Metro’s Regional Travel Options is working with residents and partners to improve outreach to communities of color about travel options in their community. While Metro provides outreach campaigns to all residents in greater Portland, this effort in 2019 aims to uniquely address the community interests, travel needs and preferences, and values of people of color in two areas: Cornelius in Washington County and the Rosewood/Rockwood neighborhoods in east Multnomah County.
The RTO program is calling on artists who have a relationship - past or present - to western Washington County or East Multnomah County to apply for the opportunity to create original artwork for these outreach campaigns, which promote walking, biking, sharing rides and taking transit. The program will offer a $5,000 stipend to each artist. Artists will collaborate with a team at Metro and community members and partners to complete the artwork by May 30, 2019.
Metro’s goal is to offer programs and information to make it easier, safer and more convenient for people in our region to walk, bike, take transit and share rides – whether out of need or choice.
Call for artists
Eligibility
How to apply
Fill out this form to submit your application.
Send questions or request a paper application to Marne Duke by email [email protected]
or call (503) 797-1551.
Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. March 8, 2019. Metro will announce the award winners on March 15, 2019.
Metro seeks to hire two artists, such as illustrators, painters and graphic illustrators, to create original, two-dimensional artwork to complement, add relevance and appeal to neighborhood-based outreach campaigns. The agency encourages artists who currently live or previously lived in Washington County or East Multnomah County to apply. Applicants may interpret their relationship to the areas as they see fit, and describe it in the application.
Selection process
A committee of one resident, a local arts educator, two staff members from community partners and a Metro staff person will select an artist from each of the focus areas. The committee will independently score submissions and select finalists. Metro will notify all applicants when the committee selects the artists.
Creating art
Artists will each design unique pieces of artwork in partnership with Metro staff, community partners and a working group of area residents to tailor the artwork to each neighborhood. This collaboration will happen over meetings with community leaders and residents. They will discuss community needs and desires around travel options – insights that will inform the artwork. In addition, the artists will capture community values in the work they produce. The artwork will be used in campaign material, such as digital ads, billboards, transit advertising, maps and posters. Artists will also participate in a couple of public events to promote the project and collaboration.
Community partners and Metro will consult with artists throughout the design process, which will include two rounds of review. Artists will also have access to consultants from Alta Planning + Design who will guide on format and other design specifications.
Background
Metro selected the communities of Cornelius in Washington County and Rockwood in east Multnomah County as focus areas for outreach campaigns in 2019. Community input in partnership with Centro Cultural in Cornelius, the Rosewood Initiative in Rockwood and local government partners shaped the campaigns.
Cornelius
Cornelius is a small city in west Washington County with a rich history of agriculture and a tight-knit Latinx community that has lived and worked in the area for generations. The City of Cornelius recently added significant walking and biking infrastructure. TriMet also extended service hours for the single bus line that runs through the community. Additionally, many residents can reach several community destinations, such as the Cornelius Library and affordable housing additions, without a car.
Centro Cultural of Washington County serves Latinx families in Washington County with an ever-growing range of programs designed to create self-sufficient, engaged and active residents. Over its 40 years of service, Centro has provided a home for Latinx cultures, serving the needs of its diverse community by promoting personal growth and empowerment.
Rosewood/Rockwood
The Rosewood/Rockwood community is one of the most diverse places in Oregon. It is home to more than 14,000 people from all over the world. Many residents struggle to find jobs and businesses that serve their needs in the neighborhood and depend on transit to move around. In 2018, TriMet improved service throughout the neighborhood and added a much needed north/south line on 162nd Ave. The city and the county have made various improvements to make walking and biking in the neighborhood safer, but Rockwood still has one of the highest pedestrian injury and death rates in the region.
One of the nonprofits that calls this neighborhood home is the Rosewood Initiative. Its community center provides space for people to gather, connect to resources, celebrate and work on projects that improve their lives and the community.
About Metro's Regional Travel Options
Metro delivers its regional outreach campaigns to promote walking, biking, sharing rides and riding transit through its Regional Travel Options program in partnership with a variety of community groups and local governments.
Funded through the Federal Transit Authority and ODOT Active Transportation, the group is guided by partner needs and feedback, and directed by the Regional Travel Options Strategy adopted by Metro Council.