Career Opportunity Grant Program

The Career Opportunity Grant Program is administered by the Oregon Arts Commission, a state-level agency dedicated to supporting the arts across Oregon. The program is designed to serve arts practitioners in all disciplines and career stages by enabling them to seize timely and impactful opportunities that can significantly advance their professional development. This includes financial assistance for participating in activities such as exhibitions, residencies, workshops, performances, or other career-building events that require external validation through an invitation, selection, or peer review. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 years of age or older, not currently enrolled in a degree-granting program, and must have resided in Oregon for at least 12 months before the application deadline. Applicants may not have received funding from the Career Opportunity Grant in the past three cycles. Individuals from underserved communities, including rural areas and communities of color, are especially encouraged to apply. Those requesting additional funding through The Ford Family Foundation must meet further criteria, such as having been Oregon residents for 36 months and having five or more years of professional experience in the fields of visual arts, curation, or visual arts writing. Funding may cover a variety of expenses directly tied to the opportunity, including travel, equipment rental or purchase, professional services, registration fees, documentation costs, and childcare. The grant awards range from $500 to $2,000 based on the nature and scope of the opportunity. Additional funds of up to $9,000 are available from The Ford Family Foundation for eligible applicants in visual arts and related fields. Applications are accepted in two annual cycles. The first deadline is September 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM, for activities scheduled between November 1, 2025, and October 31, 2026. The second deadline is February 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM, covering activities from May 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027. Applications must be submitted individually via the online portal and include documentation proving the opportunity's selection or invitation-based nature. Proposals are evaluated through a panel review process using three primary criteria: career impact (up to 45 points), artistic merit (up to 45 points), and budget appropriateness (up to 10 points). Applications undergo an initial screening for eligibility and completeness before proceeding to panel evaluation. Final award decisions are made by the Oregon Arts Commission and, if applicable, The Ford Family Foundation. For assistance, applicants can contact Ryan Burghard, Public Art & Artist Programs Coordinator, at ryan.burghard@biz.oregon.gov or 971-374-3083. Technical assistance is also available from Kat Bell, Grants Officer, at kat.bell@biz.oregon.gov or 971-304-5044. Spanish-speaking applicants can reach out to Liora Sponko at liora.sponko@biz.oregon.gov or 971-345-1641. Materials can be made available in alternate formats upon request.