Salem, Ore. – Using the arts as a means of addressing community need is at the heart of 31 projects awarded $175,000 by the Oregon Arts Commission’s Arts Build Communities grant program for FY2019.

The Arts Build Communities program targets broad geographic impact and arts access for underserved audiences in Oregon. More than half of this year’s awards go to communities outside of the Portland area.

Salem, Oregon – Suzanne Haag, a choreographer living in Eugene, is the 2019 recipient of the Oregon Arts Commission’s honorary Joan Shipley Award. Haag is one of a group of six Oregon artists selected for the Arts Commission’s 2019 Individual Artist Fellowships. The 2019 fellowships support artists working in the performing arts; visual artists are awarded in alternating years.

Salem, Oregon— Jess Perlitz, a Portland-based artist working in sculpture, performance and drawing, is the 2018 recipient of the Oregon Arts Commission’s honorary Joan Shipley Award. Perlitz leads a group of 19 Oregon artists selected from a pool of more than 120 applicants from 23 Oregon cities for the Arts Commission’s Individual Artist Fellowships. The 2018 fellowships, awarded to artists from Portland, Beaverton, Eugene and Glide, support artists working in visual arts and design and include small financial stipends.

Small grants that can make a large difference in ensuring arts access for rural Oregonians were awarded to 79 statewide arts organizations by the Oregon Arts Commission for FY2018.

Salem, Oregon – Agnieszka Laska, a Portland-based dancer/choreographer and the founder of Agnieszka Laska Dancers, is the 2017 recipient of the Oregon Arts Commission’s honorary Joan Shipley Award. Laska leads a group of seven Oregon artists selected for the Arts Commission’s 2017 Individual Artist Fellowships. The 2017 fellowships support artists working in the performing arts; visual artists are reviewed in alternating years.