Mr. Cheverton has already shown how the RACC's turn in 2020 from funding the city's artistic mainstream to the funding the officially marginalized and underrepresented stiffed the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Opera, and Portland Center Stage, so I won't delve deeply into that here. One subsequent related development is worth a mention, though.
In addition to explaining the many important ways their organizations and the arts in general contribute to a healthy Portland, the leaders inevitably turned to their companies' financial condition. One would expect individuals who shoulder such enormous responsibilities to count unwavering tact among the skills that allow them to succeed. One would not be wrong. When the stakes are high, as they are for the symphony and the art museum right now, a leader also needs to know how to wield understatement as a weapon. Hence, when it came to the discussion of public funding, what listeners heard from the guests was that local government "is not at the table." Let that sink in. And then remember: You're paying an arts tax. For what?
In contrast, the two were effusive in their praise of the small and large donors whose generosity is allowing the organizations to cover ever-increasing expenses, including an unconscionably sharp increase in the rent the symphony pays its public landlord.
Now, anyone who has listened to "Rational in Portland" will know that the host does not shy away from controversy. In fact, she is among the leading vocal critics of Portland's progressive politicians and the many profound crises they and their allies have created. Compromising the future of two of the city's oldest and most valuable arts institutions by diverting public funding to racial-, ethnic- and gender-identity agitprop certainly counts as a crisis. Still, even a muckraking podcaster knows when to employ tact. It is likely the host did not bring up the RACC's betrayal for the same reason the guests never mentioned it. It would have put these very public figures on the spot and given the vocal and well-connected critics of institutions they view as being too white and too mainstream (or is it elitist?) ammunition to use against the organizations they lead.
If the guests that day chose to maintain a strategic silence on the destabilizing impact the RACC's pointed withdrawal of support has had on their organizations, they were astute enough to ask that their listeners write their elected leaders and demand that they provide a level of funding comparable to that furnished by cities where support for mainstream arts is a considered pressing civic obligation. Please do!
In closing, I will say that I, too, have exchanged correspondence with the RACC's Carol Tatch.
When I looked at the list of the various documents the RACC's operations generate on a regular basis, I decided the category I'd most like to see is the final report submitted to the RACC by each grant recipient. Hence, I posed the following questions in an email note to an RACC official:
"Are final reports available to the public in whole or in part? What is the process for obtaining them? If the reports are not provided to the public, what is the reason and what is the legal basis?"
I won't bore readers with the entirety of Ms. Tatch's reply when this Kafkaesque gem says everything about the RACC's attitude toward the inquiring public:
"Please let me know your need for the information you are requesting with the understanding that we will not release these specific items to you."
Regarding those increasingly frequent demographic questionnaires - here is how I handle it:
Six generations back, my ancestors came to this country from Scotland and Sweden. If I were born in Germany, I would be a Native German. Since I was born in America, I self identify as Native American.
The cradle of civilization was in the Fertile Crescent, in the area now known as the Middle East. Therefore, I also identify as Middle Eastern. I have been filling out demographic forms with this information for at least five years and no one has yet questioned my self identification status.
I maintain that if Bruce Jenner can identify as a woman, I can identify as a Native American Middle Easterner. Problem solved.
Don’t hold your breath. If you’re not a person of color, gay or transgender, you’re not part of the “pool.” These are the people who call everyone the dreaded “racist” if you don’t agree with EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING that they as the dominant “social contagion “ think tank espouse or believe. No Pennie’s for you Dearie.
I applied four times with Oregon Humanities, really lovely essays, about all sorts of things, but alas, wasn’t a lesbian, or a person of color. The reality is that I was as skilled as all the other writers who grace their website but as a pale straight gal, not relevant, not important, “you’re not human, get outa here!” It’s the way it is here in this city. But things may be changing. Lots of Portlanders are getting really tired of the radicals being in power, with their shaming stare and wagging finger of blame. People are not supposed to Judge a person by the color of their skin, but rather by the content of their character…. Sadly that rarely happens in this skin color obsessed country!
Starting 30 years ago I applied for English department jobs with local colleges. The race essay part of the process was maddening and always defeated me. Actually it was degrading as it seemed to require simpering.
Richard Cheverton once described himself as a mongrel, which is cool. It means the same thing as “mutt,” but Mongrel looks more foreign, especially if you capitalize it. That might work with the kind of biases you find at American colleges. Also, they could have confused Mongrel with Mongoloid.
“We don’t have one of those. This could be a first!”
You could have been a shoo-in. Or, they could have mistook you for a member of the Mongol bikers. Colleges have a soft spot for violent felons.
You’ve got to work all the angles, Larry. Simpering is not your strong suit.
Of course it did. I’ve applied as a writing instructor three times with PCc. They didn’t even respond. Unless you’ve got a friend in the department, to help you slide in, it’s impossible to be hired. This after I spent 2 1/2 years completing a masters degree, with a special curriculum I created for adult college students to examine their childhood experiences. It’s all a joke. PSU, and PCc, and other places only hire those people who agree with their politics…
Mr. Cheverton has already shown how the RACC's turn in 2020 from funding the city's artistic mainstream to the funding the officially marginalized and underrepresented stiffed the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Opera, and Portland Center Stage, so I won't delve deeply into that here. One subsequent related development is worth a mention, though.
