As a long-time and passionate supporter of the arts, I am honored to serve as Council liaison to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland'5, and other arts organizations.

I’m proud to work with the community to achieve our shared goals: funding arts education in our schools through the Arts Education & Access Fund; expanding the base of support for the unique workplace giving program, Work for Art; promoting equity and access to the arts; supporting the so-called creative economy, and more.

During my free time, I enjoy jazz, modern art, dance, movies, reading, galleries, and museums. My family supports many great local organizations like Northwest Dance Project, KMHD, Disjecta and p:ear. Our 22-year-old daughter has an eye for photography, while my eleven-year-old son is a budding sculptor.
 
It has been another stellar year for arts and culture in Portland. My family and I had the honor of meeting the incomparable Esperanza Spalding when she performed with the Oregon Symphony.  We welcomed a number of art shows to City Hall, including works from PHAME, Portland Public Schools, and SAGE; walked the red carpet at the Portland Premiere of “Wild”; visited the set of the hit show, The Librarians; joined the grand openings of the Pacific Northwest College of Art and Northwest Dance Project; and celebrated impressive outcomes of the Right Brain Initiative.

Portland is a special place to live and work because of the arts. I am honored to serve as a champion for art and culture in our community.

My View: Oregon is the real star of 'Wild' movie
Nick Fish in the Portland Tribune

Arts Education Matters
Nick Fish in Artslandia at the Performance

The Arts Education and Access Citizen Oversight Committee (AOC) was created by the City to ensure that the Arts Education and Access Fund is implemented as required and intended.  The AOC will be representative of Portland’s diverse community, and will include up to 20 members.

The AOC meets at least twice annually, and interacts regularly with the City of Portland (including the Mayor, Arts Commissioner, and Revenue Bureau), the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Creative Advocacy Network, and our public school districts.

All AOC meetings are open to the public.

AOC meetings and materials are available online: www.portlandoregon.gov/revenue/60089

The AOC will provide annual reports to Portland City Council.

2014 Arts Oversight Committee Annual Report - April 23, 2014

2015 Arts Oversight Committee Annual Report - April 29, 2015