Application Guidelines
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is seeking local talent – artists, small bands, performing artists – from the Portland Metro Area (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Clark Counties) for small, unadvertised, one-hour pop-up performances for summer 2021. We are committed to providing Portlanders with access to arts and culture, community building, activate public spaces and celebrating Portland in a way that meets Oregon Health Authority’s health and safety guidelines during COVID-19. These events elevate local arts and culture, build community, activate public spaces, and celebrate Portland!
Performances should be high-quality, reflect our community's diversity, and appropriate for audiences of all ages. We are specifically looking for:
- Small, multi-cultural performances that appeal to diverse park visitors
- Family-friendly content (including lyrics), though not necessarily kid-focused
- Professionalism
- Flexibility to follow and adapt to changing health and safety guidelines as required
- Performers available during the daytime and/or early evenings
Pop-Up Performances for Summer Free For All and Gateway Discovery Park
Opportunities for small one-hour, “pop-up” performances by local musicians, DJs, and performing artists in parks across the City of Portland. The goal is to bring joy to park users and to positively activate our parks with arts and culture. These performances will be unadvertised and will be “discovered” by those who are in the park. Attendees will be multi-cultural and range from people walking by, young children playing, adults, seniors, and teens in the park. Audiences may range from 5 to 75 or more people, depending on current health and safety guidelines.
Opportunities may be at Free Lunch + Play mealtimes, in the early evenings, and/or on weekends. Artists and performers may not accept cash or electronic tips. However, they can sell their own performance-related merchandise.
Available support and equipment include:
- On-site staff to meet and greet and familiarize performer(s) with the space and ensure park rules and policies are adhered to.
- One 10x10 pop-up tent
- Access to 110/20 electricity or generator
- Sound equipment includes (2) vocal microphones with (2) mic stands, (2) condenser mics, (2) main speakers, (2) monitors, (1) 16-channel mixer and (2) DI boxes (OR) small portable PA system with corded microphone where appropriate
No stage or sound tech provided. Performers are responsible for mixing their own sound and adjusting sound levels.
Pop-Up Performance Types
Pop-Up Music and/or Dance Performances: $500/Performance
These are small, one-hour performances meant to expose people to your music and to bring life to the park. Group size of music and dance performance groups to be three people or less. Performances will not be advertised or promoted due to COVID-19 health and safety gathering restrictions.
Pop-Up Solo DJ Times: $175/Performance
Background music and vibes in our parks! All music must be family-friendly, non-sexually explicit, and appropriate for the general public of all ages. DJs must be actively engaged in mixing their music, making announcements, and interacting with people in the park throughout their sets.
Pop-Up Performing Artists: $175/Performance
Circus arts, comedy, dance and movement, magic, mime and illusion, buskers, live painting, puppetry, spoken word and poetry, theatre, musical theatre, and other artists and performers to make the parks lively and welcoming. Performers must be actively engaging with park users at a safe distance and be willing to make announcements during their set.
Submission Process and Timeline
If you need assistance completing this application, please contact Summer Free For All staff at sffa@portlandoregon.gov.
- Learn about our programs and all performance opportunities.
- Complete the Portland Parks & Recreation 2021 Performer Application – let us know which performance opportunities you’d like to be considered for.
- Applications are accepted year-round, but priority for the 2021 summer season is given to applications received by April 15, 2021.
- Artists and performers may email concerts@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-823-5059 with questions about this application process.
- We strive to be equitable and book as many talented performers as possible each year. We receive more artist applications than performance opportunities. Selection to perform one year does not guarantee placement the following year.
- Our goal is to book performances by June 2021. This deadline is subject to change at any time due to public health guidelines and restrictions around COVID-19. We will do our best to communicate any changes or delays.
NOTE: Applicants who are not selected to perform will not be notified. All applications will be kept on file for one year for consideration for special events, community celebrations, park grand openings, and other PP&R programs throughout the year.