Keep Portland Creative: What the Arts Need to Thrive

This event is free for everyone, but please register to help us manage capacity. Donations to support future events like this one are welcome and will be shared between City Club and Friends of Noise. Register Here! About the Event For residents and visitors alike, the arts are part of what makes Portland feel like Portland. That reputation isn’t just a vibe—it shows up in the numbers, too. Portland has one of the highest concentrations of artists in the country. And in most parts of the city, it only takes a few steps out your door to see it. Across Portland, arts districts like the Pearl, Alberta Street, and Mississippi Avenue draw people out to explore galleries, maker spaces, and take hands-on classes with artists in their studios. Portland’s arts and culture ecosystem includes major institutions like Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland Art Museum, and Portland Center Stage, as well as dozens of neighborhood-scale venues and arts education nonprofits working to help artists connect with audiences in their own communities. One example: Friends of Noise and their new all-ages music venue, The Off Beat in Kenton. Join City Club of Portland’s Arts & Culture Committee at The Off Beat for a panel discussion of how to support and grow Portland’s vibrant arts scene. Leaders in arts administration, policymaking, and workforce development will share ideas on the investments and strategies needed. About the Panelists Michelle David, Principal of Michelle David Consulting | Former Grants Manager at the Prosper Portland Office of Events and Film | Former Arts, Music, and Culture Liaison to Ted Wheeler Laura Streib, Executive Director of VibePDX Blake Shell, Executive and Artistic Director of Oregon Contemporary Andre Middleton, Executive Director of Friends of Noise (Moderator) Thank You! This event is made possible with support from Friends of Noise and Portland Center Stage. City Club of Portland relies on organizational sponsors to help cover the costs of b

✕