The Oregon Arts Commission's Career Opportunity Grant Program is designed to support Oregon-based artists across various disciplines in pursuing timely and impactful career development opportunities. The program recognizes that such opportunities often come with financial barriers, providing funding to ensure artists can fully engage without undue hardship. Eligible opportunities must be unique, of limited duration, and involve selection by industry peers or professionals. Examples include performances, exhibitions, residencies, workshops, or apprenticeships that either introduce an artist’s work to new audiences or develop new skills.

Applicants may request funding between $500 and $2,000, depending on the scope of the opportunity. In collaboration with The Ford Family Foundation, the program also offers additional funding of up to $9,000 for established visual artists, curators, and arts writers with at least five years of professional experience. Eligible expenses include travel, professional services, equipment, and childcare costs directly related to the opportunity. However, funds cannot be used for academic research, personal artistic fees, general business operations, or unrelated equipment.

Eligible applicants must be individual artists, at least 18 years old, domiciled in Oregon for at least 12 months, and not currently enrolled in a degree program. Artists from underserved communities, including rural areas and communities of color, are encouraged to apply. Applicants must demonstrate their selection or invitation for the proposed opportunity and provide supporting documents such as letters of acceptance or program brochures.

The application process requires a detailed description of the opportunity, its timeliness, potential career impact, and a budget. Applicants must submit a resume or biography, work samples from the past two years, and descriptions of those samples. For those seeking additional funding through The Ford Family Foundation, additional eligibility criteria and application components apply, such as demonstrating significant personal investment in the project.

Applications are reviewed by Arts Commission staff for completeness and by a panel of arts professionals based on criteria like career impact, artistic merit, and budget appropriateness. Funding decisions are communicated approximately two months after the deadlines, which are September 25, 2024, and February 12, 2025. Activities funded must occur within the specified activity periods.

Award recipients must return a signed contract and complete a final report detailing the grant's impact within 30 days of the funding period's conclusion. This report includes descriptions of how the funds were used, the career benefits achieved, and documentation of public acknowledgment of the grant. The program aims to enhance the careers of Oregon artists while contributing to the broader cultural and economic vitality of the state.