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āPrior to the Arts Access Fund, there were 31 full-time arts teachers and educators serving K-5 students across Portland schools,ā Dawn Isaacs, the City of Portlandās arts educationĀ program manager said. āThisĀ school year, thereĀ are more than 100. That increase isĀ directly relatedĀ to the Arts Access Fund.āĀ
This yearās Arts Tax notification letters are starting to hit mailboxes across Portland. As part of that, the Office of Arts & Culture invites you toĀ get involved,Ā exercise yourĀ creativity and designĀ a unique piece of artāthen share it:Ā
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Watch your mailbox forĀ your Arts Tax mailerĀ Ā
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Grab your markers, crayons, paints, or other medium of choiceĀ
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Add your twist to the coloring sheet portion of theĀ enclosedĀ Art Tax mailerĀ Arts Access Fund flyerĀ
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Share a photo of your creationātag us at @pdxartscultureĀ šļøĀ
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 Portland's legendary Arvie Smith is featured in the most recent Rose City Connection as the visual artist who designed the commemorative street sign toppers along Rosa Parks Way in honor of the civil-rights icon.Ā
"Look around and you'll see Smith's work all over town. Still We Rise, located at the corner of NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Alberta Street, tells the story of the upward struggle of the Albina neighborhood.Ā Albina, My AlbinaĀ adorns the wall of the Garlington Center at the intersection of NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Morris Street. He worked with more than 110 detained youth at the Donald E. Long Home to design and paint a series of murals, includingĀ I am Somebody, on display at the Multnomah County Courthouse. His work has been shown all over the world and he has won too many honors and awards to name."
This is a partnership between the Piedmont Neighborhood Association, Office of Arts & Culture and Portland Bureau of Transportation.
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 Calling all artists and creatives in Portland: The Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with Mayor Keith Wilson, invites you to enter the America 250 City Art Poster Contestācelebrating Portlandās history and culture alongside the United Statesā 250th anniversary and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Part of a nationwide program launched by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the City of Portland is seeking commemorative poster submissions from artists aged 13+ that reflect the spirit, pride, and future of Portland, Oregon.
In addition to $5,000, the grand-prize winner will have their work displayed across Portland and accessioned into the City of Portlandās public art collection.
The submission deadline is March 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
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 This Thursday, February 27 Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219) will showcase two new Front & Center Gallery exhibitions: Epoch, a solo painting show by Joy Kloman (Center Gallery), and Grounded, new ceramics by Michael F. McDonald (Front Gallery). Both shows run February 27āApril 4, 2026.
Attend an opening reception with McDonald on Thursday, March 5, 6ā8 p.m., and a closing reception with Kloman on Thursday, April 2, 6ā8 p.m.
MAC galleries are free and open to the public during regular hours: MonāThu 9 a.m.ā9:30 p.m. and FriāSat 9 a.m.ā5 p.m.
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 The City of Portland and the Office of Arts & Culture are reimagining downtown performing arts! As part of this major effort, the City is exploring new operating models for Portlandā5 Centers for the Arts.
A Request for Information for Venue Operations for Portlandā5 was recently released with the goal to understand the availability of venue operators in the marketplace and to consider new approaches to operating Portlandās downtown performing arts venues. Venue operators, nonprofit organizations, performing arts groups, etc. are invited to submit their interest and ideas.
The submission deadline has been extended to March 16 at 4 p.m., please help us spread the word!
Curious how the City's arts and culture investments show up in your everyday life?
 Explore our new infographic, co-created with Future Work Design and illustrated by Subin Yang, mapping citywide support across arts education, grants & support, public art, arts events, and venuesāfrom certified Kā5 arts teachers and community workshops, to grants for hundreds of artists and organizations, public artworks and creative space, and the concerts, festivals, and performances that bring Portland to life.
 Work is underway to restore and return the historic Thompson Elk Fountain to its original location in early 2026.
Last week, the Portland Water Bureau shared that crews are installing an underground vault to house the electrical and plumbing components for the fountainās new recirculating water system. This vault will provide long-term access for maintenance, and the upgraded system is expected to save up to 18,720 gallons of water per day.
As construction continues, the retrofitted and seismically upgraded bronze Elk statue will be returned as one of the final steps in the project.
 In summer 2026, the Office of Arts & Culture will launch several new funding programs for arts organizations. This will include a new set of guidelines for organizations applying for unrestricted operating support. Community members are invited to provide feedback on updated grant guidelines for the new Operating Support program launching in 2026-27.
Share your input by Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
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Add it to your calendar šļø
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February 27
Join Portland Gay Menās Chorus this Thursday, February 27 for a special evening that spotlights the extraordinary talents you donāt always see on the mainstage from unexpected genres to deeply personal selections.Ā
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March 5
Join us at the Regional Arts & Culture Council Headquarters' on March 5 from 5-7 pm to celebrate 274 Portland Art Projects funded through Arts & Culture's Small Grant Program. RVSP encouraged.
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March 5-14
Tickets are on sale now for the 2026 Biamp Portland Jazz Festival featuring St. Vincent, Mavis Staples, Madeleine Peyroux, and more. Be sure to check out festival's lineup of 20+ free performances and 12+ festival partner events happening across town, too.Ā
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Grant opportunities and open calls š£
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Scale Up (Portland Events & Film Office) | Up to $35,000 | Application deadline: March 16, 2026
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LIFT ā Early Career Support for Native Artist (Native Arts & Cultures Foundation) | $15,000 | Application deadline: 8 p.m., on March 19, 2026
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Uniquely Portland Event Grant (Portland Events & Film Office) | $500-$7,500 | Application deadline: Rolling, but the last day to submit for events taking place by June 30, 2026 is May 16, 2026
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Affordable Commercial Tenanting Grant (Prosper Portland) | Up to $300,000 | Application deadline: Ongoing
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Translation and Interpretation: Ā 311
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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