The heads of the Oregon Symphony and the Portland Art Museum were each guests on the June 6, 2023. episode of the podcast "Rational in Portland." https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brian-ferriso-portland-art-museum-and-scott-showalter/id1579198261?i=1000615831207
In addition to explaining the many important ways their organizations and the arts in general contribute to a healthy Portland, the leaders inevitably turned to their companies' financial condition. One would expect individuals who shoulder such enormous responsibilities to count unwavering tact among the skills that allow them to succeed. One would not be wrong. When the stakes are high, as they are for the symphony and the art museum right now, a leader also needs to know how to wield understatement as a weapon. Hence, when it came to the discussion of public funding, what listeners heard from the guests was that local government "is not at the table." Let that sink in. And then remember: You're paying an arts tax. For what?
In contrast, the two were effusive in their praise of the small and large donors whose generosity is allowing the organizations to cover ever-increasing expenses, including an unconscionably sharp increase in the rent the symphony pays its public landlord.
Now, anyone who has listened to "Rational in Portland" will know that the host does not shy away from controversy. In fact, she is among the leading vocal critics of Portland's progressive politicians and the many profound crises they and their allies have created. Compromising the future of two of the city's oldest and most valuable arts institutions by diverting public funding to racial-, ethnic- and gender-identity agitprop certainly counts as a crisis. Still, even a muckraking podcaster knows when to employ tact. It is likely the host did not bring up the RACC's betrayal for the same reason the guests never mentioned it. It would have put these very public figures on the spot and given the vocal and well-connected critics of institutions they view as being too white and too mainstream (or is it elitist?) ammunition to use against the organizations they lead.
If the guests that day chose to maintain a strategic silence on the destabilizing impact the RACC's pointed withdrawal of support has had on their organizations, they were astute enough to ask that their listeners write their elected leaders and demand that they provide a level of funding comparable to that furnished by cities where support for mainstream arts is a considered pressing civic obligation. Please do!
In closing, I will say that I, too, have exchanged correspondence with the RACC's Carol Tatch.
When I looked at the list of the various documents the RACC's operations generate on a regular basis, I decided the category I'd most like to see is the final report submitted to the RACC by each grant recipient. Hence, I posed the following questions in an email note to an RACC official:
"Are final reports available to the public in whole or in part? What is the process for obtaining them? If the reports are not provided to the public, what is the reason and what is the legal basis?"
I won't bore readers with the entirety of Ms. Tatch's reply when this Kafkaesque gem says everything about the RACC's attitude toward the inquiring public:
"Please let me know your need for the information you are requesting with the understanding that we will not release these specific items to you."
It is simply not possible to improve on that last para. Thank you.
Regarding those increasingly frequent demographic questionnaires - here is how I handle it:
Six generations back, my ancestors came to this country from Scotland and Sweden. If I were born in Germany, I would be a Native German. Since I was born in America, I self identify as Native American.
The cradle of civilization was in the Fertile Crescent, in the area now known as the Middle East. Therefore, I also identify as Middle Eastern. I have been filling out demographic forms with this information for at least five years and no one has yet questioned my self identification status.
I maintain that if Bruce Jenner can identify as a woman, I can identify as a Native American Middle Easterner. Problem solved.
Don’t hold your breath. If you’re not a person of color, gay or transgender, you’re not part of the “pool.” These are the people who call everyone the dreaded “racist” if you don’t agree with EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING that they as the dominant “social contagion “ think tank espouse or believe. No Pennie’s for you Dearie.
I applied four times with Oregon Humanities, really lovely essays, about all sorts of things, but alas, wasn’t a lesbian, or a person of color. The reality is that I was as skilled as all the other writers who grace their website but as a pale straight gal, not relevant, not important, “you’re not human, get outa here!” It’s the way it is here in this city. But things may be changing. Lots of Portlanders are getting really tired of the radicals being in power, with their shaming stare and wagging finger of blame. People are not supposed to Judge a person by the color of their skin, but rather by the content of their character…. Sadly that rarely happens in this skin color obsessed country!
Starting 30 years ago I applied for English department jobs with local colleges. The race essay part of the process was maddening and always defeated me. Actually it was degrading as it seemed to require simpering.
Richard Cheverton once described himself as a mongrel, which is cool. It means the same thing as “mutt,” but Mongrel looks more foreign, especially if you capitalize it. That might work with the kind of biases you find at American colleges. Also, they could have confused Mongrel with Mongoloid.
“We don’t have one of those. This could be a first!”
You could have been a shoo-in. Or, they could have mistook you for a member of the Mongol bikers. Colleges have a soft spot for violent felons.
You’ve got to work all the angles, Larry. Simpering is not your strong suit.
Of course it did. I’ve applied as a writing instructor three times with PCc. They didn’t even respond. Unless you’ve got a friend in the department, to help you slide in, it’s impossible to be hired. This after I spent 2 1/2 years completing a masters degree, with a special curriculum I created for adult college students to examine their childhood experiences. It’s all a joke. PSU, and PCc, and other places only hire those people who agree with their politics…
Actually it’s more a skin obsessed city. Lots of the USA is not like this. Can’t wait to get me to a “purple” community.