About
Live art. Shared moments. Lasting inspiration.
We believe in the power of art to inspire, uplift, and connect.
Portland'5 changes the world through the arts. We build community, create welcoming safe spaces, and make the arts accessible so that everyone feels connected.
Each year, Portland'5 brings more than 800 performances in music, theatre, dance and lectures to Portland because we know that art matters. Art brings joy, sparks curiosity, and unites communities. Art changes lives.
As the fifth-largest performing arts center in the United States, we take pride in keeping culture thriving—not just locally, but nationally. Our five venues welcome over 800,000 patrons each year to downtown Portland’s vibrant Cultural District, generating an average of $90 million in regional economic impact annually. With the support of Metro and the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission, we’re able to offer performances that reflect the values, passions, and creativity of our community.
We also honor the greater Portland area as the traditional home of many Indigenous Peoples, whose stewardship of this land has shaped the region for generations. We recognize the responsibilities that come with living in this place—to care for the land, water, air, animals, and people—and we remain committed to respecting Indigenous voices in our community.
At Portland'5, every performance is an invitation: to laugh, to reflect, to be inspired, and to share in the extraordinary experience of live art. Whether you’re attending a world-class symphony, an intimate theatre production, a riotous comedy show, or a lecture that sparks new ideas, we are here to bring you experiences of shared magic.
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About the Portland’5 management transition
Portland'5 Centers for the Arts venues are owned by the City of Portland and have been managed by Metro since 1989. In 2024, Portland City Council and Metro Council formed a workgroup to review operations and long-term planning. The group recommended ending the current management arrangement and returning Portland'5 management to the City.
Metro and the City are now preparing for this transition, which will occur in summer 2027.
What does this mean for you?
- No immediate changes: Events will continue as scheduled, and Portland'5 staff will keep supporting day-to-day operations.
- Transition timeline: Planning and transition will take about 18 months. The plan will include efforts to support a seamless transition that does not disrupt the services and experiences that Portland'5 venues are known for.
Why change the management model?
- Simplified governance: Having one government own and manage operations will focus priorities and clarify responsibilities, making it easier to plan for the future of Portland'5.
- Capital funding challenges: The current model does not provide adequate funding for major capital projects and venue upgrades. Deferred maintenance and financial pressures have made the arrangement unsustainable.
What about Keller Auditorium and Portland State University’s proposed venue?
The Portland'5 management transition process is separate from these projects and will not affect their status. The City is exploring renovating Keller Auditorium and building a new Broadway-capable theater on the PSU campus.
Studies are underway, and funding still needs to be identified.
Learn more about the reimagining of downtown performing arts
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Performing arts venues workgroup
On October 31, 2024, Portland City Council and Metro Council adopted resolutions to establish a Performing Arts Venues Workgroup to evaluate management of Portland'5 arts facilities.
The Workgroup was tasked with evaluating the operations, maintenance, and long-term planning of City-owned Metro-operated Portland'5 Centers for the Arts venues: Antoinette Hatfield Hall (housing the Brunish, Newmark, and Winningstad Theatres), Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and Keller Auditorium. The Workgroup was asked to examine operational challenges and opportunities, with a focus on aligning management and operations with regional economic and cultural goals, and to explore alternative operating models.
The Workgroup selection process included targeted recruitment of arts organizations and key stakeholders and an open application process. The 19 Workgroup members were selected by a committee and have a breadth 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.
The Workgroup met for five months and explored various topics: needs and wants of users of the theaters, the current operating model, the state of performing arts centers nationally, common operating models across North America, and possible operational changes for Portland'5.
The Workgroup’s Recommendations Report was submitted to the City of Portland Deputy City Administrator of Vibrant Communities and the Metro General Manager of Visitor Venues in June 2025.
