RACC Press Releases

The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is seeking applications for the 7th Annual RACC Artist Fellowship Award. This year, RACC intends to award one $20,000 Fellowship to a performing artist. Performing arts include dance, music and theater.

RACC’s Artist Fellowship Award was established in 1999 to honor and support local artists of the highest artistic merit. Through discipline, rigor, curiosity, singularity, and generosity, these citizens craft an idea, hone a vision, and develop a body of work that reflects the shape of our region and the voice of our time. RACC’s Artist Fellowship Awards are intended to recognize the spirit of these artists, and to reward their accomplishments. The accompanying cash award allows artists to explore a particular project or sustain and enhance their artistic process.

Artists who are current, physical residents of Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington counties are eligible to apply. Applicants must have lived in Oregon for a minimum of five years, and have been practicing in their discipline for at least 10 years. Additional criteria apply. To receive a copy of the guidelines and application, call RACC at 503-823-5417, or visit RACC’s offices at 108 NW 9th Ave, Ste. 300, Portland. Guidelines can also be downloaded and access to our online application form can be found, click here.

Although artists are expected to be recognized as a professional artist by their peers, applicants do not need to be nominated; they can apply directly. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 PM Monday, April 18, 2005. This is not a postmark deadline.

Public funding for the arts has decreased over the past several years, which is why RACC will only award one fellowship this year, instead of two as in years past. This pattern will continue over the next four-year cycle, which includes Visual Arts in 2006, Media Arts in 2007, and Literary Arts in 2008.

Past recipients of the Individual Artist Fellowships have included: Mary Oslund and Obo Addy, Performing Arts (1999); Christine Bourdette and Terry Toedtemeier, Visual Arts (2000); Michele Glazer, Literary Arts, and Jim Blashfield, Media Arts (2001); Tomas Svoboda and Keith Scales, Performing Arts (2002); Judy Cooke and Michael Brophy, Visual Arts (2003); Chel White, Media Arts, and Craig Lesley, Literary Arts (2004).

Through vision, leadership and service the Regional Arts & Culture Council works to integrate arts and culture in all aspects of community life.
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