TO BE AIRED ON CHANNEL 30 FROM SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 19, 2005
9/30 Friday 6PM
10/3 Monday 6:30PM
10/9 Sunday 9AM
10/13 Thursday 6PM
10/19 Wednesday 2PM
The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) and Northwest Business for
Culture and the Arts (NW/BCA) will host one of 40 national arts forums, sponsored
by MetLife Foundation. The Forum, which will focus on how arts organizations
can become partners with for-profit creative industries and the rest of the
business sector in building Portland’s future, will take place July
28th, 2005 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon at the Ecotrust Building, 721 NW Ninth
Avenue. Space is limited and reservations are required – please call
503-228-2977.
Entitled Portland’s Future: Fueled by Creativity, this forum will
probe the idea that the arts community, the creative industries and the business
community in Portland have economic issues and concerns in common. The goal
is to find the commonalities between the economic and public policy needs
of these groups as a way to build understanding and develop partnership opportunities.
Business, arts, and creative leaders and innovators have been invited to
participate in this forum discussion facilitated by Thom Walters of Coraggio
Group.
“This forum is a great opportunity for our region’s artists,
nonprofit arts organizations and creative industries to be acknowledged as
essential contributors to the region’s economic future,” said
Eloise Damrosch, Executive Director of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. “The
arts must have a seat at the planning table.”
The MetLife Foundation National Arts Forum Series represents the largest
collaboration to date between MetLife Foundation and Americans for the Arts,
which recently merged with Arts & Business Council Inc. MetLife Foundation
had previously sponsored a more limited number of forums through Arts & Business
Council. In Portland, forums are produced by RACC and NW/BCA, both local
member organizations of Americans for the Arts.
“MetLife Foundation’s support for this series is exactly the
kind of increased involvement from the business community we hope to foster
and continue” said Gary P. Steuer, Executive Director of the Arts & Business
Council of Americans for the Arts. “With this initiative, we are off
to an exciting programmatic start.”
In addition to Portland, forums will take place in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte,
Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, New York, Oklahoma
City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. Louis, Saint Paul,
San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Summaries from each participating city
will be posted on the Americans for the Arts website, www.AmericansForTheArts.org.
Through vision, leadership, and service, the Regional Arts & Culture
Council (RACC) works to integrate arts and culture in all aspects of community
life. RACC has served the Portland tri-county area since its inception
in 1995, when the city’s Metropolitan Arts Commission transitioned
into a separate not-for-profit organization. RACC is the steward of public
investment in arts and culture, and works to create an environment in which
the arts and culture of the region can flourish and prosper. RACC plays
a significant role in regional and community development. RACC also provides
direct support for artists and arts organizations. Specifically, RACC provides
service in four key areas: Advocacy and Development, Grants, Public Art,
and Information and Education services. For more information about the
Regional Arts & Culture Council, visit the web site at www.racc.org,
or call 503.823.5111
The mission of Northwest Business for Culture & the Arts (NW/BCA) is
to dramatically increase public and private support for the arts, heritage
and humanities throughout Oregon. An affiliate of the National Business Committee
for the Arts, Inc., NW/BCA provides a dynamic and mutually beneficial link
between business and the arts through advocacy, recognition, strategic alliances,
membership programs, research, networking and communications. Last year,
NW/BCA and RACC collaborated on two public forums, including a lecture by
Ann Markusen, noted economist and author studying issues facing the Creative
Economy. NW/BCA is proud to partner with RACC again to continue this important
conversation to impact our region’s plan for a sustainable and creative
future. For more information about NW/BCA visit www.nwbca.org or call 503.228.2977
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to carry on its long-standing
tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants are
made to support health, educational, civic and cultural organizations and
programs. Recognizing the vital role the arts play in building communities
and educating young people, MetLife Foundation provides grants to cultural
organizations throughout the country. Support is emphasized for opportunities
to bring cultural experiences to wider audiences and for projects with large
and diverse audiences that help promote greater understanding among different
cultures and bring communities together. For more information about the Foundation,
please visit its website at www.metlife.org.
Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for
advancing the arts in America. With more than 40 years of service, it is
dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities
for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.
The Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts promotes partnerships
between the arts and business. In addition to the MetLife Foundation National
Arts Forum Series, it operates Business Volunteers for the Arts®, the
National Arts Marketing Project, and a 14-city national affiliate network.
For more information, visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org.
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