Portland is ranked 21st in per-capita spending on the arts. Each year, the region provides about $2.40 for every person to bring music, dance, theater, film, visual arts, literary arts, and folk arts into our neighborhoods, schools, and community centers.

Our $2.40 contribution to the arts puts us woefully behind cities from Atlanta, Georgia to San Jose, California.  Seattle spends $8.94 per-capita.  Dallas, $10.67. $4.41 in Austin.

To combat this growing disparity, we need better strategic investments. That is why Mayor Tom Potter and Sam successfully championed an $300,000 increase in ongoing support for the Regional Arts & Culture Council [1].  Not enough but  step in the right direction. 

This increased support will be directed towards Opportunity Grants [2]. These grants will provide a chance for opportunities to be seized, and organizations and artists to make one-time investments in systems to further their impact in our communities.

Related Documents

• 2006-07 Budget Vol. 1, pgs 69, 694 & 695 [3]

Community Partners

• Regional Arts & Culture Council [4]

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