Oregon ArtsWatch (OAW) is a nonprofit arts-journalism organization that covers the arts and culture centered around Portland, Oregon. The organization is left leaning, focusing its arts journalism on “historically marginalized populations.” Oregon ArtsWatch seeks to cover the “entire arts ecosystem of the region,” including music, dance, theater, and the visual arts. ¹

As of 2024, Oregon ArtsWatch claimed to have 7 editors, 65 contributors, and 145 community partners. During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, Oregon ArtsWatch published 744 stories and podcasts. ²

Opinion Articles

In addition to covering the arts and culture in Oregon, Oregon ArtsWatch has published articles on political issues that reflect the organization’s left-of-center perspective. In February 2025, OAW published an opinion piece criticizing the second Trump administration’s “sham ‘golden age’ of arts” and its actions related to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The group has also published numerous articles critical of the administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency” efforts, and in particular proposed cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts. ^{3 4}

Financials

In fiscal year 2023, Oregon ArtsWatch reported total revenue of $262,887 and total expenses of $286,010, resulting in a deficit of $23,123. The organization held $153,185 in total assets at the end of the year, with no reported liabilities. Contributions and grants made up the bulk of income at $261,782, accounting for approximately 99.6 percent of total revenue. ⁵

The organization spent $125,272 on salaries and wages and $144,580 on subcontractors. Program service expenses totaled $159,441, while management and general expenses amounted to $126,569. ⁵

During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, Oregon ArtsWatch revenues increased 60 percent compared to the previous fiscal year, and sponsorship revenue more than doubled. ²

In 2023, Oregon ArtsWatch was given $10,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to “support the creation and publication of a series of written and photo essays featuring gender-nonconforming and transgender people.” ⁶

In 2023, the Oregon Community Foundation donated $80,000 to the Oregon ArtsWatch. ⁷

In 2023, the Cornell University Foundation, a subordinate organization of Cornell University, donated $45,000 to the Oregon ArtsWatch. ⁸

People

As of May 2025, Laura Grimes was the executive director of Oregon ArtsWatch, where she has worked since 2016. Before her time at OAW, Grimes worked in journalism at The Oregonian for 24 years. Grimes also worked as the marketing and public relations manager for the Portland Ballet. ⁹

Bob Hicks was the executive editor of Oregon ArtsWatch. Hicks previously worked covering arts and culture at The Oregonian. Hicks is the author of several art books including Kazuyuki Ohtsu, James B. Thompson: Fragments in Time, and Beth Van Hoesen: Fauna and Flora. ¹⁰

1.  Oregon ArtsWatch. “About.” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.orartswatch.org/about/
2. Oregon ArtsWatch. Funding Opportunities 2023–2024. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://orartswatch.org
3. Oregon Arts Watch. “The War Over Arts Funding.” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.orartswatch.org/the-war-over-arts-funding/
4. Oregon Arts Watch. “Oregon Humanities Sues over Federal Funding Cuts.” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.orartswatch.org/oregon-humanities-sues-over-federal-funding-cuts/
5. Oregon ArtsWatch. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2024.
6. USAspending.gov. “Award ID: ASST_NON_1909921-78-23_5920.” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_1909921-78-23_5920
7. Oregon Community Foundation. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2024. Schedule I, Part II, Line 1257.
8. Cornell University Foundation. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2024. Schedule I, Part II, Line 28.
9. LinkedIn. “Laura Grimes.” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-grimes-82960015/
10. Oregon Arts Watch. “Author: Bob Hicks.” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.orartswatch.org/author/bob-hicks/