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The Office of Arts & Culture's Small Grants Program provides essential funding to local artists, nonprofit organizations, and schools through partnerships with Friends of IFCC, MusicOregon, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC).
What is the Small Grants Program?
Through its Small Grants Program, the Office of Arts & Culture's three grantmaking partners distribute grants of up to $5,000 for individual artists and up to $10,000 for nonprofit organizations. These grants are administered by Friends of IFCC, MusicOregon, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC).
Separately, the Office of Arts & Culture awards Operating Support Grants to established, eligible arts organizations that demonstrate artistic excellence, provide service to K-12 students and people in underserved communities, show administrative and fiscal competence, and provide a range of high-quality art programs for Portlanders. Organizations that receive Operating Support Grants in fiscal year 2026-27 are not eligible to apply for Small Grants.
A note for applicants
Individual artists can apply to more than one of the City’s partners listed below. However, the total amount of funding received from all three partners combined may not exceed $5,000 in fiscal year 2026-27. Each grant program has its own application instructions and timelines. Please visit the respective websites for detailed information and application guidelines.
Important grant program dates for 2026-27
| Grant program | Who's eligible | Application opens | Application deadline | Award announcement | Grant distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends of IFCC's Artist Grant & Residency Program | Individual artists | 8/31/2026 | 10/16/2026 | 12/15/2026 | Throughout 2027 |
| MusicOregon's Echo Fund | Individual artists | 8/4/2026 | 9/8/2026 at 5:00 p.m. | 11/19/2026 | December 2026 |
| RACC's Portland Arts Project Grants | Individual artists, collectives, arts businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations. | 9/1/2026 | 10/28/26 at 11:59 p.m. | Late March 2027 | April - June 2027 |
Friends of IFCC's Artist Grant & Residency Program
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 in in North/Northeast Portland for multiple generations. The IFCC Artist Grant & Residency Program provides artists with dedicated funding, studio space, and yearlong opportunities for collaboration and professional development. In fiscal year 2026-27, 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 revitalize IFCC, re-activating the current building to build excitement and attention for future expansion. The in-kind donation of space at IFCC for artist residencies is provided by Portland Parks & Recreation.
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 goal of revitalizing IFCC as an arts/cultural home in North/Northeast Portland.
- Available funding: $100,000 from the Office of Arts & Culture
- Grant awards: $5,000 per grant
Funding timeline
- Grant application opens: August 31, 2026
- Information sessions: September 13 and 22, 2026
- Application deadline: October 16, 2026
- Award announcements: December 15, 2026
- Grant funding awarded: Throughout 2027
MusicOregon's Echo Fund
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 2026-27, MusicOregon will 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: $100,000 from the Office of Arts & Culture
- Grant awards: $1,000-$5,000 per grant
Funding timeline
- Grant application opens: August 4, 2026
- Information session: August 17, 2026
- Application deadline: September 8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
- Award announcements: November 19, 2026
- Award distribution: December, 2026
Learn more about the Echo Fund
Regional Arts & Culture Council's Portland Arts Project Grants
The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) envisions a thriving region, powered by creativity, with arts and culture in every neighborhood. The organization's mission is to enrich its communities through arts and culture. The Arts Project Grants support a wide range of artistic endeavors, emphasizing diversity and community impact.
In fiscal year 2026-27, RACC will provide Arts Project Grants to Portland-based individual artists, arts businesses, schools, arts organizations, and other nonprofits. Successful proposals will involve the creation or presentation of a performance, exhibit, or other work of art available to the general public in 2027.
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 from the Office of Arts & Culture
- Grant awards: $1,000-$5,000 for individuals; $1,000-$10,000 for organizations and schools
Funding timeline
- Grant application opens: September 1, 2026
- Information session: TBD
- Application deadline: October 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Award announcements: by March 26, 2027
- Award distribution: April to June 2027