Operating Support Grants

Operating Support Grants is sponsored by City of Portland Office of Arts & Culture. Provides flexible funding to Portland-based nonprofit arts organizations to strengthen operations and expand access to arts experiences.

Operating Support Grants | Portland. gov Portland and the federal government Learn about our sanctuary city status, efforts to block federal overreach: Portland. gov/Federal Federal policy impacts in Portland Learn how Portland is navigating federal changes in immigration policy; diversity, equity and inclusion; rights and protections for transgender people; project funding and more.

of General Operating Support The Office of Arts & Culture's Operating Support program provides essential resources to local arts organizations. What are Operating Support grants?

Through its Operating Support program, the City of Portland's Office of Arts & Culture provides direct, unrestricted grants to established nonprofit arts organizations that demonstrate artistic excellence, provide service to the community, show administrative and fiscal competence, and provide a range of high-quality art programs for the public.

of Kids Singalong with Emily Arrow at Portland Book Festival 2024 Kids singalong with Emily Arrow at Portland Book Festival 2024. Photo courtesy of Literary Arts. The history of Operating Support From 1995 to 2024, the City contracted with the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) to administer General Operating Support (now simply Operating Support) grants and distribute funds.

In 2019, RACC revamped its program to direct a higher proportion of funding to small and midsized organizations, establishing funding tiers based on budget size. With the creation of Portland's Office of Arts & Culture in 2024, the City brought the program in-house for the first time.

For fiscal year 2024-25, Arts & Culture announced that it would provide Operating Support directly to the same organizations that RACC had funded in fiscal year 2023-24—including the same base award calculated using the same tiered structure. The same is true for 2025-26 awards.

With this change, the City also announced that Operating Support grant awards would be more closely tied to the goals of the Arts Access Fund , which is the primary revenue source for these grants. Specifically, funding will be allocated to organizations that provide services to K-12 students and people in under-represented communities.

2025-26 Operating Support grantee organizations Operating Support grantees were announced on October 23, 2025. Grantee organizations include 79 groups that had received Operating Support from the City in fiscal year 2024-25 and from RACC in fiscal year 2023-24. These groups are listed in the table below.

Download a list of 2025-26 Operating Support distributions here: PDF file 2025-26 Operating Support distribution details (PDF) 487. 57 KB The Office of Arts & Culture and the City's Grants Management Division are working to redesign the Operating Support process, including a requirement for all current grantees and interested parties to reapply for the program next year.

Organizations that are not currently receiving Operating Support funding from the City of Portland but would like to be notified when 2027 guidelines are shared and/or when next year's application opens—in spring 2026—are invited to fill out this form . Operating Support grantees (2025-26) Expand the entries in this list to learn more about Operating Support grantee organizations.

Albert Abbey Foundation nurtures the arts in NE Portland. The nonprofit music and community center provides affordable education, studio, and performance space. Learn more about the Alberta Abbey Foundation All Ages Music Portland / Friends of Noise Friends of Noise is a non-profit organization that supports creative youth in Portland through all ages concerts, workshops, and experience navigating the music scene.

Learn more about Friends of Noise Artists Repertory Theatre Artists Repertory Theatre’s mission is to produce intimate, provocative theatre and provide a home for a diverse community of artists and audiences to take creative risks.

Learn more about the Artists Repertory Theatre Arts for Learning Northwest Arts for Learning Northwest connects young people with diverse arts and creative experiences and makes the arts abundantly accessible in schools and communities.

Learn more about Arts for Learning Northwest Blue Sky Gallery (Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts) Blue Sky’s mission is to inspire and build community between contemporary photographic artists and our audiences through exhibitions, publications, and dialogue. Learn more about Blue Sky Gallery BodyVox is dedicated to the creation and performance of innovative dance works that entertain, inspire and uplift audiences of all ages.

Boom Arts is a performing arts presenter and producer whose mission is to imagine new social and political possibilities through live performance. Learn more about Boom Arts Caldera supports youth and artists through the power of creativity, nature, and community.

