The Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) is proud to announce the completion of two large-scale public artworks in Phase One of the Portland International Airport Terminal Redevelopment Project (TCORE). In this month’s newsletter, we take you behind the scenes of between (2024), a beautiful glass wall artwork by Portland-based artist Yoonhee Choi.

Choi is known for her distinctive style that seamlessly blends structure and whimsy, and between is no exception. The work stands at an impressive eleven feet tall and spans fifty-six feet, bringing playful, uplifting, and harmonious energy to the pre-security areas of the terminal. Celebrating fleeting moments and continual movements, between is a site-specific installation that responds to the busy rhythms of airport life.

Fabricated in partnership with the glass artisans at Glasmalerei Peters Studios in Germany, Choi’s between invites travelers to pause and reflect as they prepare to take flight. 

This milestone marks a significant achievement in the TCORE project, part of the broader PDX Next initiative—a transformative effort to enhance the infrastructure and experience of one of the Pacific Northwest’s busiest airports. Through our collaboration with the Port of Portland, RACC continues to champion artists with an equity-first perspective, enriching our communities and public spaces with art that celebrates the diversity and culture of our region. 

Stay tuned for next month’s feature on Sanford Biggers’s artwork, on view now at PDX!

In collaboration with the City of Portland, RACC is excited to support the creation and sharing of artistic work within Portland, Oregon. Artists, arts organizations, and other nonprofits can apply for funding to support projects with significant community impact. 

Applications are due by 5:00 PM on October 23, 2024 and awards for this cycle will be announced by the end of February 2025. This grant cycle is focused on activities happening in 2025, with no additional cycle planned for the year. Learn more about this grant program in the recorded info session. Have specific questions? Stay tuned for our Instagram Live session on September 30th from 12-12:30 pm!

Documentation of Arts3C supported Kimchi Realness, a remixed Korean-American ritual led by Grace Kwon, Joy Kye and Janice Lee. Photo by Kevin Truong.

Earlier this year, Hội Phụ Huynh hosted Portland’s only youth-led Tet (Vietnamese New Year) celebration, marking the Year of the Dragon. The event featured various performances, including poetry recitations, traditional dances, and a fashion show, by students in the Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion program (VLDI). This year, the theater filled to its 514-seat capacity, and for those unable to attend in person, a live broadcast expanded the event’s reach to a larger audience.

This festival was made possible in part through an Arts3C Grant from RACC. The grant helped Hội Phụ Huynh cover essential costs, including venue rental, technology, and costumes, ensuring the event could scale and meet the needs of the growing VDLI student body. We’re proud to support organizations like Hội Phụ Huynh, an organization sustaining vital cultural traditions and creating opportunities for communities across Portland to celebrate their heritage through the arts.

Do you have a RACC supported event that you’d like to share? Use our newly redesigned calendar in partnership with Travel Portland!

Now more than ever, RACC needs your financial support as we continue our work to guarantee access to resources and opportunities, and strengthen community through the care we provide as an advocate, a thought partner, and connector.  Make your gift today and join us in harnessing the power of access, community, and care to create a brighter, more vibrant world through the arts!