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The Reimagining Downtown Performing Arts project consists of two main bodies of work, the Future of Portland’5 and the Future of Large-Scale Performing Arts.
About the Future of Portland’5
Owned by the City of Portland and operated by Metro since 1989, Portland'5 brings more than 1,000 events including music, theater, dance, and lectures and more than 800,000 patrons to downtown Portland every year—generating $77 million in total spending annually.
In October 2024, Portland City Council passed a resolution to establish a performing arts venues workgroup to explore the opportunities and challenges to both immediate and long-term operations, maintenance, and planning of the Portland'5 venues. The resolution also directed the study of alternative operational models for the Portland'5 arts facilities.
This body of work is part of the overarching Reimagining Downtown Performing Arts project, which also includes the Future of Large-Scale Performing Arts. The Future of Portland'5 project is focused on the management, operations, and the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City and Metro as they relate to these venues.
What's next for the Future of Portland'5?
On December 31, 2025, Metro formally notified Portland officials of its intent to withdraw from its role as the manager of downtown Portland's performing arts venues. This move, announced jointly to the public on January 5, 2026, means that the management of the Portland'5 will return to the City of Portland on July 1, 2027. To start the 18-month transition, the City launched a request for information on January 26, 2026 with the goal of better understanding what types of operating models exist and what kinds of operating models could exist in Portland.
Learn more about next steps in the Portland'5 management transition
Key areas of work
Request for information
To better understand what operating models are possible and what ideas individuals and organizations might propose in Portland, the City launched an informal request for information in January 26, 2026. This request for information serves as a casual, exploratory opportunity to gather ideas from the larger community as part of the initial phase of the 18-month transition plan that will ultimately return the management responsibility of Portland'5 Centers for the Arts to the City of Portland. The City is also exploring options to manage operations itself as part of this process. If the City ultimately decides to move forward with outside management, submissions collected from the request for information process may inform the creation of a subsequent, more formal request for proposals.
Learn more about the request for interest
Performing Arts Venues Workgroup
Between January and June 2025, the City's project team and Metro convened a 19-member Performing Arts Venues Workgroup to evaluate the operating and governance models of the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts. The workgroup's short- and long-term recommendations were submitted to the City Administrator, MERC, and Metro Council on June 25, 2025 to inform their decision-making moving forward. In a joint announcement issued on January 5, 2025, Metro announced its intention to withdraw from Portland'5 Centers for the Arts management, which will return to the City of Portland on July 1, 2027.
Learn more about the Performing Arts Venues Workgroup
Project milestones
Future of Portland'5 project milestones
Expand this table to see key project milestones listed in reverse chronological order.
2026
January: The City of Portland launches a request for information to better understand what operating models exist
To better understand what operating models are possible and what ideas individuals and organizations might propose in Portland, the City launched an informal request for information in January 26, 2026.
January: Metro and the City of Portland issue joint announcement outlining Metro's intention to withdraw from the management of Portland'5 Centers for the Arts
After an 18-month transition, management of Portland'5 will return to the City of Portland on July 1, 2027.
2025
January-June: The City of Portland and Metro convene a 19-member Performing Arts Venues Workgroup
The workgroup evaluates the operating and governance models of the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts. Their short- and long-term recommendations are submitted to the City Administrator, Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission (MERC), and Metro Council on June 25, 2025.
2024
October: City Council passes Resolution 37684 to establish a performing arts workgroup
The group is tasked with exploring opportunities and challenges to both immediate and long-term operations, maintenance, and planning of the City-owned Portland'5 Centers for the Arts venues. The resolution also directs the study of alternative operational models for the P'5 arts facilities.
The Future of Portland'5 project team
The City's Future of Portland'5 project team consists of staff from the Community & Economic Development Service Area, Office of Arts & Culture, and the Spectator Venues and Visitor Activities Program, including:
- Donnie Oliveira, Deputy City Administrator, Community & Economic Development Service Area
- Chariti Montez, Director, Office of Arts & Culture
- Karl Lisle, Spectator Venues and Visitor Activities Program Manager
- Lauren Broudy, Spectator Venues Program Coordinator
- Brian Moore, Development Manager, Prosper Portland
- Soo Pak, Arts, Culture, and Special Events Manager, Portland Parks & Recreation and the Office of Arts & Culture
- Elliott Kozuch, Senior Communications & Engagement Manager, Community & Economic Development Service Area
Public meetings and presentations
Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission (MERC) meeting on July 2, 2025
City Council’s Arts and Economy Committee meeting on July 8, 2025
Metro Council work session on July 15, 2025
Agenda | Meeting packet | Meeting minutes | Video recording of meeting
Get updates on the Future of Portland'5
To stay up-to-date on arts and culture in the City of Portland, including the Future of Portland'5 project, sign up to receive the Office of Arts & Culture's monthly newsletter.