ARTS &

IFCC

CENTER

BLACK

ARTS &

CULTURE

for

Feasibility Study

Community Meeting 1

Summary Report

August 30, 2023 | Portland, OR

About Meeting 1

Over 90 community members participated in the

ﬁrst Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC)

community engagement meeting. Participants

prioritized potential programming, partnerships, and

funding strategies to help determine the feasibility for

a future Center for Black Arts and Culture at IFCC.

The IFCC Community Advisory Community (CAC), in partnership

with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), has taken a proactive role

in facilitating a series of community engagement events to support

the IFCC Feasibility Study. The aim of the Feasibility Study is to

ensure a future Center for Black Arts and Culture at IFCC is centered

in community and actively involves local residents, artists, and other

important stakeholders. This process, developed in consultation

with Concordia LLC, AEA Consulting, Public Works Partners, and the

Villavaso Group, is grounded in a set of engagement principles where

collaboration is fostered, valuable community data and insights are

gathered, and decision-making is inclusive.

The ﬁrst public engagement meeting occurred on August 30, 2023,

at the Maranatha Church in NE Portland. The meeting served as a

kick-off celebration and open house. The event featured a musical

performance by Studio Abioto, a project overview presentation led by

IFCC CAC, and a showcase of the current programming initiatives at

IFCC.

The highlight of the evening was the interactive activity session where

community members brainstormed ideas in cohorts of 10, while seated

at round tables. The session was facilitated by seven Portland residents

recruited and trained to serve as IFCC Community Fellows. The Fellows

walked participants through a series of prompts to gather unique ideas,

programming inputs, and community priorities. Information gathered

during this session will be used to shape how to best serve the diverse

needs and interests of Portland’s Black community.

Meeting Activity: Potential Events & Programs

The ﬁrst activity prompt asked community members to

brainstorm: “What kind of events and programming

would you most like to experience at the IFCC?”

A total of 231 unique community inputs were

recorded. The responses were divided into speciﬁc

categories and ideas that were most repeated. A

summary of the categories, events, and program types

generated in this activity are highlighted below. For

the full results, see the attached Appendix.

What the Community Envisioned:

• A dynamic and inclusive IFCC serving a wide range

of cultural/arts interests and needs.

• A focus on celebrating Black culture, arts, and

heritage in Portland.

• A slate of program offerings that is multi-

generational and inclusive of all the broader

Portland community.

• A strong interest in educational and programming

opportunities revolving around community

connection, fostering creativity, and the arts.

Youth & Family Programs

• Summer Programming: Theater for Kids/

Youth

• Teen-Centered Street Art

• Talent Show for Families

Community Engagement & Discussion

• Community-Led Events and Workshops

• Discussions about Social Impact on the

Community

• Community Distros and Call to Action Events

Cultural & Heritage Programs

• Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Exchange

• Historical Gallery Space

• Storytelling in the Family and Community

Community Resources & Services

• Food Banks and Pantries

• Clothing Drives

• Access to Legal Services

Arts & Cultural Programs

• Visual Art Gallery

• Theater Productions (Drama and Musical)

• Poetry and Spoken Word Events

Skill Development & Education

• Workshops and Classes (Crafting, Quilting,

Indigo Dyeing, Basket Weaving, Pottery,

Watercolors)

• Media Literacy

• Entrepreneurship in the Arts

Performance & Entertainment

• Dance Parties

• Live Theatre Productions

• Comedy Shows

Facilities & Infrastructure

• Cafes

• Community Garden

• Event Spaces for Organizations

POTENTIAL EVENTS & PROGRAMS

What kind of events and programming would you most like to experience at the IFCC? Brainstorm with your group and write your ideas down in this box.

POTENTIAL PARTNERS

Based on the events and programming your group would like to see: what organizations, community members, and artists are doing similar projects in Portland? Who could best utilize the IFCC

space? Brainstorm with your group and write down your ideas in this box.

POTENTIAL IFCC USES: The list on the right represents potential spaces and uses at the

IFCC. Uses and spaces can overlap and uplift one another. Use this list as a kicking off

point when brainstorming with your group.

POTENTIAL IFCC USES:

Performing Arts Space, Classrooms, Dance Studios, Retail, Open Event

Space, Food Services, Blackbox Theater, Gallery Space, Artist Studios, Music Rehearsal Space, etc.