Cappella Romana is a vocal ensemble dedicated to combining passion with scholarship in its exploration of the musical traditions of the Christian East and West, with emphasis on early and contemporary music.

Learn more about Cappella Romana Chamber Music Northwest’s mission is to inspire through concerts and events celebrating the richness and diversity of chamber music, performed by artists of the highest caliber, presenting the community with exceptional opportunities for enjoyment, education, and reflection.

Learn more about Chamber Music Northwest Children's Healing Art Project Children's Healing Art Project brings together the healing power of art to children and families facing medical challenges. Learn more about Children's Healing Art Project CoHo Productions provides critical theatrical opportunities to low-income and underserved artists in Portland through its Resource Center and Co-Production model.

Learn more about Coho Productions Corrib Theatre’s mission is to bring Irish playwrights’ unique perspective on oppression and empowerment, and conflict and resolution, to Portland in order to change our world for the better.

Learn more about Corrib Theatre Cymaspace's mission is to make the performing arts more accessible and inclusive to Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities by supporting the development of projects utilizing cymatic technology and presenting these works in live performance. Learn more about Cymaspace Echo Theater Company is committed to the celebration of community using movement and ensemble theater traditions.

Learn more about Echo Theater Company The En Taiko performance group is a youthful, high-energy experience that fosters community in Portland, OR. Learn more about En Taiko Ethos Music Center offers sliding scale music lessons from its headquarters in North Portland and facilitates music outreach programs for students in Oregon’s underserved rural and urban areas.

Learn more about Ethos Music Center Friends of Chamber Music is dedicated to presenting the highest quality chamber ensembles in concert and providing educational outreach to further chamber music in the community. Learn more about Friends of Chamber Music Hand2Mouth (H2M) is a theatre ensemble that creates original work that is bold, accessible, and inclusive.

Learn more about Hand2Mouth Hollywood Theatre (Film Action Oregon) The Hollywood Theatre is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to entertain, inspire, educate and connect the community through the art of film, while preserving a historic Portland landmark.

Learn more about Hollywood Theatre Imago Theatre's mission is to create theatre that transcends the limits associated with language, age, and even gravity and other laws of the real world. Learn more about Imago Theatre Independent Publishing Resource Center The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) is a community center and shared print studio.

Learn more about the Independent Publishing Resource Center Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl Through Mexica culture, Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl inspires the exploration of our shared indigenous heritage, provide an indigenous cultural foundation to the community, and thereby empower people toward social, educational, and personal improvement.

Learn more about Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl The mission of Lan Su Chinese Garden is to cultivate an oasis of tranquil beauty and harmony to inspire, engage, and educate our global community in the appreciation of a richly authentic Chinese culture. Learn more about Lan Su Chinese Garden Literary Arts' mission is to engage readers, support writers, and inspire the next generation with great literature.

Learn more about Literary Arts Live Wire cultivates joy, discovery, and connection by amplifying unexpected and riveting voices to a national audience. Learn more about Live Wire Radio MediaRites is dedicated to telling the stories of diverse cultures and giving voice to the unheard through the arts, education, and media projects.

Learn more about MediaRites Metropolitan Youth Symphony Metropolitan Youth Symphony educates, develops, and promotes young musicians. Learn more about Metropolitan Youth Symphony Milagro Theatre Group provides extraordinary Latino theatre, culture, and arts education experiences for the enrichment of all communities. Learn more about Milagro Theatre Group My Voice Music amplifies young voices and igniting self-discovery through music.

Learn more about My Voice Music New Expressive Works celebrates the creative power of multi-cultural performing artists in Portland, Oregon and beyond. Learn more about New Expressive Works North Pole Studio supports careers in the arts, and exists to increase opportunities for artists with autism and intellectual / developmental disabilities to thrive as active members of the arts community.

Learn more about North Pole Studio Northwest Children's Theater & School Northwest Children's Theater & School educates, entertains, and enriches the lives of young audiences.

