Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center

IFCC Community Advisory Committee

A Community Advisory Committee was appointed in June 2018 to develop a sustainable plan to reenvision and re-activate IFCC as a center for arts and culture, with the goals to:

• Respect and honor IFCC's history and roots in the African American community
• Uphold IFCC's original mission to explore, preserve and celebrate Portland’s diversity
• Advance the City of Portland's commitment to racial equity

As the Committee develops a thoughtful, long-term plan for IFCC, PP&R recognizes there is an immediate and urgent need for creative space in Portland at present.

In February 2018, the City adopted “A Plan for Preserving and Expanding Affordable Arts Space in Portland.” PP&R is committed to fulfilling the Plan by supporting the IFCC Community Advisory Committee to “develop a strategy for culturally-specific creative spaces” (Recommendation XVIII) and by “providing short-term affordable leases for interim uses ahead of future development” (Recommendation XVII).

Advisory Committee Members

• Dr. Steven Holt — Facilitator
• Antoinette Edwards — Office of Youth Violence Prevention, Community Peace Collaborative (Retired)
• Helen Daltoso — Regional Arts & Culture Council
• Suba Ganesan — Portland's Creative Laureate, New Expressive Works
• S. Renee Mitchell — Writer, Artist, Creative Revolutionist
• Prentice Onayemi — Grains of Salt
• Donovan Smith — Gentrification is Weird
• Rob Smith — PHAME
• Cynthia Sulaski — Overlook Neighborhood Association
• Patricia Welch — North Portland Library, Retired
• Tyler White — The CENTER, I Love This Place PDX
• Jeana Woolley — JM Woolley & Associates, Marco Properties LLC

Short-term Leasing of IFCC

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is making the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) available to arts organizations for short-term leasing (3-8 weeks) in 2020. Interest in 1-2 week terms may be considered with 3-8 week commitments given higher priority. To qualify for leasing, your organization must demonstrate strong alignment with IFCC’s stated goals.

The first application deadline is Friday, October 18. Additional applications will be accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis.

IFCC does not currently have dedicated funding or staff. A short-term leasing model enables us to make the building available while working within resource constraints.

Basic Leasing Terms

Comprehensive leasing agreement will be issued to tenants.

Scope

• Leasing will be available for single-tenant occupancy, with a minimum leasing period of 3 weeks and maximum of 8 weeks.
• Tenants will have full access to the theatre (capacity 99), rehearsal/dance studio (capacity 20), gallery/multi-purpose room (capacity 40), and two small offices.

Staffing

• PP&R/City staff or representatives will not be on the premises during leasing period.
• A designated PP&R staff person will be on-call to address facility issues and emergencies.
• Tenant must provide their own technical support staff for all events and productions.

Costs 

• Rental rate is $1300 per week and prorated for additional days.
• The building will not be supervised by City staff. Tenant will take full responsibility of the building and must provide proof of liability insurance coverage up to $2,000,000.
• 50% of full rent payment and a $500 security deposit are due upon signing of lease. The remaining 50% rent payment is due on the first day of occupancy.

Amenities

• The building is being leased as-is.
• Included in rental fee: Wi-Fi, utilities (water, electricity, gas, garbage), janitorial service (once per week), alarm/security system.
• Not included: phone

Available Dates

• Check for availability

Key Dates

• Additional applications will be accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis.

To Apply

• Please answer the following questions and submit by email to: Soo Pak at soo.pak@portlandoregon.gov with the subject line “IFCC Short-term Leasing”

You must answer all 6 questions below to be considered:

1. What is the name of your arts organization?
2. Who will serve as your organization’s primary point of contact? Please provide email and phone number.
3. What is your organization’s stated mission?
4. Please describe the communities you serve? Provide any available demographic information.
5. Please describe how your organization demonstrates strong alignment with the goals established for IFCC. Please be specific and speak to the work your organization produces or presents, education programs, outreach efforts, partnerships, etc. The goals of IFCC are to:
   • Respect and honor IFCC's history and roots in the African American community
   • Uphold IFCC's original mission to explore, preserve and celebrate Portland’s diversity
   • Advance the City of Portland's commitment to racial equity
6. Which 3-8 week block(s) of time in 2020 are you interested in leasing IFCC? Are your dates fixed or flexible?