Mayor Sam Adams

(Special thanks to Tommy Meanea & Evelyn J. Liu of PhoenixLotus Productions for the fantastic images.)

Now, let us begin with an arts joke or two.

Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Fish.

Okay, another.

Q: How many folk singers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Two.  One to change it, and one to write a song about how good the old light bulb was.

Hmm. One more.

Q: How many artists, organizers, administrators and advocates does it take to fill the lobby of the Gerding Theater at the Armory this past week to discuss the role of local arts and culture and help plan the next 25 years of related policy in Portland?

A: Oh, about 140!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a joke, you say? Okay, that's fair.  But it is a very inspiring figure, what with that many people representing nearly as many different communities and corners of the local arts ecology having come out to provide their input and perspective at the Portland Plan Arts Town Hall.

The evening began as any arts-related event should - with some actual art.  Gauri Rajbaidya - a local musician, architect and talented member of the Colored Pencils Art Collective, originally from Nepal - played a lovely rag on the bamboo flute for an attentive audience, after which the hospitable people of Portland Center Stage welcomed the crowd into their space.

Then came the evening's twist: Mayor Adams had been taken ill, so rather than risk exposing the crowd to a bug, so his Arts & Culture Policy Director, Jennifer Yocom, introduced the mayor's understudy for the event, as it were: Joe Zehnder, Chief Planner for the City of Portland.  The crowd adapted admirably (perhaps because of the leadership abilities implied by Zehnder's more than passing resemblance to legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson) as Zehnder led them through a primer on the Portland Plan, its process and goals, and how the concept of equity is at the center of the discussion in our rapidly changing city.  Here's a video on equity that was shown and summarizes the issue well:

Attendees then turned to the ten or so people seated around them for extended small-group discussions about what goals and objectives should guide Portland's plan for the arts and culture through 2035.  Thinking collaboratively about these parts of our civic life with such a long-term time horizon is something we don't often get the chance to do, and everyone benefited from the varied viewpoints shared around the key directions of improved access to art in schools and neighborhoods, strengthening Portland as a center of excellence for arts and culture through funding and diversity, and enhancing art as an economic development engine.  More detailed information about these topics can be found at the Portland Plan website's page dedicated to the Arts, Culture & Innovation.

After some of the small groups shared their findings with the rest of the assembly, conversation shifted from long-term planning to the much nearer term, and how imminent opportunities can bridge the two.  Jessica Jarratt, Executive Director of the Creative Advocacy Network (CAN), spoke about the organization's work to bring a measure to the ballot for voter approval in the near future that would create a dedicated, annual public fund of $15-20 million for the arts and culture in the Portland region.  She shared some details about the allocation model that the CAN board recently approved and how it would distribute various funds to programs, projects, organizations, schools and artists across Portland and surrounding counties.

Two hours, several presentations and many thoughtful conversations after the town hall began, it came to a close.  Where exactly Portland will be in 25 years and how exactly it will get there will only be knowable with time, but what is abundantly clear now is that the arts and culture will be a critical part of that movement, and that artists and arts organizations are motivated and ready to help determine its direction in very real ways.  The future is exciting, indeed - but so is the present.

The Portland Plan Arts Town Hall was co-sponsored by:
Bureau of Planning & Sustainability
Regional Arts & Culture Council
Creative Advocacy Network (CAN)
New Portland Colored Pencils
Portland Center Stage

Wine kindly donated by:

Torii Moi

Cana's Feast

Featured Artist:

Adam Kuby of the Portland Acupuncture Project