Mar 9, 2023·edited Mar 9, 2023Liked by Richard Cheverton
For what it's worth, I just sent the Director of Grants at the RACC copies of the National Endowment for the Arts' detailed explanations of its grant review process and the criteria by which grant applications are evaluated and asked that she provide me with the RACC's equivalents.
In my request I said: "I would like to think that the nation's premier arts organization, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), has established best practices for others in its field when it comes to transparency and the grant review and approval process."
The NEA's review criteria read like this:
"The artistic merit of the project includes: The value and appropriateness of the project to the organization’s mission, artistic field, artists, audience, community, and/or constituency."
The way they're written suggests the NEA also has rubrics for scoring the applications, though they're not available on the NEA's site.
I didn't pursue the names of the RACC's panelists even though the NEA does disclose its panelists' names once grants are announced.
However, the NEA is no more forthcoming about the names of its unsuccessful applicants than the RACC. While the NEA publishes the date and time of its advisory panel meetings in the Federal Register (where else?), the meetings are closed to the public.
A nonpartisan grass roots organization promoting moderate and pragmatic voices (mostly left of center Democrats who are tired of the FAR left extremism in Portland)
A website that uses the word, "we"--but doesn't disclose who "we" are is, well...a little suspicious. Then there's the word-fog of their slogan: "Nonpartisan. Compassionate. Pragmatic." These are just as wishy-washy as "equity, diversity, inclusion." Meaningless and Orwellian..
It's idiotic to say anything in Portland could (or should) be "nonpartisan." This is a Democratic party machine town and will remain so for the foreseeable future, mostly because so many people make a living from that machine. Only another "party" has any chance of mitigating the sellout folks.
Compassionate--what the hell is that? This city ruined itself via "compassion."
Pragmatic? As in, "We don't have any core beliefs, so cut us in on the deal."
Richard any chance you could use your investigative acumen and look into the Portland Engagement Project being conducted by Civic Life? Being that they are the city agency that tells us what Halloween costumes we are allowed to wear I’m dubious this will be an inclusive effort. https://www.portland.gov/civic/portland-engagement-project
Mar 9, 2023·edited Mar 9, 2023Liked by Richard Cheverton
And here I thought I was the only person who was outraged by Civic Life's censorious and ideologically partisan Halloween tweet telling Portlanders not to commit cultural appropriation with their Halloween costumes! Thanks for speaking out.
While the tweet was as hilariously silly as any tweet by The Onion, it also constituted an assault on Portlanders' right of freedom of expression, which is guaranteed under the Constitution. Moreover, it took as a given that the idea of cultural appropriation was a norm as widely accepted in Portland as, say, not carrying umbrellas when it rains. Seriously, though, it's a product of the illiberal, racist and divisive ideology that goes under the umbrella term of Wokeism.
I can't believe that anyone in City Hall had the staggering audacity to send that message to the voter/taxpayers of Portland. I hope the new director at City Life won't permit something similar to happen during Halloween season this year.
Mar 3, 2023Liked by Richard Cheverton, Pamela Fitzsimmons
PEP--What a silly acronym and a moronic mission: "Portland is growing rapidly and requires a resilient engagement structure that enables ALL Portlanders to be substantively engaged in the decisions that most impact their lives. "
This is what is wrong with governing; the idea that ALL have the right to pipe up with really stupid ideas. In the real world they would not see the light of day. Things like the bill down in Salem to allow a16 year old to vote. We have become so bogged down with really awful proposals that distract from the real work. The Arts Tax is a really stupid idea. If the schools want the arts positions they should pay for them. If RACC wants funding they should go to the city council for funding.
It all began right there, the moment people were relieved of the hard choices: you must choose between affect and effect! Newww, they replied and we got impact. All downhill from there. Wait, wait, maybe it was "issue" in problem's stead . . .
Mar 3, 2023·edited Mar 3, 2023Liked by Richard Cheverton
I have never managed to get through his 1984 nor his Animal Farm.
Read nearly everything else of his including these among others : His excellent reply to Vera Brittain concerning killing civilians in wartime, Homage to Catalonia - check, Road to Wigan Pier - check, Keep the Aspidistra Flying - check, Politics and the English Language - check check, Shooting an Elephant - checkmate.
“There will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life. All competing pleasures will be destroyed. But always— do not forget this, Winston— always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever. ”
Have Portland voters turned down any bonds or levies in the last 20 or 30 years? Never paid the arts tax. Escaped town maybe owing a few years' worth. Portland voters have to be the lowest IQ folks in the nation. (Look at the $$$$ overflowing from the energy levy program. Or the homeless funds being spent at a rate of $1300 a square foot for remodeling costs of some old SRO apartments.) Sam Adams touted this as being for the children--it was always all about RACC. Sam will probably be getting a paid position with RACC soon.
Well Metro voters did turn down the light rail expansion recently. Of course it would have passed if only portland voters were included. I can’t wait to get out of Multnomah County.
Point of Order: The reference to Madison Cario was a bit inaccurate, though understandably so. They left RACC to be the CEO of the Minnesota Street Project, wholly owned and functioning in San Francisco. So, IMHO we here in “frigid Minnesota” dodged that bullet. 😜😜😜😜
For what it's worth, I just sent the Director of Grants at the RACC copies of the National Endowment for the Arts' detailed explanations of its grant review process and the criteria by which grant applications are evaluated and asked that she provide me with the RACC's equivalents.
