MusicOregon Echo Fund
The Echo Fund supports independent, working musicians by funding creative, non-performance projects that support new growth and spur creative and career development.
Independent contemporary music creators are disadvantaged, if not excluded all together from existing Arts and Culture grant programs.
These programs are designed to support classical, world, educational and many jazz musical projects that are composed, rehearsed, and then presented for a limited time to a finite audience. It is difficult for independent artists (who create/compose, rehearse and collaborate, record, and then perform their music in perpetuity) to not be disadvantaged, or disinclined to apply for grant programs that does not fit their practice.
This is no fault of the programs. The commerce of popular music has radically changed in the last ten years to make the needs of independent artists for support more like other arts, but that does not mean that current funding programs should suddenly have to support this entirely different musical practice. But commercial music deserves its own creative funding support.
MusicOregon is the first statewide organization to create grant programs purpose-built to support the unique needs of independent, commercial, contemporary musical artists.
Businesses and organizations all over Oregon must recognize the cultural and economic value that musicians bring to their city. Learn about who supports the Echo Fund, and consider making a donation to invest in the future of Oregon’s music.
Portland Music Month directly supports Echo Fund
Music fans can also support the Echo Fund by attending the hundreds of shows across 30+ venues in Portland throughout the month of January. At least $1 from each of your ticket purchases will go directly towards musician grants (without taking money out of the pockets of the musicians playing).
Learn more about Portland Music Month and how it fuels the Echo Fund.