Small Grants Program Overview

Small Grants Program

How to Apply for a Grant 

Grantseekers may apply to more than one of the city’s arts service providers listed below. However, the total amount of funding received from all three partners combined may not exceed $5,000 in Fiscal Year 2024-25.

Each grant program has its own application instructions and timelines. Please visit the respective websites for detailed information and application guidelines:

• Artist Grant & Residency Program (Friends of IFCC): IFCCFriends.org
• Echo Fund (MusicOregon): MusicOregon.org/echo-fund
• Project Grants (RACC): Racc.org/grants/portland-arts-project-grant/

Artist Grant & Residency Program – Friends of IFCC

The mission of Friends of IFCC is to further the success of the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC), which has served as an arts center and cultural home for Portland’s Black community since its founding by the City of Portland’s first Black Commissioner and Parks Director, Charles Jordan.

The IFCC Artist Grant & Residency Program provides artists with dedicated funding, studio space, and yearlong opportunities for collaboration and professional development. In Fiscal Year 2024-25, Friends of IFCC will offer grants and residency opportunities to support projects and programming for artists working at any level and in various disciplines—including visual arts, writing, multimedia, music, dance, theater, spoken word, and multidisciplinary performance.

This program is part of a larger community-driven effort to support Portland’s Black arts ecosystem and renovate IFCC. Prior to IFCC's renovation, the current building is being re-activated to build excitement about what’s ahead. The in-kind donation of space at IFCC for artist residencies is provided by Portland Parks & Recreation as a program partner. 

Grant Award Highlights:

• Eligibility: Portland-based artists working at any level and in wide-ranging disciplines—including but not limited to visual arts, writing, multimedia, music (including bands), dance, theater, spoken word, and multidisciplinary performance.
• Funding Focus: Alignment with the mission of Friends of IFCC (above) and the vision of the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) as an anchor facility where the history of Portland's Black community and its rich arts and culture contributions can be presented, displayed, discussed, and honored.
• Available Funding: $100,000 from the Office of Arts & Culture (plus additional support from other philanthropic sources)
• Grant Awards:$1,000 to $12,000 per grant*
• *Please note: The Office of Arts & Culture limits annual grant awards to $5,000 per artist across all contracted entities (FoIFCC, Music Oregon, and RACC). Friends of IFCC has raised additional philanthropic support to cover any grant awards in excess of the $5,000 cap.

Funding Timeline:

• Grant Application Opens: November 20, 2024
• Information Sessions: December 4 and December 14, 2024
• Application Deadline: January 8, 2025
• Panel Review: February 2025
• Award Announcements: February 2025
• Grant Funding Awarded: March 2025 – December 2025

Echo Fund – MusicOregon

MusicOregon is the first statewide organization to create grant programs purpose-built to support the unique needs of independent, commercial, contemporary musical artists. The Echo Fund at MusicOregon empowers creative musical excellence and professional development by supporting independent, working musicians with funding for creative, non-performance projects that support new growth and spur creative and career development.

In Fiscal Year 24-25, MusicOregon will partner with the Office of Arts & Culture to provide grants to Portland-based independent musicians across all genres through the Echo Fund.

Grant Award Highlights:

• Eligibility: Portland-based independent working musicians, including musicians operating as sole proprietors, LLCs, and other legally organized entities
• Focus: Professional development and career expansion for independent musicians (funding cannot be used for performances)
• Available Funding: $80,000 total 
• Grant Awards:$1,000-$5,000 per grant

Funding Timeline:

• Grant Application Opens: August 19, 2024
• Information Session: August 27, 2024
• Application Deadline: September 19, 2024
• Panel Review: September - November 2024
• Award Announcements: November 15, 2024
• Award Distribution: December 9, 2024

Learn more

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Portland Arts Project Grants – Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC)

The Regional Arts & Culture Council envisions a thriving region, powered by creativity, with arts and culture in every neighborhood. RACC’s mission is to enrich its communities through arts and culture. The Project Grants program supports a wide range of artistic endeavors, emphasizing diversity and community impact. 

In Fiscal Year 24-25, RACC will partner with the Office of Arts & Culture to provide grants to Portland-based individual artists, creatives, arts businesses, and nonprofits. Successful proposals will involve the creation or presentation of a performance, exhibit, or other work of art available to the general public in 2025.

Grant Award Highlights:

• Eligibility: Individual artists, arts groups, arts-focused businesses, nonprofits, and organizations in Portland
• Focus: Grants will support the making and sharing of artistic work and the development of the arts community in Portland
• Available Funding: $1,200,000 total 
• Grant Awards:$1,000-$5,000 per grant

Funding Timeline:

• Grant Application Opens: Week of August 26, 2024
• Information Session: Week of September 2, 2024
• Application Deadline: October 23, 2024
• Panel Review: November 2024 - December 2024
• Award Announcements: After February 21, 2025
• Award Distribution: February - June 2025

Grant Events by Date

More Arts Grant Opportunities

Additional public funding opportunities for artists and arts organizations are available:

Portland Events & Film

• Scale Up Event Community Event Grant Program (For Events January - June 2025

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Portland Parts & Recreation and Friends of IFCC

• IFCC Grant and Residency Program – Applications closed on August 4, 2024.

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Multnomah County Cultural Coalition

• Multnomah County Cultural Coalition - Cultural Participation Grant Program – Applications closed on November 10, 2024.