Learn more about Northwest Children's Theater & School Northwest Dance Project is an award-winning, bold, and innovative contemporary dance company performing an all-original repertoire from a select roster of accomplished choreographers and the most promising new creators in contemporary dance.

Learn more about Northwest Dance Project NW Documentary Arts & Media NW Documentary Arts & Media is a Portland-based nonprofit that supports filmmakers and storytellers of all kinds dedicated to the craft of nonfiction. Learn more about NW Documentary Arts & Media OK YOU is a nonprofit that offers free creative resources for navigating big emotions and staying connected to our OK selves.

Open Hearts Open Minds supports individuals serving prison sentences through arts and dialogue—facilitating personal and institutional transformation and growth.

Learn more about Open Hearts Open Minds Oregon Ballet Theatre is committed to sharing our passion for the expressive power of ballet, inspiring an enduring appreciation of dance, and connecting in meaningful ways to our community through excellence in performance, training, and educational programs.

Learn more about Oregon Ballet Theatre Oregon BRAVO Youth Orchestras BRAVO Youth Orchestras is a highly esteemed and influential non-profit organization that connects diverse students in Northern Portland with world-class music education. Learn more about Oregon BRAVO Youth Orchestras Oregon Children's Theatre For more than 35 years, Oregon Children’s Theatre has been creating exceptional theater experiences that transform lives.

Learn more about Oregon Children's Theatre Oregon Contemporary is a space dedicated to art, community, and the exponential possibilities of contemporary art. Learn more about Oregon Contemporary Oregon Symphony Association The multi-GRAMMY Award-nominated Oregon Symphony, led by Jean Vollum Music Director David Danzmayr, serves more than 500,000 people annually through live concerts and education and community engagement programs.

Learn more about the Oregon Symphony Outside the Frame trains homeless and marginalized youth to be directors of their own films and lives. Learn more about Outside the Frame For more than 20 years, Pacific Youth Choir's youth choral program has been a beacon of musical excellence in the Portland metro area.

Learn more about Pacific Youth Choir PassinArt: A Theatre Company PassinArt: A Theatre Company entertains, educates, and inspires artists and audiences while addressing critical issues facing our community. Learn more about PassinArt: A Theatre Company PHAME is a fine and performing arts academy serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

PlayWrite gives youth a safe space to explore their voice, share their stories, and transform their experience through the power of performance art. Learn more about PlayWrite Polaris Dance Theatre's mission is to awaken the heart and enhance our humility through dance, which they do through community dance festivals, classes for all, career track youth training, company performances, scholarship offerings, youth program, and more.

Learn more about Polaris Dance Theatre Portland Art Museum's mission is to engage diverse communities through art and film of enduring quality, and to collect, preserve, and educate for the enrichment of present and future generations. Learn more about the Portland Art Museum The Portland Ballet is committed to fostering the future of ballet by building the next generation of dancers and audiences.

Learn more about the Portland Ballet Portland Baroque Orchestra Portland Baroque Orchestra creates transformative experiences for musicians and listeners who share in the exploration and celebration of historically inspired music.

Learn more about Portland Baroque Orchestra Portland Center Stage is the largest theater company in Portland, Oregon, and its mission is to create transcendent theatrical experiences and community programs that break down the barriers separating people.

Learn more about Portland Center Stage Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble The Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble is a company of artists making new performances in a collaborative way.

Learn more about Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble Portland Gay Men's Chorus The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus aspires to expand, redefine, and perfect the choral art through eclectic performances that honor and uplift our community and affirm the worth of all people.

Learn more about Portland Gay Men's Chorus Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) PICA's acknowledges and advances new developments in contemporary art while fostering the creative explorations of artists and audiences. Learn more about Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) PDX Jazz's mission is to evolve the art of jazz by engaging our community, celebrating live performance, and enhancing arts education.

Learn more about Portland Jazz Festival Portland Opera Association gathers and inspires audiences, artists, and collaborators to create shared opera experiences that enliven and connect us all, enhancing the cultural landscape of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Learn more about the Portland Opera Portland Piano International Portland Piano International presents the finest pianists of today and tomorrow and fosters the growth of musicianship in our region through education and inspiration. Learn more about Portland Piano International Portland Playhouse's mission is to celebrate the complexity of the human experience through theatre.

