When Portland voted to restore school arts and music education and to fund arts access n 2012, voters also established an independent Arts Education and Access Fund Oversight Committee (AOC) as an accountability measure. The purpose of the Arts Education and Access Fund Oversight Committee (AOC is to include representatives of the City’s diverse communities to ensure the Arts Education and Access Fund is being implemented as required, to review expenditures made and to report their findings in a public record to the City Council on an annual basis. (Portland City Code (PCC) Section 5.73.050.) The AOC makes recommendations about the Arts Education & Access Fund to the City Council for its consideration and approval.
Committee activities include:
- Ensure that the Arts Education and Access Fund is being implemented as required by voters and reflected in Portland City Code (PCC) Chapter 5.73.
- Review AEAF Fund expenditures for compliance with voter objectives and Portland City Code Chapter 5.73.
- Advise the City Arts Program and Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan on issues related to the Arts Education & Access Fund and meeting its objectives for K-12 arts education and grants to support arts access across Portland:
- Report their findings in a public record to the City Council annually as required by PCC Section 5.73.050.
- Any citizen interested in ensuring the AEAF is working efficiently, and as voters intended, can find a meaningful role to play with the AOC.
Total number of advisory seats: 10-20
Number of seats available: 6
To be eligible for the advisory committee, members must live, play, worship, go to school, work or do business in the City of Portland.
What We Look For
We want people from every part of Portland here to share their voice on this committee, especially people who have not been involved before. If you want to serve your community and to help government make better choices, then we want to see your application. The attributes listed below are what will guide our selection process. It is helpful if you are specific in your answers. We do not expect you to be or have everything listed. - You believe government is better when community is involved
- You want to represent your (new) Portland voting district in a fun and meaningful way. You can find out your voting district here.
- You have experience as a K-12 teacher, arts educator or working artist or with non-profit organizations, grants administration or as a grantee.
- You have experience with Citizen oversight or public engagement processes.
- You have experience with program evaluation, data analysis and/or financial analysis.
- You are an advocate for racial equity: you want positive and long-lasting outcomes for racial and ethnic communities who have been left out before. You can bring discussion about racial and ethnic communities who need it the most.
- You have a perspective on navigating the community as a person with a disability.
- You are available to attend all meetings and participate in the discussions.
Time Commitment- Meetings will take place every other month on weekday evenings via Zoom or COVID-19 permitting an in-person location agreed to in advance. To participate via Zoom you will need either a smart phone or a PC with an Internet connection.
- Members are involved for a duration of 4-year terms, or no more than 8 consecutive years.
- The anticipated time commitment per month is four to eight hours.
- We provide interpreters who will translate the conversation in your language during the meeting. Please ask for an interpreter at least a week in advance of the meeting so we have enough time to make arrangements.
- We try to translate the written materials you ask for, but we may not be able to provide translation on all meeting documents.
- Members are expected to prepare for meetings on their own time. Meeting materials for review may be sent with minimal time to review, possibly as few as forty-eight hours (or two days) in advance.
We Remove Barriers
Let us know if there are barriers to your participation. Public transportation or parking passes will be available if you need those to fully participate.
Volunteer Ethics
People who join this committee will become what we call “Public Officials,” which means that while you serve you must behave fair and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a “Conflict of Interest.” If you tell us about potential Conflicts of Interest that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many committees have potential members with Conflicts of Interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible Conflicts of Interest on the form included in the application.Applications are due by 11:59pm on Monday, October 16, 2023.
To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact the advisory body staff liaison at Jeff.hawthorne@portlandoregon.gov or 503-865-6685
Voluntary & Confidential Demographic Information
The City is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Completing the demographic information on the application is voluntary, but we encourage you to provide that information. The City uses this information to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of community. Your information will not be used during the recruitment nor the selection process. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. Questions about this may be sent to AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov
General Questions
For general questions about the Advisory Bodies program, the volunteer recruitment process, or other upcoming advisory body opportunities please email AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.
We Encourage You to Apply
We welcome you to browse our website to learn more about the Arts Education and Access Fund at https://www.portland.gov/revenue/arts-oversight-committee.Do you have questions or need more information? Email jeff.hawthorne@portlandoregon.gov or 503-865-6685.
Meeting Location
Currently, many advisory bodies are meeting remotely due to COVID-19. In the future, meetings could: 1) be conducted fully remotely, or 2) be conducted remotely and in person (hybrid model). As the situation evolves, the exact meeting location may change based upon leadership direction and approval.