RCI/AOCACA Partnership Philosophy
Rainmaker Craft Initiative (RCI) and the Alliance of Oregon College of Art and Craft Alumni (AOCACA) are creative networks who together support individuals and learning communities. Fostering self-reliant, critically engaged makers across a spectrum of mediums, capabilities, and aspirations we seek to be a hub, a resource for advancing partnerships with a variety of constituencies focusing on the Pacific Northwest.
As an asset-granting enterprise, Rainmaker Craft Initiative works to strengthen experiential, alternative creative education platforms focused on a Craft ethos.
The Alliance of OCAC Alumni organizes events for alumni and the greater craft community.
RCI is requesting feedback from alumni.
The board of the Alumni Alliance and RCI are looking for ways to serve our community and so we’ve created a form to solicit ideas about what you’d like to participate in going forward.
Your input matters and can help shape what we all do together. We are a small Board with finite resources, so we hope this may encourage involvement and spark engagement in projects undertaken by more alumni.
Oregon Craft Microgrants
Rainmaker Craft Initiative is an educational platform committed to creative inquiry founded on craft. Focused on advancing partnerships within the greater Portland community and nationally, RCI emphasizes material practice and community exchange. RCI is dedicated to fostering socially conscious, critically engaged makers across a spectrum of mediums, outcomes and aspirations. We are instituting a grant program to further this mission.
2026 Fellowships Timeline
Deadline for applications: November 3, 2025
Awardees Announced: December 19, 2025. Awards distributed January 2026. Projects must be completed and final reports received by September 30, 2026.
Purpose of Artist Microgrants
The Oregon Craft microgrant program is an annual award provided by the Rainmaker Craft Initiative that awards outstanding achievement and creativity in the field of craft. These grants are intended to support platforms providing education to others. This could include creating scholarships, fellowships, residencies, workshops, or other educational projects. Please contact RCI if you have questions about the eligibility of your project. Craft education is the key component here, so we hope this encompasses a wide range of projects.
Guidelines
Applications must include the following:
Description of the educational opportunity or project in pdf or word document, not to exceed 1000 words
Artist’s statement in a pdf or word document, not to exceed 500 words
CV not to exceed two pages
5-1 0 images of your work in PDF Format. High resolution is preferred. Image files must be labeled with your last name and image title:
Please indicate if you are open to giving an artist’s talk or participating on a discussion panel.
Award Amounts
Awards are $2000, with no matching funds required. There will be 5 microgrants awarded.
Payment Schedule
Grant awards will be paid within two months of notification of receiving an award. Applicants should plan accordingly.
Requirements & Limitations
Deadline: All applications must be submitted no later than 12:00am on November 3, 2025, to be considered for review.
All applications must meet guidelines and be submitted through Slideroom. Apply Here
Eligibility
Rainmaker Craft Initiative has final determination on eligibility and may request more information as necessary.
At the time of application:
Applicants must be able to receive taxable income in the U.S. for the duration of the grant and report this grant as income
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older Applicants cannot be:
An institution
A full-time student in a degree-granting program or its equivalent
Students at the time of applying, even if graduation is pending the same year ● Disqualified persons, such as substantial contributors to Rainmaker Craft Initiative as well as current employees, consultants, or board members of RCI, or immediate family members of such a person
How Applications are Reviewed
Proposals will be reviewed by the Board of Rainmaker Craft Initiative for completeness and evaluated by a Selection Panel of jurors through the SlideRoom online application review portal.
RCI Board members review submitted applications for eligibility, completeness and accuracy. Applications that meet program requirements are accepted for further review.
The Selection Panel consists of professionals with experience in the craft field and other fields relevant to the grant program, free of any conflict of interest, based on the following criteria:. Educational Opportunity
Community Enrichment Artistic Merit
Inclusivity for underserved constituencies
RCI considers panel recommendations for funding and determines the final award.
Resources:
https://americanart.si.edu/research/fellowships/apply
https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/fellowships/how-to-apply
https://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/fields-fellowship/
https://massculturalcouncil.org/artists-art/artist-fellowships/application-process