SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Small grants that often make a big difference in ensuring access to the arts for Oregonians, especially in rural areas, have been awarded to 109 arts organizations statewide by the Commission on arts organization for fiscal year 2022. Twelve more small arts organizations qualified compared to fiscal year 2021.
Awarded to arts organizations in virtually every region of the state, Small Operating Grants are designed to provide support to arts organizations with budgets under $150,000. Eligibility is limited to organizations that have operated as an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for two or more years and that provide ongoing and sustained arts programming and outreach programs . Each organization received $2,178, just over double the amount awarded in fiscal year 2021.
“The Arts Commission’s small operating grants allow tiny, all-volunteer organizations to have outsized impact,” said Erin Scheessele, executive director of Orgelkids USA. “It allows us to dream bigger and bring a little wonder to our communities. For Orgelkids, this meant we could focus our resources on designing and building a bike for our pipe organ so we could continue our outreach and education during the pandemic.
“Although the Drexel H. Foundation and our community are rural and small compared to other parts of Oregon, our impact is HUGE,” said Sandijean Fuson, President of the Drexel H. Foundation. “Operating costs during COVID increased when we couldn’t rely on our traditional volunteer base. This grant has allowed us to maintain an uninterrupted existence of the programs we have had for over 25 years, reminding our community that they are important.
“This grant program was developed to increase the Arts Commission’s support for small but powerful arts providers in Oregon,” said Arts Commission Chair Jenny Green. “These organizations often represent the only arts outlet for remote and underserved areas of the state.”
For more information about the Small Operating Grants Program, contact Liora Sponko at (971) 345-1641 or by email at [email protected]
Small operating grants for fiscal year 2022 have been awarded to:
Airlie Press, Portland
Anima Mundi Productions, Phoenix
Applegate Regional Theater Inc., Veneta
Accelerated Art, Tillamook
Art in Oregon, Oregon City
Eugene Arts and Business Alliance, Eugene
Ashland New Plays Festival, Ashland
Astoria Arts and Movement Center, Astoria
Astoria Visual Arts, Inc., Astoria
Bach Cantata Choir, Portland
Ballet Folklorico Ritmo Alegre, Medford
Bandon Showcase, Inc., Bandon
Beaverton Symphony Orchestra, Beaverton
Blueprint Ensemble Arts & Theater Initiative, Portland
Boom Arts, Portland
Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theater, Portland
Bump in the Road Theatre, Portland
CC Stern Type Foundry, Portland
Cannon Beach Arts Association, Cannon Beach
Cascadia Center for Arts and Crafts, Government Camp
Cascadia Chapter of the National Association of Composers, Portland
Cascadia Concert Opera, Astoria
Cathedral Park Performing Arts Collective, Portland
Ceili from the Valley Society, Salem
Choro at Schola, Portland
Classic up close, Tigard
Columbia Arts Guild, Columbia City
Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association, Hood River
Conchords Chorale, Tualatin
Corvallis Guitar Company, Corvallis
Singers from the Corvallis repertoire, Corvallis
CymaSpace, Portland
PDX Dance Wire, Portland
Drexel H. Foundation, Vale
Eastside Theater Company, Gresham
Emerald Empire Art Association, Springfield
Experience Theater Project, Beaverton
Don’t be afraid of the music, Portland
Oregon Choral Festival, Salem
Future Prairie, Portland
Calapooia Gallery, Albany
Symphony Association of the Grande Ronde, La Grande
Heidi Duckler Dance Theater Northwest, Portland
High Desert Chamber Music, Bend
Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra, Hillsboro
Hoffman Center for the Arts, Manzanita
Inland Northwest Musicians Inc., Hermiston
Integrated Arts (DBA Harmonic Laboratory), Eugene
Keizer Creative Arts Association, Salem
Klamath Movie, Klamath Falls
Live on stage, Portland
Media Rites, Portland
Play It Forward by Michael Allen Harrison, Beaverton
Mid-Valley Prelude Sinfonia Inc., Albany
Montavilla Jazz Festival, Portland
Morpheus Youth Project, Portland
Music Education and Performing Artists Association, Eugene
North Shore Choir, Astoria
Opal Center for Arts and Education, Cottage Grove
Open Hearts Open Minds, Portland
OperaBend, Bend
Orchestra Next, Eugene
Oregon Artist Series Foundation, Salem
Oregon Arts Show, Portland
Oregon Brass Society, Eugene
Oregon Children’s Choir Association, Eugene
Oregon Coast Children’s Theater, Toledo
Oregon Coast Youth Symphony Festival Association, Newport
Oregon Spirit Choir, Salem
Oregon Symphony Group, Beaverton
Orgelkids USA, Corvallis
CAP Partners, Astoria
PDX Contemporary Ballet, Portland
Performance Works Northwest, Portland
Peruvian Cultural Festival and Events, Beaverton
Piano Santa Foundation, Portland
PlayWrite, Portland
Portland Chamber Music, Portland
Portland Chamber Orchestra, Portland
Portland Festival Symphony Orchestra, Portland
Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, Portland
Portland Taiko, Portland
Portland Wind Symphony Orchestra, Portland
Rasika Society for the Arts of India, Hillsboro
Resonance Vocal Ensemble, Portland
Risk-reward, Portland
Riverbend Live!, Winston
Salem Philharmonic Orchestra, Salem
Salem Pops Orchestra, Salem
Salem Symphonic Winds, Salem
Salem Youth Symphony Association, Salem
Scalehouse, Elbow
Southern Oregon Guild, Cave Junction
Youth Steps, Portland
The Dalles Art Association, The Dalles
The Geezer Gallery, Portland
The Verona Studio, Salem
Tolovana Art Colony, Cannon Beach
Tualatin Valley Community Band, Tigard
Creation of the Tualatin Valley, Beaverton
Twilight Theater Company, Portland
Umpqua Symphony Association, Roseburg
Valley Art Association, Forest Grove
Willamette Jazz Society, Eugene
Willamette University, Salem
Willamette Valley Symphony Orchestra, Albany
Women in Film-Portland, Portland
Wordcrafters in Eugene, Eugene
ZENAZEZZA INC., Portland
The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding, and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives, and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the governor, determine artistic needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Department of Economic and Community Development) in 1993, in recognition of the growing role the arts play in the broader social, economic, and educational spheres of communities across Oregon. ‘Oregon. In 2003, the Oregon Legislature transferred operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and utilizing the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development.
The Arts Commission is supported by general funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature and by federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at: www.oregonartscommission.org.
