Chariti Montez, director of the City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the importance of—and need for continued funding of—the arts and arts education. That advocacy centered what we know: That investing in the arts expands access to cultural, educational, and economic benefits across all communities, and that these investments fuel creativity, innovation, and growth, both locally and across the US.
During the week of December 9, Montez met with lawmakers including Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a U.S. representative for Oregon’s First Congressional District.
“The arts policy and funding decisions made on Capitol Hill impact jurisdictions across the nation, including Portland’s vibrant arts and culture landscape,” Montez said. “I was honored to represent fellow Oregonians in conversations about the future of the arts and art funding in 2025 and beyond.”
Montez joined Americans for the Arts and peers from around the country in the nation’s capital, where a primary topic of conversation was funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Founded in 1965, the NEA is an independent agency within the federal government that supports and funds impactful arts projects across the country, including in Oregon and Portland—which is also a top priority for the Office of Arts & Culture.
The NEA has distributed $14,249,684 in federal funding in Oregon over the last five years, either directly or through state and regional partners. For 2025, Montez and other arts advocates are hoping to help secure $209 million for the endowment in the final Appropriations bill.
The Office of Arts & Culture and Americans for the Arts share a commitment to arts access and arts education, as well. In Portland, the Arts Access Fund—managed by Arts & Culture and powered by the Arts Tax—will provide all 28,000 K-5 students across the with access to an art or music teacher for the 2024-25 school year.
This topic is of particular interest to Congresswoman Bonamici, who introduced legislation in 2023 to increase access to the arts for students through the Arts Education for All Act. Advocacy for arts education and access at the federal level for 2025 focuses on securing funding the Arts Education Program, Student Support & Academic Enrichment Grants, Title I-A, Title II-A, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
“We are committed to advocating for more funding to support the arts and culture ecosystem. We know there are no guarantees, especially during lean times—like those we’re preparing for next year. But our office will continue to advocate for Portland, at the state and federal level, whatever the budgetary landscape looks like,” Montez said.