RACC Press Release: Portland City Council Approves Continued Investments in Arts & Culture

For immediate release   Contact: Mary Bauer, Communications Associate Regional Arts & Culture Council  |  www.racc.org 108 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR  97209-3318 503.823.5111  |  email: [email protected]   Through vision, leadership and service, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) works to integrate arts and culture in all aspects of community life. 

May 27, 2009

Portland City Council Approves Continued Investments in Arts & Culture

With the adoption of the FY10 budget earlier today, Portland City Council approved a $4,325,300 allocation to the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), including whole funding for most RACC programs. The budget, which was approved 5-0, also includes additional one-time funds to support integrated arts education programs through The Right Brain Initiative;   to advance the regional long term arts strategy ("Act for Art");  investments in the Creative Advocacy Network to deliver a regional, sustainable dedicated funding solution for arts and culture funding; and fulfillment of the City’s $190,000 pledge to Artists Repertory Theater to help pay for ADA accessibility improvements in their new theater.

“Although the economy has forced the city to cut its budget overall, the approved budget reflects the fact that arts and culture are a priority for our community,” said Portland Mayor Sam Adams. “The arts are vital to our well-being. They enrich our lives. They deserve public support, especially during hard times.” 

“RACC and the arts community will deliver a tremendous return on this investment,” said Eloise Damrosch, Executive Director of RACC. “We applaud Portland City Council for their leadership, and we thank the hundreds of artists and arts advocates who packed Council Chambers and participated in several community budget forums to make a strong case for arts funding this year.” 

RACC is the local arts agency for the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and the steward of local public investments in the arts.  City funding will be combined with investments from other public and private partners (including Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties, and Metro) to support RACC’s key services. Among its many programs, RACC provides grants for artists, arts organizations, schools and other community-based arts projects; conducts workplace giving program for arts and culture (“Work for Art”) and other advocacy efforts; provides workshops and other forms of technical assistance; shares printed and web-based resources for artists; coordinates integrated arts education services in public schools; and integrates artwork into public places.

For more information on RACC grant opportunities and other programs, visit www.racc.org.