RACC Press Releases
October 26, 2005
The Regional Arts & Culture Council Hosts Second
MetLife Foundation National Arts Forum Series
Portland’s Future: Partnering for Innovation
National Arts Forum Series Sponsored by MetLife Foundation
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 solving local issues collaboratively, will take place November 8th, 2005, 3pm to 5pm at the Governor Hotel, 611 SW 10th. Space is limited and reservations are required, please call 503-823-5424.
Entitled Portland’s Future: Partnering for Innovation, this is the second of Portland’s two-part forum series. The goal of this second forum is to facilitate the creation of policies and action steps that solve local issues collaboratively, identifying a role for arts, the creative sector, business, and government in the solution. Forum participants will join small group discussions on one of four themes raised at the July 28th forum: arts education, intersections and innovative partnerships between arts and business, design thinking, and the current environment for creative entrepreneurs. Facilitators will work with each small group to distill salient issues around each topic, as well as brainstorm collaborative solutions. Participants will be encouraged to join project teams to carry ideas and actions forward. RACC and NW/BCA will follow up after the forum to bring the teams together.
“There was such a positive energy in the room at the July forum,” said Eloise Damrosch, Executive Director of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. “We wanted to plan a follow-up discussion that would harness this energy; give people an opportunity to focus in more detail on the key ideas expressed initially; and develop strategies to carry these ideas forward.”
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, Portland, Providence, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Summaries from each participating city will be posted on the Americans for the Arts website, www.AmericansForTheArts.org, in an interactive section that will encourage continued dialogue on the forum topics.
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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RACC Staff to Contact
Jeff Hawthorne
Director of Community Affairs
503.823.5258
jhawthorne@racc.org
Mary Bauer
Communications Associate
503.823.5426
mbauer@racc.org
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