, itinerant, time-based and permanent artistic manifestations are welcomed, encouraged and to be determined through the course of the residency. Located on the southeast corner of SE Mill St and SE 82nd Ave, the new village is nestled between the Tabor, Montavilla and Mill Park neighborhoods in Portland, OR.

The budget available for the project comes from Multnomah County’s Percent for Art Program and is an all inclusive budget of $15,000-$25,000. Submissions are due by Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT.

Further information about the project can be accessed here. If you would prefer materials in another language please contact the RACC project team for translation services.

Image courtesy of Port of Portland / ZGF Architects. 

As part of the Port of Portland’s transformative Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) project at Portland International Airport, RACC has partnered with the Port over the past several years to help commission and steward a growing collection of dynamic public artworks throughout the new terminal. Many of the installations are located in pre-security areas, allowing the broader community to experience the artwork without needing a boarding pass. With just two additional major installations still to come later this year, together, the artworks reflect the diverse voices, stories, and creative spirit of the Pacific Northwest while welcoming millions of visitors and community members into a uniquely Portland experience. Read more about each artist and artwork here.

Arts and culture are the heartbeat of our region, helping us reflect who we are and what we stand for. For decades, RACC has believed in the power of art as a resource for community well-being and economic vitality, providing tailored services, growing a nationally acclaimed public art program, and facilitating career-changing opportunities. 

Created by community, for community, RACC remains dedicated to protecting, celebrating, and sustaining arts and culture in our region. We invite you to join us in creating space for arts and culture in every neighborhood. The time to evolve is now, and we want you to be a part of our future.