The City of Portland is seeking proposals for the administration of $1.4 million in annual grants to individual artists and arts organizations. This initiative aims to recognize and support the invaluable contributions of artists and art institutions to the city’s culture, economy, and overall quality of life.
In an effort to streamline the grant management process and ensure equitable distribution of funds, the City of Portland is opening the floor to potential partners who can efficiently oversee the disbursement of these grants. The selected entities may be awarded up to six contracts to manage the grants, each ranging from $500 to $5,000.
The grant administration responsibilities include crucial tasks such as managing the application process, evaluating proposals, selecting grant recipients, distributing funds, and collecting reports from grantees. The City of Portland places a special emphasis on proposals that facilitate the equitable distribution of funds to underrepresented populations, including communities of color, immigrants and/or refugees, LGBTQ+ communities, individuals with disabilities, and residents of low-income neighborhoods, particularly in East Portland.
In a move announced in 2023, the City of Portland has opted to seek competitive bids for grants administration and other arts-related services. The Request for Proposals (RFP) for public art grant management was issued on December 18, 2023. Entities with experience in grantmaking are encouraged to submit proposals by the deadline on February 1, 2024, at 4 p.m.
The City invites proposals from providers of varying scales, including small-scale (distributing up to $50,000 per year), medium-scale (distributing between $50,000 and $100,000 per year), and large-scale (distributing up to $1 million per year). The aim is to diversify and expand the network of partners engaged in supporting the vibrant arts community in Portland.
For those with inquiries related to the RFP, Tristan Sakamoto, can be reached by phone at 503-823-8867 or via email at [email protected]. Interested parties are encouraged to reference RFP No. 00002224 in their communications.
The RFP document is available online in BuySpeed, the City’s procurement portal, providing detailed information on the requirements and expectations for potential grantees.
