Bend arts collective Scalehouse has been approved for a National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects award of $20,000.

The downtown Bend nonprofit is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts collaborative that operates a gallery, hosts discussions and holds events. The NEA grant will go toward supporting one of those events, the 2025 Bend Design Conference, an annual convergence of artists, designers and other creatives offering panels, discussions and more on the subjects of graphic design, branding, architecture for a couple of days each autumn.

“This award comes at an exciting time for Scalehouse and Bend Design as we prepare to celebrate 10 years of the conference this fall,” Scalehouse Board Chair Jenny Malone said in the announcement of the grant. “The award represents years of dedication from the Scalehouse team and we are thrilled to share the news.”

Scalehouse’s is more than 1,125 Grants for Arts Projects totaling more than $31.8 million as part of its fiscal year 2025 grants.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including the 2025 Bend Design Conference.”