Background information
On October 31, 2024, Portland City Council unanimously adopted Resolution #37684 to establish a Performing Arts Venues Workgroup to evaluate management of P’5 arts facilities. On the same day, Oregon Metro adopted a complementary resolution.
The Performing Arts Venues Workgroup is tasked with evaluating the operations, maintenance, and long-term planning of City-owned Portland’5 Center for the Arts venues: Antoinette Hatfield Hall (housing the Brunish, Newmark, and Winningstad Theatres), Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and Keller Auditorium. The Workgroup will examine operational challenges and opportunities, with a focus on aligning management and operations with regional economic and cultural goals. Contracted subject matter experts will conduct a business model and governance analysis to explore alternative operating models and recommend the optimal short-term solution.
Informed by the Workgroup’s findings, the Deputy City Administrator for Vibrant Communities and Metro General Manager for Visitor Venues will present recommendations on short-term challenges and opportunities as well as significant conditions that require potential renegotiations of the IGAs to the City Administrator by June 30, 2025.
The role of the Performing Arts Venues Workgroup
The 20-member Workgroup will examine challenges and opportunities with the current operating model for the City-owned Portland’5 Centers for the Arts venues and will explore alternative operating models. The Workgroup will make recommendations to the Deputy City Administrator of Vibrant Communities and Metro General Manager of Visitor Venues for consideration.
Members of the Performing Arts Venues Workgroup
Workgroup members bring a depth of experience in relevant areas including arts & culture, venue management, business, finance, labor, development and government. They also represent small, medium and large arts organizations as well as local, regional and national perspectives.
Brian Moore Prosper Portland
Chris Oxley Metropolitan Exposition and Recreation Commission (MERC)
Dana Rokosny Musicians Union AFM Local 99
David Peterson Oregon Repertory Singers and Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
Diana Scoggins Metropolitan Youth Symphony
Donald Forsythe Portland State University
Dwana Smallwood Vibrant Communities/City of Portland
Isaac Thompson Oregon Symphony
Jeff Miller Travel Portland
Jim Brunberg Portland’5 Advisory Committee and Portland’5 Foundation
Karen Whitman Halprin Landscape Conservancy
Michelle David Multnomah County Cultural Coalition
Prentice Onayemi Grains of Salt
Rich Jaffe Broadway Across America
Rose Etta Venetucci IATSE Local 28
Ruby White Portland’5 Culture and Community/Metro
Ruth Wikler Clark College
Samuel Hobbs push/FOLD and Union PDX
Susan Dixon Portland Opera
Workgroup timeline
The Workgroup will meet bi-weekly between January and May 2025. The expected schedule is:
- January 22, 2025: First meeting of the Performing Arts Venues Workgroup
- February to May 2025: Bi-weekly workgroup meetings
- June 2025: Present recommendations to Deputy City Administrator of Vibrant Communities and Metro General Manager of Visitor Venues
- June 30, 2025: Deputy City Administrator of Vibrant Communities and Metro General Manager of Visitor Venues present final recommendations to City Manager