Arts Culture presents on venues workgroup recommendations for Citys Arts and Economy Committee

Chariti Montez, the Arts & Culture Director, presented the recommendations from the Performing Arts Venues Workgroup to Portland’s Arts and Economy Committee on July 8, 2025. The workgroup was established after a 2022 audit revealed governance issues and a lack of clarity regarding the costs of the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. These venues, which draw more than 800,000 attendees to downtown Portland each year, play a vital role in the local creative economy. Montez shared insights on how the recommendations fit into the Future of Keller project, which seeks to improve cultural asset management. The committee aims to address the challenges identified in the audit and ensure better service for Portlanders.

Montez's presentation focused on both immediate and long-term improvements for the venues. The City and Metro passed parallel legislation in October 2024 to form the workgroup, which met biweekly from January to May 2025. This initiative signals a commitment to reassessing and enhancing the management of Portland's cultural assets.