The Career Opportunity Grant Program, offered by the Oregon Arts Commission, supports Oregon arts practitioners across all disciplines and career stages. This grant is designed to help artists take advantage of time-sensitive opportunities that can significantly enhance their artistic careers. Many of these opportunities come with expenses that may not be fully covered by stipends or payments. The program aims to alleviate financial barriers, allowing artists to fully participate in these career-building activities.

Eligible opportunities must be unique, of limited duration, and must involve proof of invitation, selection, or review by qualified peers or industry specialists. Examples include exhibitions, performances, artist residencies, workshops, or fellowships that introduce work to new audiences or help artists develop new skills. Artists must clearly demonstrate how the proposed opportunity is a meaningful step forward in their career.

The grant can fund a range of expenses directly related to the opportunity, including travel, professional services, equipment purchases or rentals, registration fees, childcare, and documentation costs. Priority is given to artists from underserved communities, including rural areas and communities of color. Awards range from $500 to $2,000 based on the scope and nature of the opportunity. Additional funding of up to $9,000 is available through The Ford Family Foundation for established visual artists, curators, and writers who meet specific eligibility criteria.

To apply, applicants must be 18 years or older, domiciled in Oregon for at least 12 months, not enrolled in a degree-granting program, and not have received funding from this program in the past three cycles. Specific criteria for The Ford Family Foundation include being domiciled in Oregon for 36 months and having at least five years of professional experience in the field. Deadlines are September 25, 2024, for opportunities occurring between November 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025, and February 12, 2025, for opportunities between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.

Applications are reviewed by Arts Commission staff for completeness and eligibility before being evaluated by a panel of professionals based on career impact, artistic merit, and budget appropriateness. The scoring criteria include a maximum of 45 points for career impact, 45 points for artistic merit, and 10 points for budget alignment. Final decisions are made by the Arts Commission and The Ford Family Foundation based on available funding and panel recommendations.

Program assistance is available from Ryan Burghard, the Public Art & Artist Programs Coordinator, and technical assistance is provided by Kat Bell, the Grants Officer. Materials can be made accessible in alternate formats upon request, and additional support is available for Spanish-speaking applicants and those requiring hearing-impaired services. Applicants can seek feedback after funding decisions are made to strengthen future submissions.