Community Placemaking grants

Go to the main menu
Go to the search form

Community Placemaking grants support community-led, equity-focused, arts and culture based efforts

Black History Festival NW

Black History Festival NW, Beaverton, Gresham, Troutdale, Portland, $25,000 (photo credit: Shawnte Sims)

Multicultural stormwater murals in Washington County

Multicultural Stormwater Murals in Washington County, Tigard and Hillsboro, $11,500

Art Saved My Life

Art Saved My Life, North and Northeast Portland, $11,400

Autumn Moon Festival

Autumn Moon Festival, Downtown Portland, $20,000

Free Arts NW

Free Arts NW Mobile Art Studio, Fairview and Wood Village, $8,465

King + Parks Community Art Project

King + Parks Community Art Project, Northeast Portland, $25,000

New Year in the Park

New Year in the Park, Northeast Portland, $5,000

Portland All Nations Canoe Family

Portland All Nations Canoe Family, Lake Oswego, $25,000

Supa Fresh Youth Farm

Supa Fresh Youth Farm Metzger School Park Placemaking Project, Tigard, $13,050

Tonga Day 2018

Tonga Day 2018, East Portland, $15,000

Applications open

Metro will accept applications Aug. 5 through Oct. 7 at noon. Review application guidance and useful tips. How to apply

Apply now

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the application guidance on the How to Apply page.

Upcoming info sessions

Meet the grant manager, review the application handbook and get your questions answered at a virtual info session, Aug. 17, 18 or Sept. 7. View times and Zoom links on our How to Apply page. Go

Translation assistance

Metro will provide translated application materials and assistance upon request. Contact information appears at the bottom of this page.

2022 grantees

Read about the 11 proposals selected for a 2022 Communtiy Placemaking grant out of the 82 applications Metro recieved. Go

Stay informed

Get email updates on placemaking projects and grant cycle news.

Subscribe

What is Community Placemaking?

Community Placemaking can take many forms, but it shares a few main elements. The idea comes from the community the effort is intended to serve. Those community members, especially people of color or other historically marginalized communities, play a role in making it happen. Arts or cultural activities bring people together to strengthen their connection to each other and the places they care about.

Program objectives

Placemaking: People’s connections to each other and to places they care about are strengthened.
Equity: People of color and members of historically marginalized communities have power and resources to influence their neighborhoods and communities.
Partnerships: People’s efforts are maximized because they work in partnership with each other and with Metro.
Leadership: People participate in projects and decisions that affect them.

Funding available

Up to $200,000 will be awarded for the 2023 grant cycle, in grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. No matching funds are required. The online application will open August 5 and applications are due October 7 at noon. Learn more about eligibility and grant requirements in the application handbook below.

Past recipients

Community Placemaking efforts are creative at their core and can take many forms. Get started thinking by looking at recipients of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 cycles to see the range of efforts this program has supported.