The City of Hillsboro awarded $99,931 in grant funds to local arts organizations through the 2026/27 Community Arts & Culture Grant Program. The program is part of the City’s commitment to supporting arts and culture in Hillsboro. The 27 grants include:

• 15 Arts & Culture Project Grants
• 2 Micro Grants
• 10 Core Operating Grants.

A total of $214,401 was requested across these grant categories from a total of 40 grant applications.

Five performing groups were also selected to receive a Performance Series Grant. These grants offer area performers and performing groups the opportunity to become part of the 2026-27 Performance Series at the Walters Cultural Arts Center.

Recipients will be given a single performance, receive ticketing, marketing, and production support, and receive the net revenue from ticket sales (100% for Hillsboro-based cultural arts non-profits and 80% of ticket sales for all others).

Grant applications were reviewed and ranked by a panel of community members from the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council (HACC). Projects and performances will take place over the coming year, with some starting as early as June 2026.

Grants open in January each year with applications due in February. Learn more about the grant program and types of grants offered on the Community Arts & Culture Grants webpage.

15 Project Grants:

• Elysium Art Empowerment Collective, $2,250: Presenting the 5th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Art Exhibit, hosted at Hillsboro Public Libraries from September 1 to October 31, 2026. This free event will feature Hispanic artists, cultural performances, and an international art exchange, fostering awareness, economic growth, and artistic collaboration within the community.
  
  
• Flip Museum, $4,500: In consultation and collaboration with Native American educators and leaders, the Flip Museum will build a hands-on, modular Kalapuyan Cultural Exhibit.
  
  
• Hillsboro Artists Regional Theatre (HART), $4,500: HART will host the 2027 Fertile Ground Festival, as one of the few Westside venues. For the third year, they’ll nurture new regional works from development and workshop to staged readings.
  
  
• Hillsboro Farmers Markets, $4,500: Hillsboro Farmers Markets will present full day cultural programing on the first Saturday of each month of the market season, while continuing the regular musical and arts programs in all markets.
  
  
• Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra, $3,375: Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra will run an enhanced marketing campaign to reach new audiences.
  
  
• Hillsboro Tuesday Night Marketplace, $4,500: The Tuesday Night Marketplace will replace its stage to comply with safety standards.
  
  
• Native Performing Arts Network, $4,500: Support for the Pacific Northwest premiere of Beth Piatote’s Antíkoni.
  
  
• The Opportunity Club Community, $4,500: The Opportunity Club Community will host an inclusive Hillsboro Arts and Culture Series featuring workshops, artist-led classes, and a public showcase celebrating local heritage and creativity for adults with developmental disabilities.
  
  
• Oregon Chorale, $4,500: Support for their Emerging Voices Internship Program for choral musicians in local high schools.
  
  
• Our Bold Voices, $2,250: A series of three Pride events including an open Mic event, a Youth Storytelling event, and a Queer Literary Event and Resource Fair.
  
  
• STAGES Performing Arts Academy, $4,500: Funding supports the “I’m a STAR” program, serving folks living with physical, intellectual, and social/emotional disabilities ages 13 to adult.
  
  
• Washington County Arts Alliance, $4,500: Support for the Washington County Artists Open Studio Tour, the 3^rd weekend in October.
  
  
• Westside Quilters Guild, $4,500: Funding supports a 2-day “Oregon: Seashore, Forest & Mountain” Quilt Show (Oct 30-31) at the Westside Commons Expo Center featuring over 200 quilts by local area artists, guest speakers, hands-on education classes, and vendor booths.
  
  
• Young Artist’s Club, $1,283: Art supplies for Mooberry Elementary school students in class art lessons, run by Young Artist Club volunteers twice a month in every class.

2 Micro Grants   

• Balfolk Dance Hillsboro, $750: Supports free community Balfolk dance lessons and events twice annually by new emerging organization.
  
  
• McKinney Elementary School PTO, $1,000: Funding will revive McKinney Elementary School’s Art Literacy program after a six-year hiatus.

10 Core Operation Requests 

• Bag&Baggage Productions, $5,500: Founded in 2004, Bag&Baggage Productions is a professional theatre company focusing on social impact by employing artistic expression to elicit cultural connections & to unify the community through meaningful engagement and transformative learning opportunities.
  
  
• Children’s Healing Art Project, $5,500: Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP) brings the healing power of art to children and families facing medical challenges. Our innovative and inclusive healing arts programs are provided free of charge to children, teens and families affected by pediatric illness, disability, or special need.
  
  
• Friends of HART Theater, $5,500: HART is in the business of providing quality theatre and entertainment to the citizens of Hillsboro and the surrounding areas. HART is also dedicated to providing educational opportunities, chances for community involvement through volunteer activity, and support for cultural diversity.
  
  
• Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra, $1,673: Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra, founded in 2001, provides an affordable and family-friendly cultural experience in western Washington County with three concerts per year. Additionally, 70+/- amateur musicians are given the opportunity to perform.
  
  
• Native Performing Arts Network, $5,500: The Native Performing Arts Network seeks to increase the visibility of Native stories and people by supporting Native artists with community, career, and personal growth opportunities, and by connecting theaters with Native creative leaders.
  
  
• Oregon Chorale, $5,500: The Oregon Chorale is an adult choir, based in Hillsboro and founded in 1985, that promotes beautiful, evocative choral singing at the highest level while keeping concerts affordable, accessible and fun. The Chorale supports local youth through its Emerging Voices program, music scholarships, and collaboration with local youth choirs.
  
  
• RASIKA, $5,500: Founded in 1999 to present the classical performing arts of India to Oregon audiences. Rasika promotes the music of East India with concerts and presentation of educational outreach events to enhance the appreciation and understanding of the culture and traditions of this ancient land.
  
  
• STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy, $5,500: STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy offers innovative programs for youth where they may develop their own unique creative voice in a supportive environment. STAGES nurtures artistic, intellectual and character development through an educational theatre arts program that develops confidence, respect, compassion, cooperation, creativity, and critical thinking.
  
  
• Tualatin Valley Artists / Influence Music Hall, $1,375: Tualatin Valley Artists is an organization of creative people dedicated to improving the community’s quality of life by enhancing its art and culture. With a strong focus on building and presenting a regional sense of art & culture, they provide musical performance – all in an atmosphere of encouragement and opportunity.
  
  
• Westside Community Youth Orchestra, $2,475: The Westside Community Youth Orchestra strives to provide high quality performances as an orchestra for our community, while cultivating artistic growth and excellence of both youth and adult members through enriching orchestral experiences and mentoring among WCYO musicians.

5 Performance Series Grants

• Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra: The 3 ensembles of HSO will bring music history to life from Baroque, to classical, to modern works.
  
  
• Miracle Theatre Group /Teatro Milagro: Told through puppetry, Autoretrato de Fridita tells the story of young Frida Kahlo who uses her imagination to overcome challenges and create a world of her own.
  
  
• Opera in the Park Portland: An interactive “Opera Chat” will explore opera featuring three singers and piano accompaniment, while inviting audience questions.
  
  
• Pacific Celtic Foundation: Teaming with the An Daire Academy of Irish Dance, they will present a show featuring Irish music and dance.
  
  
• Rhythms Dance Academy: Four dancers will perform Kathak dance from Northern India.