GLEAN 2026/27

Juried program giving five Portland-area artists five months of access to the Metro Central transfer station — the dump — to glean discarded materials and make work from them. Selected artists receive a $3,000 stipend, studio visits, marketing support and group critiques with GLEAN artists and partners, culminating in a group exhibition. Gleaning runs November 2026 to March 2027, with on-site safety training and orientation on November 2, 2026 and the exhibition in April/May 2027. Each artist must produce at least eight pieces for sale at the exhibition, with 95% of each piece made from gleaned materials, and keeps 80% commission on sales; Recology and Metro each retain one unpurchased piece, and studio space is not provided. For a third year, one of the five places goes to an artist selected for exceptional craft, supported by the Rainmaker Craft Initiative. One residency position is reserved for a student currently enrolled in an art program at a local college or university, considered separately from other applications, and artists working in a variety of media are encouraged to apply. GLEAN is a partnership between Recology Oregon Recovery, Metro — the regional government that manages the Portland area's garbage and recycling system — and the environmental arts nonprofit ReClaim It, and has run since 2010.