Arts for All: Expanding Access to Arts and Culture

Portlanders are fortunate to live in a community where arts and culture are part of everyday life—and where arts and culture experiences are made affordable and accessible for the community.

The Arts Education Tax that fuels the Arts Access Fund not only guarantees access to arts education for all 28,000 public elementary students in Portland; it provides grants for Portland-based arts organizations to make arts and culture experiences more accessible.

Thanks to the investment of Portlanders, many of these arts organizations are able to participate in Arts for All, an independent, community-based program that works to make arts and culture experiences more accessible, regardless of income. This allows SNAP/EBT cardholders the option to purchase $5 tickets to hundreds of arts and cultural events, opening the door to concerts, theater performances, museums, gardens, festivals, and other experiences throughout the city and beyond.

Arts for All was established in 2011, and over the past 15 years, the program has grown and expanded its scope to include museums, theaters, festivals, immersive art installations, and other experiences spanning genres and formats. More than 70 organizations throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington currently participate in the program, including Office of Arts & Culture grantees Portland Center Stage, Live Wire Radio, Lan Su Chinese Garden, The Oregon Symphony, White Bird, Portland Baroque Orchestra, and many more.

Find participating organizations and how to purchase tickets

Featured image is courtesy of Friends of Chamber Music.