The identity of a community is often represented through its creative culture. The empowerment that comes from creative expression is a vital component to all communities.

The Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) is a local non-profit that envisions an environment in which arts and culture flourish and prosper. RACC receives funding from a variety of public and private partners on a misson to support artists, arts organizations, schools and residents throughout Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties. This support comes in the form of grants for artists, nonprofit organizations and schools.

RACC has many programs to empower artists in the community. In addition to their grant program, RACC offers a public art program. Through a variety of public-private partnerships, RACC helps acquire and maintain community-owned artworks in public places. The public art program is overseen by a Public Art Advisory Committee. This program among the oldest and most highly regarded public art programs in the country.

RACC also offers a Work for Art program where nearly 100 vital arts and culture groups in Clackamas, Multnommah, and Washington are supported through donations. These donations can be made through a payroll deduction at your workplace, with a personal check, or by credit card. There are two funds folks can donate to. Those funds are, Work for Art Community Fund and the Art Education Fund respectively.

The Right Brain Initiative is another program offered by RACC. The Right Brain Initiative aims to help change the way kids learn in the Portland metro area by bringing discovery, collaboration and creativity into the classroom. This program emphasizes that creative thinking is vital when supporting kids’ abilities to problem solve, innovate and think critically.

Coming up on Wednesday May 17 Work for Art presents their Battle of the Bands 2017 fundraiser. This event takes place at the Crystal Ballroom. At the event, bands from local businesses compete in front of a panel of celebrity judges and 600 of their adoring fans. There will be three top prizes rewarded at the Battle of the Bands. Prizes include: Best Showmanship, Audience Favorite and Best Company Band. Tickets are just $12 each, and all proceeds benefit Work for Art.

If you’d like to learn more or volunteer with the Regional Arts and Culture Council you can contact them here.

This week at Portland Radio Project we featured the Regional Arts and Culture Council as part of our award-winning Community Voices series. You can listen below to interviews with key members of the organization:

Kregg Arntson, Work for Art Chairperson

David Nijhawan, Arts Champion and Battle of the Bands Participant

Alison Bailey, WA Manager/RACC’s Business Partnership Manager

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