Oregon artists may now apply to a new Artist Relief Program created by the Oregon Arts Commission in partnership with The Oregon Community Foundation and the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. Awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 will be distributed until the program fund, totaling just over $1.25 million, is depleted.

(Salem, OR) — A virtual event to celebrate the 2020 Governor’s Arts Awards recipients is postponed due to Oregon’s current wildfire emergency. The Virtual Celebration was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12. A new date for the celebration will be set soon.

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced four artists and one organization as winners of the 2020 Governor's Arts Awards. The awardees are Darrell Grant, a jazz musician and educator from Portland; Roberta J. Kirk, a traditional artist and educator from Warm Springs; John Laursen, a writer, designer, editor and typographer from Portland; Toni Pimble, the founding artistic director of the Eugene Ballet; and Portland Gay Men’s Chorus in Portland.

We must act now. We at the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust stand in solidarity with those who are outraged by the killing of George Floyd and many other Black victims of despicable racial violence.

In the words of Governor Kate Brown, “mourning their loss is not enough. We must commit ourselves to racial justice.” These unforgivable acts of violence are a tragic symptom of a society that tolerates systemic racism, police brutality, white supremacy and oppression.

Salem, Ore. – Laser focused on their missions despite thousands of cancelled performances, events and activities, Oregon’s arts and cultural organizations are furiously working to continue serving Oregonians: Online.