Portland committee hears plan to end Metro operating agreement for performing arts and reviews PSU—s downtown arts campus proposal

Portland—s Arts and Economy Committee on Nov. 18 heard staff and stakeholder briefings on the future of the city—s downtown performing arts venues, including next steps to dissolve the Metro operating agreement for the Portland 5 and a presentation from Portland State University on a proposed new Performing Arts and Culture Center.

Director Charity Montez of the Office of Arts and Culture told the committee the performing arts venues work group did not endorse the current two‑government model in which the city owns the buildings and Metro operates them. The work group recommended preparing a plan to dissolve the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) while the city studies five operating scenarios, "including an existing or newly formed nonprofit, a for‑profit operator, a university partnership, in‑house city management, or multiple venue operators," Montez said.

Montez said Metro staff will present an ordinance to Metro Council authorizing the COO to enter a mutually agreed termination agreement with the city; if no mutual agreement is reached, the city would assume management under the IGA—s unilateral termination provisions (Montez described an…