Arts education sponsorships open September 30

Sponsorship Overview

A complete arts education includes standards-based instruction with certified arts teachers, arts integration, and arts experiences with arts and culture organizations. The Arts Access Fund, fueled by the Arts Education Tax, works to ensure every public elementary student in Portland has access to a full arts education.

In 2025 the Office of Arts & Culture launched the Creating Together initiative to support arts partnerships in schools. Community arts providers provide students with opportunities to engage in a wide variety of artistic genres, build an understanding of multiple perspectives, and find new ways to share their voice with their community.

Arts education sponsorships support the City goals of supporting a full arts education for Portland's elementary students and building community awareness of the Arts Access Fund.

Sponsorships are open to public elementary schools, and MESD K-12 programs, located within the City of Portland. Applications open September 30, 2026 and will be accepted until all the funds have been dispersed.

Sponsorship Types

Field Trips/Assemblies

The Office of Arts & Culture will sponsor field trips/assemblies with arts organizations for up to $2,000 per school.

Arts Residencies

The Office of Arts & Culture will provide up to 10 residencies for up to $7,000 per school. An arts residency serves at least 50% of the K-5 student population of the school and is when an arts organization works with students multiple times over the course of weeks or months.

Sponsorship Process

• School identifies the arts organization, and arts experience, they want to have funded. The school is responsible for all arrangements and contracts with the arts organization.
• School applies for an Office of Arts & Culture sponsorship via this form: Arts Experiences for Schools Sponsorship Application.
• School is notified by the Office of Arts & Culture of the status of their sponsorship award withing one week of receipt of the application.
• Office of Arts & Culture pays the arts organization directly.
• School shares information about the arts education experience, and the Arts Access Fund (provided by the Office of Arts & Culture), with their school communities.
• After the arts experience, the school provides the Office of Arts & Culture with pictures approved for public use.

Arts Organization Directory for Schools

Portland educators and schools can find local arts organizations that provide assemblies, family art nights, field trips, residencies, student workshops, and teacher workshops for Portland students in this directory: 

Arts Organization Directory for Schools

Photo on this page courtesy of Diego G. Diaz.