In my request I said: "I would like to think that the nation's premier arts organization, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), has established best practices for others in its field when it comes to transparency and the grant review and approval process."
The NEA's review criteria read like this:
"The artistic merit of the project includes: The value and appropriateness of the project to the organization’s mission, artistic field, artists, audience, community, and/or constituency."
The way they're written suggests the NEA also has rubrics for scoring the applications, though they're not available on the NEA's site.
I didn't pursue the names of the RACC's panelists even though the NEA does disclose its panelists' names once grants are announced.
However, the NEA is no more forthcoming about the names of its unsuccessful applicants than the RACC. While the NEA publishes the date and time of its advisory panel meetings in the Federal Register (where else?), the meetings are closed to the public.
Art is too damn important to be left to the people who pay for it.
Anyone interested in promoting more moderate voices in Portland should check out https://www.portlandparty.org
A nonpartisan grass roots organization promoting moderate and pragmatic voices (mostly left of center Democrats who are tired of the FAR left extremism in Portland)
A website that uses the word, "we"--but doesn't disclose who "we" are is, well...a little suspicious. Then there's the word-fog of their slogan: "Nonpartisan. Compassionate. Pragmatic." These are just as wishy-washy as "equity, diversity, inclusion." Meaningless and Orwellian..
It's idiotic to say anything in Portland could (or should) be "nonpartisan." This is a Democratic party machine town and will remain so for the foreseeable future, mostly because so many people make a living from that machine. Only another "party" has any chance of mitigating the sellout folks.
Compassionate--what the hell is that? This city ruined itself via "compassion."
Pragmatic? As in, "We don't have any core beliefs, so cut us in on the deal."
This is naïve, childish, dumb stuff.
Great article!
Richard any chance you could use your investigative acumen and look into the Portland Engagement Project being conducted by Civic Life? Being that they are the city agency that tells us what Halloween costumes we are allowed to wear I’m dubious this will be an inclusive effort. https://www.portland.gov/civic/portland-engagement-project
And here I thought I was the only person who was outraged by Civic Life's censorious and ideologically partisan Halloween tweet telling Portlanders not to commit cultural appropriation with their Halloween costumes! Thanks for speaking out.
https://twitter.com/comm_civic_life/status/1583247118487105536
While the tweet was as hilariously silly as any tweet by The Onion, it also constituted an assault on Portlanders' right of freedom of expression, which is guaranteed under the Constitution. Moreover, it took as a given that the idea of cultural appropriation was a norm as widely accepted in Portland as, say, not carrying umbrellas when it rains. Seriously, though, it's a product of the illiberal, racist and divisive ideology that goes under the umbrella term of Wokeism.
I can't believe that anyone in City Hall had the staggering audacity to send that message to the voter/taxpayers of Portland. I hope the new director at City Life won't permit something similar to happen during Halloween season this year.
Ollie, old friend: the Constitution is so...so...yesterday.
And just look at who wrote it!
PEP--What a silly acronym and a moronic mission: "Portland is growing rapidly and requires a resilient engagement structure that enables ALL Portlanders to be substantively engaged in the decisions that most impact their lives. "
This is what is wrong with governing; the idea that ALL have the right to pipe up with really stupid ideas. In the real world they would not see the light of day. Things like the bill down in Salem to allow a16 year old to vote. We have become so bogged down with really awful proposals that distract from the real work. The Arts Tax is a really stupid idea. If the schools want the arts positions they should pay for them. If RACC wants funding they should go to the city council for funding.
It all began right there, the moment people were relieved of the hard choices: you must choose between affect and effect! Newww, they replied and we got impact. All downhill from there. Wait, wait, maybe it was "issue" in problem's stead . . .
I have never managed to get through his 1984 nor his Animal Farm.
Read nearly everything else of his including these among others : His excellent reply to Vera Brittain concerning killing civilians in wartime, Homage to Catalonia - check, Road to Wigan Pier - check, Keep the Aspidistra Flying - check, Politics and the English Language - check check, Shooting an Elephant - checkmate.
“There will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life. All competing pleasures will be destroyed. But always— do not forget this, Winston— always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever. ”
Have Portland voters turned down any bonds or levies in the last 20 or 30 years? Never paid the arts tax. Escaped town maybe owing a few years' worth. Portland voters have to be the lowest IQ folks in the nation. (Look at the $$$$ overflowing from the energy levy program. Or the homeless funds being spent at a rate of $1300 a square foot for remodeling costs of some old SRO apartments.) Sam Adams touted this as being for the children--it was always all about RACC. Sam will probably be getting a paid position with RACC soon.
Well Metro voters did turn down the light rail expansion recently. Of course it would have passed if only portland voters were included. I can’t wait to get out of Multnomah County.
Point of Order: The reference to Madison Cario was a bit inaccurate, though understandably so. They left RACC to be the CEO of the Minnesota Street Project, wholly owned and functioning in San Francisco. So, IMHO we here in “frigid Minnesota” dodged that bullet. 😜😜😜😜
I stand corrected. As for "they..." Say no more.
Somehow, I don’t think dead white Catholic males like Michelangelo, da Vinci, and Raphael would get any grants out of these people.
Apocryphal or not, the Duke of Gloucester's comment to Gibbon on publication of the first volume of his history seems appropriate here:
"Always, scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh! Mr. Gibbon?"
Now, paraphrase this so that our educators and curators could make inquiry of those Italian gents and their efforts.