Portland voters approve new funding for arts education and access

First graders at Sitton Elementary in St. Johns learn about patterns, rhythm, math and music in an exercise with The Right Brain Initiative.

Posted:

11/7/12

Thank you, Portland!

On November 6th, 2012, Portland residents approved ballot measure #26-146, 62%-38%. The new income tax of $35 per income-earning resident will generate an estimated $12.2 million every year, starting in 2013.

Approximately $6.8 million will pay for 68.5 certified arts education teachers in Portland’s school districts (Centennial, David Douglas, Parkrose, Portland Public, Reynolds, and Riverdale). Districts receiving these funds are required to maintain weekly arts instruction in grades K-5.

RACC will receive an estimated $5.7 million from this fund next year:

  • $3.6 million to fund arts organizations that provide arts programming and access for every Portland resident through RACC’s general support grants program
  • $1.4 million for project grants to schools and arts organizations that provide arts programming for K-12 students and underserved residents
  • $366,000 to coordinate arts education programs across Portland’s six school districts. Our partnership with the Kennedy Center’s Any Given Child program will be our foundation for this work.

For more information on how the funds will be used, visit the Schools & Arts Together website and this FAQ page.