Photo courtesy of former grantee Kosmo Barnes. Performance shot of Rosie Cakes from The Others: Eusexuals photo by Sky.

In partnership with the City of Portland’s Office of Arts and Culture, 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 Dates & 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 here!

Image courtesy of grantee Moni Sears. Lantern Dancers at the Portland All Souls River Procession featuring "Bulla!" dance and music group. Photo by Lane Rollin. 

Join us on October 2nd from 5-7pm to celebrate the recipients of RACC’s Professional Development Grant! 

In June 2025, we distributed $116,000 amongst 74 artists and arts administrators to pursue unique opportunities that further their creative practices and hone their professional skillsets. We’ll gather to celebrate their endeavors and toast the impact that arts funding has on keeping our region innovative and interconnected.

From 5-6pm, RACC will be open for grantees and community members to meet and greet each other and enjoy light refreshments. 

At 6pm, a handful of grantees will present updates about what their awards have allowed them to do so far. Folks can stick around and chat until 7pm or head off with new friends to another First Thursday destination. 

See you there!

Alex Chiu, Faces of the Future: Hopes and Dreams Through a Parent’s Eyes (2024)

Join the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) and Portland Parks & Recreation in celebrating the grand reopening of Mill Park on Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 3 - 6 pm. Mill Park is a transformed 6.2-acre green space located at SE 117th Avenue and SE Mill Court (next to Mill Park Elementary). Enjoy free festivities, snacks, and a first look at the park’s new amenities! 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 4 pm, with remarks from Parks Director Sonia Schmanski, Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal, District 1 Councilor Candace Avalos, and community partners. Family-friendly activities will take place before and after the ceremony, hosted in collaboration with the Mill Park Neighborhood Association.

Central to the park’s renewal is Alex Chiu’s (@artbyalexchiu) striking art installation, Faces of the Future: Hopes and Dreams Through a Parent’s Eyes (2024). This lenticular artwork, crafted from coated aluminum, features portraits of 6 Mill Park Elementary students paired with interviews exploring their family histories and aspirations. To create the piece, Chiu created original paintings (now also in the City’s Public Art Collection) that were scanned and printed on metal. The decorative patterns behind each portrait reflect each child’s unique story and cultural identity. Through the QR code on the plaque at the site, or here, park-goers can access the interviews with the families. Find a video walkthrough of the work here. 

This artwork is a City of Portland Percent for Public Art project administered by RACC. Special thanks to Mayer/Reed for their support  with design and fabrication.

Opening Celebration Details

Date & Time: Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 3 - 6 pm (ribbon cutting at 4 pm)

Location: 1949 SE 122nd Avenue (new entrance)

Access Notes: Street parking (SE Lincoln Street), TriMet Bus #73, paved pedestrian entrances, bike racks, accessible restrooms (Portland Loo), and ASL interpretation.

RACC, in partnership with the City of Portland Office of Arts & Culture, is excited to announce an exhibition of 21 artworks newly acquired for the City’s Visual Chronicle of Portland collection. The exhibition will be hung in the City Gallery space on the second floor of the Portland Building. The public opening event is on Thursday, October 2, at 3pm, and all are welcome to attend. 

The artists whose work was selected are Stephanie Buer, Jax Chow, John Cline, Paul Higgins, Hermon Joyner, Kendra Larson, Jim Lommasson, Ivan McClellan, Robert Minervini, David Rice, and Chris Russell.  

The Visual Chronicle of Portland is a City-owned collection of works on paper that offers a dynamic portrayal of artists’ views of the city’s social and urban landscapes. The intent of the collection is to capture “the spirit of the times” and artists' sense of “Portlandness” as the city evolves and changes. It serves as both an eclectic view of life in Portland as well as a record of artists working in the city. The artworks in this acquisition were selected through a four-stage review process led by RACC and including the participation of an independent panel made up of artists, community members, and City employees. During its 40 years, this collection has grown to 463 works by 270 artists that are displayed in City-owned spaces throughout Portland.

See images and key information about the selected artworks 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.