Portrait of Patricia Rojas by Lanning Photography. 

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is pleased to announce that, following a national search, Patricia Rojas has been named our next Executive Director, effective August 1, 2025.

Rojas emerged from a highly competitive national search as the clear choice to lead RACC into our next chapter. She brings a strong track record in public leadership, with experience in coalition-building, fundraising, and organizational transformation. Passionate about the value of the arts and culture in fostering inclusive, thriving communities, Rojas brings a leadership style grounded in collaboration, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to social impact. Most recently, she led strategic housing initiatives at Metro Regional Government as Regional Housing Director. 

“Art is a pillar of strength that binds us as a community, bridges across difference and builds resilience. It is a reflection of who we are and who we dream to be. RACC is nationally recognized for work in public arts, has been a catalyst for elevating the arts and supported artists in our region. I am thrilled and honored to join the RACC team where we will continue to build upon this strong foundation and innovate new approaches that grow the role of the arts in our community,” said Patricia Rojas.

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'dust', a 9 minute dance film shot at the Oregon Coast, produced by grantee Open Space’s resident choreographer, Noelle Kayser, and local filmmaker, Matthew Tomac

In the wake of devastating federal decisions that have shuttered the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and amid mounting concern over targeted attacks on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), at the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), we stand in firm solidarity with our national, state, and local partners in the arts and cultural sector.

On Friday May 2nd, many arts organizations in Oregon and across the country received abrupt notices from the NEA rescinding previously awarded grants. We echo the statement issued last week by the Oregon Arts Commission, which called the rescissions “devastating” and emphasized the loss to artists and organizations who depend on federal investment to serve their communities.

Let it be known: the erosion of federal support for the arts does not diminish the resolve of our communities. This was never clearer than during Arts and Culture Advocacy Day in Salem, on April 15th, where we joined hundreds of advocates under the leadership of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon (CACO) to urge lawmakers to take bold action in the face of federal abdication.

We urge all community members to remain vigilant. Stay informed (here is one link shared nationally via Arts Alliance’s Federal Updates and Rapid Responses), support your local arts organizations, and raise your voice where it counts — locally, statewide, and nationally.

We believe in an arts ecosystem that is expansive, inclusive, and rooted in the people it serves. This is not the time to shrink. It is the time to rise.

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Image courtesy of the Port of Portland. 

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) and the Port of Portland are inviting a limited group of artists to submit their qualifications for the design of a temporary public art display that will be a part of the Portland International Airport’s (PDX) terminal redevelopment project!

The commission will be awarded to two artists or artist teams, with a budget for each original 2D artwork not to exceed $15,000, inclusive of all artist design fees for the digital or 2D original artwork, professional digitization of original 2D artwork, and the delivery of a digital file. A separate budget managed by the Port of Portland will cover the production and installation of the mural in PhotoTex or another similar material, onsite at PDX. The expected lifespan of this artwork is approximately 3 years.

The due date for this opportunity is application due date is 11:59pm (PST) today, May 21, 2025. Find more information, a recorded info session, and a link to apply here.

Portrait of Naomi Likayi next to Shared Differences at Parklane Park. Photo by Eli Caudillo.

Please join us on June 5th for an evening celebrating arts and culture in our region.

Naomi Likayi, a public artist at the newly renovated Parklane Park, will be facilitating a community cosmogram activity. Likayi's artwork, Shared Differences, is a reminder that all of us come through a source and are united through the four phases of life across time and seasons. Shared Differences is inspired by the story of the Tomanowos (Willamette Meteorite) and the philosophies of the Bakongo Dikenga Cosmogram. 

View the new public artworks at Parklane Park’s grand opening on Thursday, June 12, 2025 from 3:00–6:00 pm at SE 155th Avenue and Main Street. The opening will feature artist talks, interactive tours of the installations, and family-friendly activities.

Suzanne Savaria, a co-director and developer of the Artist as Citizen Initiative (an inspiring arts and social justice program), also leads a class at Portland State University. In this Performing Arts Advocacy Senior Capstone at PSU, the class examines what it means to advocate for the arts and define our roles as advocates. For the spring of 2025, the class is creating a “metaphorical quilt” that represents the cultural fabric and impact of arts in our city. The “quilt” will be on display during our open house. I

Additionally, come to connect with artists and community members and ask our team questions about our open and upcoming opportunities. This is a free and all-ages event, we hope to see you there!

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.