RACC announces new grant opportunities for expanding Portlanders’ access to arts and culture

PORTLAND, ORE – With funding from the City of Portland’s voter-approved Arts Education and Access Fund, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) plans to invest approximately $50,000 in nonprofit organizations that are making arts and culture more accessible for communities of color, immigrants, refugees, underserved neighborhoods such as East Portland, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ  communities, and other under-represented populations.

“Expanding Cultural Access” grant application materials are available online now at www.racc.org/ecagrants. Applicant organizations must be based in Portland and offer arts-related programming for underserved communities between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. All proposals due by March 3 at 5:00 pm, and awards will be announced in May.

The Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) values a community in which everyone can participate in arts and culture, and these grants are specifically designed to support programs and projects that create more equitable access to arts and culture. Examples of programming that would be competitive for these grants include:

  • An event or program that gives underserved artists increased outlets to promote and market their work;
  • A technical assistance/learning/training program for artists in underserved cultural communities;
  • An event that highlights and promotes the art and culture of one particular community;
  • Ongoing programming that serves these goals. 

For more information, visit www.racc.org/ecagrants. Application materials are also available in Spanish, with other languages available upon request. Applicants whose primary fluency is in a language other than English can call 503-823-5071 to receive live, over-the-phone interpreted assistance from RACC.

To help potential applicants understand the application and guidelines, RACC will host two free information sessions in Portland. RSVPs are encouraged but not required; contact ttoler@racc.org,
503-823-5866.

  • Saturday, January 31, 2015, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm at Midland Library, 805 Southeast 122nd Avenue
  • Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm at RACC, 411 NW Park Ave., Ste. 101

The Arts Education and Access Fund (AEAF) was approved by voters in November, 2012. The AEAF provides funding for art and music teachers in Portland’s six school districts, plus funding for RACC to bring arts, culture and creativity to life for every Portland resident. By law, RACC sets aside at least 5% of all its allocations from the AEAF to provide grants and programs that help make arts and culture experiences available to Portland residents, with particular emphasis on programs directed to communities who are underserved by local arts providers. For more information, visit www.racc.org/aeaf.