Learn more about the Portland Playhouse Portland Street Art Alliance Portland Street Art Alliance advances street art culture by empowering artists to activate the spaces where we live, work, and play. Learn more about Portland Street Art Alliance Through innovation and excellence in taiko, Portland Taiko affirms Asian American pride, inspires audiences, builds community, and educates the community from a cultural heritage perspective.

Learn more about Portland Taiko Portland Youth Philharmonic The Portland Youth Philharmonic Association's mission is to prepare young people for success through musical excellence.

Learn more about Portland Youth Philharmonic Profile Theatre's mission is to produce a season of first-class productions and community engagement activities centered around featured writers whose visions broaden our perspective on our world and deepen our collective compassion.

Learn more about the Profile Theatre The Red Door Project uses the transformative power of storytelling to challenge, connect, and co-create the world we all want to live in. Learn more about The Red Door Project Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater Rejoice!

is a Portland-based contemporary dance ensemble inspired by the folklore of the great African diaspora and led by the bold vision and artistic direction of Oluyinka Akinjiola. Learn more about Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater Resonance Ensemble, a professional vocal ensemble based in Portland, creates powerful programs that promote meaningful social change.

Learn more about Resonance Ensemble Shaking the Tree melds the boundaries of theatre and visual art by presenting audiences with unconventional theatrical experiences in our non-traditional warehouse space. Learn more about Shaking the Tree Theatre Since 2011, Street Books has provided library services empowering folks with access to literature and building a bridge across housed and unhoused communities in Portland.

Learn more about Street Books Founded in 2007, Takohachi works to preserve traditional Japanese music and dance through its performances at Portland area schools, festivals, and cultural events. Learn more about Takohachi Theatre Diaspora is Oregon's only Asian American/Pacific Islander theatre company, committed to portraying authentic AAPI cultural, historical, and social perspectives.

Learn more about Theatre Diaspora Third Angle New Music's mission is to perform, present, and record adventurous contemporary sonic works while commissioning new works from a diverse spectrum of composers.

Learn more about Third Angle New Music Third Rail Repertory Theatre Third Rail Repertory Theatre provides a dynamic artistic home for theatre audiences in Portland by fostering a professional local company, which, through collaboration and discipline, brings to life exceptional stories that provoke dialogue, encourage empathy, and inspire curiosity.

Learn more about Third Rail Repertory Theatre Triangle Productions entertains and educates through the celebration and presentation of contemporary live theatre and promotes diversity and acceptance through the presentation of accessible, high-quality productions addressing a broad range of social and political issues.

Learn more about Triangle Productions Vanport Mosaic is a memory activation platform that amplifies, honors, and preserves the silenced histories that surround us to better understand our present and shape a fture where we all belong.

Learn more about Vanport Mosaic White Bird is committed to bringing the best Portland-based, regional, national, and international dance companies to Portland, Oregon and to fostering the growth of dance in the region. Learn more about White Bird Willamette Light Brigade (Portland Winter Light Festival) Willamette Light Brigade enriches the public realm by harnessing the power of art and artful lighting to transform the cityscape.

Learn more about the Willamette Light Brigade World Stage Theatre inspires youth and adults to explore their unlimited possibilities and recognize the arts as a mirror that imitates life and a vehicle to educate, heal, unite, uplift, and celebrate our experiences. Learn more about World Stage Theatre Write Around Portland uses creative writing to help people heal, change, and transform.

Learn more about Write Around Portland Operating Support grant archive Grants Program Manager jeff. hawthorne@portlandoregon. gov Arts Access Fund Audit: Progress Report Eligible arts organizations are invited to apply for Operating Support Grants Over $5.

8 million in grants support Portland’s creative ecosystem in 2025-26 Portland City Council approves additional $1. 6M for Portland arts organizations See all news for this page See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback .