Historical photo circa early 1900s of men with hats sitting in the back of trucks driving out of a Kerby Garage bay. Photo credit: Portland Archives, A2000-025.125. Courtesy CityFleet.

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), in partnership with CityFleet and the Office of Arts & Culture at the City of Portland, invites artists/artist teams in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho to submit their qualifications for two new public art opportunities at CityFleet’s facilities on Swan Island. 

Made possible by the City of Portland’s Percent for Art Program, which specifies that up to 2% of qualifying infrastructure project budgets be dedicated to public art, this call is for two separate opportunities: one commission is for artwork that will attach to two functional aluminum gates, and the other is for a large-scale exterior sculpture. The budget for each opportunity is $150,000, inclusive of all project expenses such as design, fabrication, permits, transportation, and installation. Artists may apply for one or both opportunities.

The submission due date is Monday, November 24, 2025 at 11:59 pm PT. Artists/artist teams representing communities of color are encouraged to participate.

These artworks will help shape CityFleet’s new Swan Island facility as it relocates from the historic Kerby Garage, creating an inviting space that reflects Portland’s industrial and cultural heritage and honors the legacy of industry and trade workers. Finalists will receive a $2,000 honorarium to develop a proposal and will be reimbursed for travel expenses.

RACC offers interpretation and translation services as well as assistance for applicants without online access. Complete details, including a recorded info session, are available in the full RFQ here. 

Come celebrate the re-opening of the recently renovated Mt Scott Community Center located in the Foster-Powell and Mt Scott-Arleta neighborhoods. The grand opening takes place on Friday, 10/24 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at 5530 SE 72nd Ave, Portland OR 97206. Renovations to the center include imperative seismic retrofitting, bringing more light to the interior spaces, improving ADA accessibility, expanding recreational programming and adding classrooms, meeting spaces and a huge, new event hall.

Additionally, 22 new artworks have been installed within the center that include 2-D works on the 1st & 2nd floor corridors by 16 local artists, a large mixed-media textile artwork in the lobby's main stairwell area by Portland-based artist Isabella Saavedra (a member of the Pit River Tribe, Madesi band, with Salvadoran descent), and the re-installation of the beloved 25-year old sculptural relief artwork by artists Gail Simpson & Aristotle Georgiades.

The addition of artworks are made possible by the City of Portland’s Percent for Art Program, all done in partnership between the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the Office of Arts & Culture at the City of Portland.

The new Mt Scott Community Center featuring Understory (2025) by Isabella Saavedra. Shot by Mario Gallucci.

From left to right: Sharita Towne, photo courtesy of the artist. Britt Howard, photo by Robbie Augspurger. Emily Counts, photo by Ryan Warner. 

We are thrilled to announce three regional artists selected to create unique, large-scale, permanent artworks for Belmont and St. Johns libraries. These exciting pieces will honor each library’s history, culture, and diversity, thanks to the Multnomah County Percent for Art Program, managed by RACC.

Sharita Towne is a multidisciplinary artist based in Portland, with deep ties to the West Coast. Her work explores Black geographies, histories, and futures. For St. Johns Library, Sharita will design a series of small, site-specific sculptures placed along the building’s exterior. Set within the newly refreshed landscaping and entry paths, these sculptures will create spaces for pause, reflection, and community connection, inspired by local stories and experiences.

Britt Howard is an artist who blends creative inquiry with humor to create powerful work. For Belmont Library, Britt will create a 3D soft sculpture suspended in the teen area of the new building addition. This piece holds special personal significance, as Britt grew up spending time at the Belmont Library and is now returning to create a lasting installation for the space.

Emily Counts, a Tacoma-based ceramic and mixed media artist, engages with craft traditions while exploring themes of identity, nature, and connectivity. For Belmont Library, she will create a site-specific installation along one of the main reading room walls. Emily’s work will reflect both her artistic practice and insights gathered from community engagement efforts by Multnomah County Library and Bora Architecture and Interiors. 

For more details about each artwork or to learn about the voter-approved Library Building Project 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.