Axios Portland– March 5, 2025
A new, permanent statue of York is in the works
A new, permanent monument of York—an enslaved Black man who accompanied Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their journey West—is currently being commissioned by the city. The exact location of where the statue will be displayed, and when, is still being determined, according to Darion Jones, assistant director for the Office of Arts & Culture.
"We will be doing community engagement over the next year or so and hope to have the community let us know where they want York to go," he said, adding that North Portland, NW York Street and Mount Tabor are some locations being considered.
Oregon ArtsWatch – January 27, 2025
IFCC, looking to renew, makes its Grant and Artist Residency program permanent
"The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center’s Artist Grant and Residency program, originally funded by short-term pandemic relief funding, will become a permanent program, thanks to funding from the City of Portland and fundraising by a nonprofit committed to revitalizing a center of Portland’s Black culture.
In addition to grants and donations, the nonprofit won a $120,000 grant from the City of Portland’s Office of Arts and Culture and a grant from the 1803 Fund, a Black-led philanthropic organization working to revitalize Portland’s Black culture, focusing on Portland’s Albina neighborhood and extending from there."
Mentions: Arts in parks
Oregon ArtsWatch– November 2, 2024
City announces $4 million+ in arts grants
"While there is a push to promote and expand generally smaller cultural groups in the city’s neighborhoods, many people inside and outside of city government also believe that the draw of strong and healthy major arts and cultural organizations is among the keys to the revival of Portland’s downtown..."
Mentions: General Operating Support, Arts Access Fund
Willamette Week– October 31, 2024
Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture Splits $4 Million Art Tax Between 80 Creative Institutions
"Your tax dollars at work! Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture announced Wednesday the 80 organizations splitting a pot just north of $4 million for the 2024–25 fiscal year."
Mentions: General Operating Support, Arts Access Fund
Oregon ArtsWatch– October 13, 2024
Candidates for Portland Mayor and City Council voice strong support for the arts in survey
"In place since 2012, the annual arts tax taxes each Portlander making more than $1,000 a year, and it has provided stable, consistent funding for at least one arts-certified teacher for every 500 students in a K-5 elementary school within Portland’s geographic boundaries. The arts tax also supports a wide variety of arts programming."
Mentions: Arts Access Fund
Willamette Week – August 22, 2024
“...The city is standing with its music culture as a cultural asset worthy of support.”
Mentions: Small Grants Program
OPB – July 26, 2024
“Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture has taken shape and has found organizations, including RACC and MusicOregon, to help administer grants to artists and creators. The city itself will be working on arts advocacy and education.”
Oregon ArtsWatch – April 7, 2024
“We’re excited to reach this milestone, but we recognize that the hardest work—bringing a shared vision to life—is still to come.”
Mentions: Our Creative Future
OPB – Aug. 1, 2023
“The City [of Portland] really wants to increase investments in artists, our creative economy, and in creating the atmosphere for Portland to really shine as a center for arts and culture.”