The State of Portland's Art Scene
"Portland is such a great art city," I have heard over and over again from several people, most of which aren't full-time artists. Like the rest of the city's reputation, it precedes itself; the idea that Portland is an artsy city has spread farther than its willingness to currently foster such a scene. Don't get me wrong: You can find a lot of art here. But unlike other cities (e.g. Seattle, New York, New Orleans), you aren't going to see the city officials proudly displaying it. You aren't going to be traveling from A to B and suddenly be awestruck by a novel, inspiring piece purposefully placed to capture your eyes along the way.
Portland does have an art tax of $35 per person household that earns an income above the federal poverty level. When I first heard of the art tax, I understood it to mean a tax to go towards putting more art up around the city. In reality, it turns out the tax is used to pay arts educators and go towards art-focused nonprofits. After 9 years, and as somebody who has been out of the k-12 school system since before the tax was implemented, it's hard to say what kind of impact the tax has had. Personally, as a former musician, I did notice a change happen around the same time the art tax was introduced. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence, but music-only venues (particularly ones that did not serve alcohol) seemed to begin to disappear. No longer could you go see your local band just to see some music. Bars became the place for musicians seeking an audience. But bars aren't always set up for musical enjoyment, and many people go to bars to talk to each other, not watch a band.
All that said, the folks at Black Bulb feel like there has been a change. But what caused it? PDX Monthly has a few well-informed ideas, including the death of Nick Fish and a ‘seismic’ shift in outsiders’ focus from the city’s art to its food scene. Portland did have an explosion of eclectic, delicious, and relatively affordable restaurants in the past decade, and, often, what extends outside of the city, if the government has any control over this, are the news of things that can bring in revenue. Portland’s food scene accomplishes this; its art scene is less so.
So what can we do to make Portland more of an art city? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Go to shows
It really is that simple. Just show up to an art show, festival, or concert. People showing up to events, whether or not they are free, proves there is an interest in the event, and that interest motivates investors to get more involved.
2. Share art--directly--with your friends
Having grown up interested in media, I have noticed that sharing media through personal communication often has a much bigger impact than posting something on a social media profile. If you tell a friend, during a one-on-one conversation, even if it's in their DMs on social media, about an artist you enjoy, expect that to stick with them more than a simple post to your Instagram stories.
3. Spend money on art
The more the city sees art as lucrative, the more likely they are to promote that aspect of the city. Not only that but actually spending money on local art empowers the local artists in two ways: finances and encouragement. Also, you get to have art in your room that most other people don’t have. And an original room is cooler than a cookie-cutter room. Don’t let your friends at school tell you what to buy.
Sources:
https://www.shareable.net/5-proven-strategies-to-support-art-in-your-city
