Sherwood Center for the Arts reports rising rentals, plans fee changes and revives gala

Sherwood Center for the Arts staff told the Budget Committee the center’s rentals and audiences have increased, but they plan fee adjustments to help sustain operations and revive a fundraising gala this fall.

Shanda (art center staff) reported the center is celebrating its 10th anniversary and that rentals and event audiences are up: summer program revenue rose about 9% from a record year, and 25 new renters used the center in fiscal year 2024–25. The center is largely rented on weekends and attracts users from beyond Sherwood, including Gladstone, Southeast Portland and Beaverton.

Staff said they reviewed rental fees and will propose adjustments—generally 20%–30%—in the June fee schedule, and they plan to honor prices for customers who reserved space up to 18 months earlier. They estimate the fee changes could generate roughly $20,000 in year one and about $47,000 the following year if bookings hold.

The art center plans to revive its annual gala on Sept. 27 under a renewed Friends of the Sherwood Center for the Arts group; proceeds will go to the Friends organization for scholarships and center support. Committee members asked about the center’s reliance on transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue; staff and the mayor explained state restrictions on TLT uses can limit flexibility. The public art fund — financed largely by TLT — has an identified project: installation of a set of decorative deer for the Oregon Street roundabout, a project budgeted at about $120,000 pending right‑of‑way permits.