Over the past thirty years at the Regional Arts and Culture Council, we have had the privilege and opportunity to work with hundreds of talented artists and cultural leaders. This month, we’d like to acknowledge the recent passing of several individuals whose contributions will continue to reverberate across our region.

Anita Menon was the first Asian American to receive RACC’s prestigious Performing Arts Fellowship in 2014 and later served as a RACC board member. Helen Daltoso, RACC’s Director of Grants from 2003 to 2024, recalls that, as a member of our board, “Anita spoke when she had something important to say, not to hear herself speak…[using] her position to give voice to the issues facing the hundreds of artists and entrepreneurs RACC served…[and empowering] me to speak openly and honestly about our grantmaking and our needs as employees” (Oregon Arts Watch). Anita was a talented Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and Nattuvanar (cymbal player) who immigrated to the United States after growing up in India. She founded the Anjali School of Dance in Portland to bring this important dance to students in our region. 

Bob (Robert) Dozono served as a panelist on numerous occasions for RACC, including as chair of the Visual Chronicle of Portland selections committee. His painting Welcome to the Neighborhood was commissioned by RACC for the Multnomah County Central Courthouse. Known for his paintings, Bob’s work demonstrates a rare, thoughtful skill and energetic quality that mirrored the rhythms of nature. He passed this energy along to his students who he encouraged to forget the rules of picture making and instead sit with the possibility of making an image come alive. Exhibiting work in numerous galleries across the Pacific Northwest and internationally, Bob was also an important member of Blackfish Gallery in Portland from 1986 to 2020 where he held several solo, two-person, and group shows. Additional examples of his publicly owned artworks can be found in our Public Art Collections.

Sculptor and performance artist David Eckard was a RACC fellow and former RACC team member. Born in 1964 in Spirit Lake, Iowa, his childhood growing up on a farm shaped an unique approach to making that included crafted sculptures, paintings, and performance. A practice arising out of Queer protest groups during the AIDS epidemic, his work poetically combined grace and strength, creating timely and poignant work throughout his career. For many years, his performances were an integral part of TBA festivals (hosted by Portland Institute for Contemporary) and Pacific Northwest College of Art’s Focus Week. He was also a Hallie Ford Fellowship recipient. Working as an Associate Professor and later Chair of the Sculpture program at PNCA, he worked with hundreds of students, creating a lasting legacy at the university and beyond. View some of David’s artworks here. 

Beloved elder and artist Isaka Shamsud-Din’s work adorns many walls in Portland depicting joyful narratives of Black American experience. While he recognized that much of Black history (and present) in the United States is punctuated by pain, his murals centered the vitality and strength of Black Americans both from his own personal experience and from extensive research. Combining personal, historical and folk narratives, his works demand to be seen, warming up various corridors and galleries in our region with visual stories that illuminate the richness of Black life and culture. Isaka’s work has been commissioned by RACC and he has served on past committees for the Visual Chronicle. View Isaka’s Bilalian Odyssey in person at the Oregon Convention Center and other works online in our Public Art Collections. 

Photo courtesy of RACC Grantee Noelle Eaton. Documentation of Bike Play, an annual event that happens in conjunction with the Portland bicycle festival, Pedalpalooza. Photo by Jonathan Maus.  

In partnership with the City of Portland’s Office of Arts and Culture, we're excited to announce that the Portland Arts Project Grant program is available to support the making and sharing of artistic work and the development of the arts community in Portland, Oregon. Individual artists, arts organizations, arts businesses, and other nonprofits are eligible to apply for grant funding to support arts programs and activities that have community impact. 

Artists and organizations can apply for up to $5000 to support artistic projects, including programming, presentations, events, or artistic development that results in sharing your learning or activity with the public. You will be asked to clearly explain what you need grant funding to support, and then make the case for how the public investment of the grant will impact both you and the community.

Key Information

Read the full guidelines, find answers to frequently asked questions and apply here. 

Want to review applications for this round instead? Apply now to be a community reviewer! Community Reviewers will perform and complete their work between October and December 2025 and selected participants will serve on 1-3 grant panels. Reviewers receive a stipend of $300-$450 per panel on which they serve.

Reviewers should be practicing artists and/or have experience facilitating or curating arts programming or managing an arts-based business. Community members who have not recently or have never served on a RACC panel are strongly encouraged to apply! Apply here

The Art Marathon: Finished Line by Daren Todd (2021)

Come by our office on August 7th to explore ways to get your art into public spaces.

This month, we’re shining a light on the incredible partners and collaborators who’ve helped bring creative projects to life all across our region. Daren Todd will be a featured artist this month and we’ll have our new button maker out for you to create a souvenir. 

Whether you’re an artist, a public art lover, a creative, or just curious about how public art happens, we'd love to see you there!

Event Date & Time: August 7th, 2025 from 5-7 pm

Location: 411 NW Park Ave #101, Portland, OR 97209

RSVP 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.