What We Do

The arts and culture are touchstones of community and civic life and it is essential to preserve, stabilize, and develop their central role to benefit Oregonians and Oregon’s quality of life.

The Oregon Arts Commission believes:

• The arts help us discover who we are
• The arts bring people together, strengthening communities
• The arts are critical for our students
• The arts add value to Oregon’s economy

The Commission’s grants, programs, and services work to ensure that:

1. Oregonians have wide access to the arts and their intrinsic and extrinsic benefits.
2. Oregon arts organizations have the skills and resources to offer high quality programs throughout the state.
3. Public and private support for arts and culture is increased and leveraged.
4. Oregonians have access to quality arts learning opportunities.
5. Oregon artists create work of acknowledged high quality.

Grants

The Oregon Arts Commission awards grants to Oregon artists and arts organizations to ensure wide access to the arts across the state. 

Public Art

Oregon is home to one of the oldest statewide public art programs. The Arts Commission facilitates the selection of artwork for state facilities and state university campuses.

Programs

From Arts Learning to the Arts Education Partnership and the popular Poetry Out Loud competition, OAC supports a variety of activities that promote arts education opportunities for Oregonians.

OAC Strategic Plan 2006–2011