[Oregon Community Foundation](https://oregoncf.org)

February 12, 2026 (LOI) | May 25, 2026 (Full application, invited only)

Up to $1,000,000 awarded annually; individual project grants range from $10,000–$100,000 with up to 2 years for project completion.

Supports ambitious, innovative arts and culture projects in Oregon that engage local artists and communities.

LOI required; full application by invitation only; projects must engage Oregon artists and audiences.

--- ## Description The Creative Heights initiative, administered by the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), funds the creation and presentation of bold, innovative arts and culture projects throughout Oregon. The program seeks to increase the state's cultural vitality by supporting new works across all artistic disciplines—visual, dance, folk/traditional, film, literary, music, theater, history, and multidisciplinary fields. Grants are designed to help artists and culture bearers stretch their creative capacity, take risks, and provide unique opportunities for Oregonians to experience experimental and impactful arts and culture. Projects may use funding for a wide range of expenses, including artist and curator fees, research, rehearsals, workshops, promotion, design, production, dissemination, and documentation. The program encourages creative risk-taking, strong community engagement, and advancing artistic or cultural fields in Oregon. --- ## Due Dates - **February 12, 2026**: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submission deadline (by 11:59 p.m.) - **May 25, 2026**: Full application deadline (by invitation; application window ends) Applicants will be notified in April if they are invited to submit a full application. Awards are announced in August, with funding available for up to two years. --- ## Funding Amount - **Annual program funding:** Up to $1,000,000 - **Individual grants:** $10,000–$100,000 per project - **Project duration:** Up to 2 years from the award date to complete the funded project - **Funding can cover:** Any project-related expenses, including artist compensation, production costs, research, promotion, documentation, and more No match or cost-sharing is required, and applicants may request the full project budget or a portion thereof. --- ## Eligibility - **Who can apply:** Individuals, collectives, or organizations (including independent artists and nonprofits) - **Fiscal sponsor:** Required for individuals and non-501(c)(3) collectives at the full application stage; does not need to be identified at LOI stage - **Project requirements:** - Must engage Oregon artists or culture bearers as lead collaborators - Must engage Oregonians as audiences, viewers, or participants - Artists must be compensated appropriately as professionals **Ineligible projects include those that:** - Are primarily educational or focused on skill acquisition (vs. professional artistic creation) - Are not accessible to the public (e.g., work for private collections) - Are primarily capital or administrative projects (e.g., building, renovating, or equipment purchases) - Lack a clear creative vision or curatorial impulse - Propose only studio work without robust plans for public engagement or dissemination in Oregon - Are continuations of existing work without significant adaptation or creative evolution - Will be completed within three months of receiving the award (i.e., before November 2026) --- ## Application Process 1. **Letter of Inquiry (LOI):** - Submit a brief LOI through the [Creative Heights SlideRoom portal](https://oregoncf.slideroom.com/#/Login) by February 12, 2026. - LOI should describe the project idea, lead collaborators, creative stretch/innovation, and preliminary grant request. - Letters of support from collaborators are optional at this stage. - No budget required for LOI; only indicate requested grant amount. 2. **Full Application (by invitation only):** - Selected applicants will be invited in April to submit a full application (due by May 25, 2026). - Full application includes detailed project plan, budget, bios, work samples, and timeline. - Fiscal sponsorship agreement required for individuals/collectives not affiliated with a nonprofit. 3. **Review process:** - LOIs are reviewed by a panel of peer artists, curators, and past grantees. - Competitive proposals demonstrate high artistic merit, innovation, feasibility, and strong community engagement. 4. **Awards:** - Funding decisions announced in August. - Projects have up to two years to use awarded funds. --- ## Additional Information - **Highly competitive:** Only about 5% of applications are funded each year. - **No requirement for public exhibition, but community engagement is essential**—projects must have robust plans for Oregonian audience participation or impact. - **All artistic disciplines are eligible**; multidisciplinary and experimental projects are welcome. - **No restrictions on geographic location within Oregon or organization size.** - **Past grantees:** Review [previously funded projects](https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/impact-areas/arts-and-culture/creative-heights) for examples of competitive proposals. - **Indirect costs:** No set limit, but budgets should be reasonable and focused on project delivery. - **Accessibility:** OCF is committed to accessibility; contact staff if you need application accommodations. --- ## External Links - [Creative Heights Grant Program Information](https://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/creative-heights) - [LOI Submission Portal (SlideRoom)](https://oregoncf.slideroom.com/#/Login) - [Past Grantees & Community Impact](https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/impact-areas/arts-and-culture/creative-heights) - [Informational Webinar Recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TKZwXPTy2k) - [Webinar Transcript (PDF)](https://oregoncf.org/assets/PDFs-and-Docs/PDFs/January-2026-Creative-Heights-Webinar-Transcript.pdf) - [Detailed FAQs (PDF)](https://oregoncf.org/assets/PDFs-and-Docs/PDFs/Grants/2026/Creative-Heights-Less-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| | General inquiries & application help | [CreativeHeights@oregoncf.org](mailto:CreativeHeights@oregoncf.org) | | Phone | (503) 227-6846 | | Online contact form | [OCF Contact Page](https://oregoncf.org/about/contact) | ---

Creative Heights

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