"Music for All" changes name to "Arts for All"

After a hugely successful pilot last year, the program Music for All returns starting Monday, Oct. 3 with a new name – Arts for All – to reflect its expanded reach. Last season, 12 classical music organizations made performances more accessible to low-income citizens by offering $5 tickets to those with Oregon Trail Cards. This season, 32 arts organizations spanning disciplines such as theater, dance and music are participating in the program – almost tripling the options.

In the six-month period the program ran last year, 1,410 people who receive food assistance using the Oregon Trail Card bought deeply discounted tickets to concerts put on by organizations such as Oregon Symphony, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Friends of Chamber Music and Portland Youth Philharmonic. The program was organized by members of Go Classical PDX (GCPDX), an association of classical music organizations in the Portland tri-county region. “Music for All allowed each of the participating organizations, PYP included, to elevate our current outreach efforts,” said Ingrid Arnett, Community Relations Director for the Portland Youth Philharmonic. “PYP is here to inspire and educate young people through the high quality training and performance of symphonic music and to provide a cultural asset for the community. Arts for All helps us share that inspiration with more people.”

After the pilot season, word spread among Portland arts organizations about the effectiveness of this program in breaking down barriers, and GCPDX led the campaign to expand the program beyond classical music. By this fall, 20 more groups signed up, representing a full range of performing arts.

"Providing opportunities for all kids and their families to experience the performing arts is at the heart of our mission," says Ross McKeen managing director of Oregon Children's Theatre. "When Music for All was launched last year, my first thought was, ‘What a great idea. I wish we could be part of that.' Now, with the expansion of the program as Arts for All, we're joining our colleagues in removing barriers to access to the arts."

The new Arts for All program launches Oct. 3 during Oregon Days of Culture, an eight-day festival highlighting more than 500 events across the state presented by Oregon Cultural Trust. Five-dollar tickets will now be available from organizations across the arts spectrum, such as Portland Center Stage and NW Dance Project. Details on all the participating organizations and the mechanism for purchasing tickets are available at www.artsforallpdx.org .

Hunger remains a significant problem in Oregon. One in five households in the state have an Oregon Trail card that‘s part of the federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) plan. Nationally, that number is one in seven households. Arts for All helps make life-enriching arts events more accessible and affordable for these citizens and is made possible by the support of participating arts organizations, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), Work for Art, the City of Portland and All Classical 89.9 FM.

Eloise Damrosh, Executive Director of the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) states “We at RACC are thrilled to support this wonderful endeavor and applaud the groups who have joined forces to make this happen for our community. It is yet another example of how important the arts are to us all and how collaborative and generous our arts providers can be. We wish the program increasing success, and new audiences many happy hours in our theaters, music halls and dance facilities.”

SNAP enrollees can buy a minimum of two tickets for five dollars each to eligible events by showing their Oregon Trail Card at the time of purchase and paying with personal funds. SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase tickets or other non-food items. "The performing arts nourish our soul and are an important part of the shared culture for any community, but especially ours,” says Mayor Sam Adams. “Participating in the arts shouldn't be out of reach for Portlanders struggling through these hard times – whether that's living on a fixed income, struggling through underemployment or the loss of a steady job. My appreciation goes out to the Portland arts organizations that have stepped up to make this program happen."

For those wishing to buy five-dollar tickets, a complete and regularly updated list of participating arts organizations will be available at www.artsforallpdx.com starting on Oct. 3. Organizations, currently participating in Arts for All, in addition to those already mentioned, include: Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Miracle Theatre/Teatro Milagro, Portland Taiko, Bodyvox, , Wisdom of the Elders, Artists Repertory Theatre, and dozens more. All ticket costs are sponsored in-kind by participating organizations; printing and marketing are sponsored by Work for Art, RACC, Northwest Business for Culture and the Arts and the City of Portland; marketing distribution is in partnership with the Multnomah branch of the Oregon Department of Human Services.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About Go Classical PDX (GCPDX) GCPDX is an association of classical music organizations in the Portland tri-county region, supported and convened by All Classical Public Media. GCPDX shares and coordinates resources to ensure the public's access to and awareness of a wide range of traditional and alternative classical music events by breaking down barriers, real and perceived, to participation and by advocating for the public good created by Portland's vibrant classical music offerings. More information on Go Classical PDX is online at www.goclassicalpdx.org.

About All Classical Public Media All Classical 89.9 FM is Portland, Oregon’s classical radio station. All Classical's mission is to provide classical music and fine arts information to listeners in Northwest Oregon, Southwest Washington and the world via the internet. Online at www.allclassical.org.

About the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) RACC is a nonprofit arts services organization serving the Portland metropolitan area, including Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties. RACC provides grants and services for artists, arts organizations, schools and other community-based arts organizations; integrates art into public settings; raises money through workplace giving ("Work for Art") and other advocacy programs; provides workshops and other forms of technical assistance; and coordinates integrated arts learning in public schools through The Right Brain Initiative. More online at www.racc.org.

About Work for Art Work for Art, a program of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, raises money and awareness for the local arts community, primarily through workplace giving. Online at www.workforart.org.

About the City of Portland The City of Portland contracts with RACC to integrate arts and culture in all aspects of community life for its 575,000 citizens. The City and Mayor Adam's office partnered with RACC in publishing a five-year creative action plan for the tri-county region, "Act for Art," in 2009 (http://bit.ly/3yHXXg). Support for Arts for All is just one way the City is meeting the goals outlined in the plan of increasing access to creativity and affordability of the arts for all citizens.

About SNAP To be eligible for SNAP benefits, families must earn less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, along with other factors. For a family of four, the income limit is less than $3,400 per month. The maximum benefit for a household of four totals $668 per month. The overall average SNAP benefit per household is approximately $250 per month. Approximately three-fourths of all SNAP households have some form of income, which results in the actual benefit level received being reduced from the maximum. Benefits are determined on a sliding scale, based on household income, and are distributed through the Oregon Trail Card that is used like a debit card to purchase food. SNAP benefits can be used to purchase foods for the household to eat, such as breads and cereals; fruits and vegetables; meats, fish and poultry; and dairy products. SNAP benefits are intended to act as a supplement to a family's overall food budget, not to cover it entirely. In many households with little or no income, it can be the primary means to meet the family's nutritional needs. To download applications for TANF and food stamps, go to: www.oregon.gov/DHS/assistance/.

About Business for Culture and the Arts This organization connects Oregon businesses with local arts organizations to champion participation in the arts. They help create a creative community that attracts leading-edge talent and innovative companies that strengthens our culture and economy. www.nwbca.org.
 

Contact:

GO CLASSICAL PDX
Released: Monday, Oct. 3, 2011
Media contacts: Tom Cirillo, 503-222-6000 x103 tom@pbo.org
Ingrid Arnett: 503-223-5939 x104 ingrid@portlandyouthphil.org