IFCC is an anchor facility where the history of Portland’s Black community - and its rich arts and culture contributions -

can be presented, displayed, discussed, and honored.

Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC)

$10 or less

More thank once a week

$25 - $50

About twice a month

$75 - $100

Every other month

$10 - $25

Once a week

$50 - $75

Once a month

Over $100

Once a year

ADMISSIONS & ATTENDANCE

The IFCC aspires to balance the need for funding from a diverse group of sources with the

desire for access to its programs and services. Are there any ideas you have for structures or

opportunities that would help support affordability? Brainstorm with your group and write down

your ideas in this box.

How often do you envision yourself attending

events at IFCC? Mark down each answer in the

appropriate box.

*Assume all of your group’s ideal events/programming from

above exist at the IFCC when answering the questions.

On average, how much would you be willing to pay

for individual events and programming? Mark down

each answer in the appropriate box.

Meeting Activity: Admissions & Attendance

The second activity prompt focused on Admissions & Attendance.

Community members were prompted to fast forward to a future IFCC and assume their ideal events and

programming currently existed. With this lens in mind, they were then asked to respond to three questions

around price of admissions and frequency of attendance. The ﬁrst two questions were multiple choice while

the ﬁnal question was open-ended.

3. The IFCC aspires to balance the need for funding from a diverse group of sources with the desire for

access to its programs and services. Are there any ideas you have for structures or opportunities that

would help support affordability?

Community members brainstormed various approaches related to garnering funding and achieving

sustainability. There is a desire to ensure that revenue streams are diverse, ethical, and transparent.

The most common strategies identiﬁed included donations from wealthy community members, membership

options with sliding scales, and annual fundraiser events.

1. On average, how much would you be willing to

pay for individual events and programming?

73% of participants said they would be willing to

pay $10-$50 per event. However, some community

members noted that this would ﬂuctuate

depending on the type of event.

2. How often do you envision yourself attending

events at IFCC?

Community member’s top responses were nearly

evenly distributed between “More than once

a week,” “Once a month,” and “About twice a

month.”

Meeting Activity: Potential Partners

The ﬁnal activity prompt asked, “Based on the events and

programming your group would like to see: What organizations,

community members, and artists are doing similar projects in

Portland? Who could best utilize the IFCC space?”

Community members listed 150 potential partners including

large companies, non-proﬁts, artists, and public agencies: 89

organizations or companies, 32 individuals or families, and 29

broader entities.

The most repeated companies, non-proﬁts, artists, and

public agencies are highlighted below and organized into a

corresponding programmatic category. Some responses fall into

multiple corresponding programmatic categories. For a full list

of potential partners from the community, see the RAW results in

the Appendix.

Black Futures Farm

Cultural and Heritage Programs,

Skill Development and Education,

Youth and Family Programs

PassinArt

Arts and Cultural Programs, Skill

Development and Education, Youth

and Family Programs

Friends of Noise!

Performance and Entertainment,

Skill Development and Education,

Youth and Family Programs

World Stage Theatre

Performance and Entertainment,

Skill Development and Education,

Youth and Family Programs

Portland Public Schools

Skill Development and Education,

Community Resources and

Services, Youth and Family

Programs

Intel

Facilities and Infrastructure,

Community Resources and Services

Caldera Arts

Arts and Cultural Programs, Skill

Development and Education, Youth

and Family Programs

Portland Opportunities

Industrialization Center

Skill Development and Education,

Youth and Family Programs

Community Review of the Meeting

At the end of the meeting, community members were asked to ﬁll out a review

worksheet to provide input on how well the gathering was organized and

orchestrated, and to identify any suggestions for future meetings.

Community Members were asked to weigh in on the following questions:

1. Provide three positive outcomes of the meeting:

Community members were positive and enthusiastic in their responses. Many

participants noted community connection, collaboration, and a sense of hope for

the future.

2. What are your concerns?

1. Achieving ﬁnancial sustainability and obtaining the proper funding allocations;

2. Maintaining authenticity and the potential loss of a Black-centered focus; and

3. Maintaining follow-through and providing clear communication and active community engagement.

3. What are your suggestions for improvements?

Community members expressed enhanced in-person accessibility (more sign language and art performances),

improved facilities and logistics, a focus on funding, more frequency and a structure for continued

engagement, and transparency in how organizational partnerships are concluded.

4. What was accomplished?

The community felt a range of accomplishments, including collaboration, a grounding in vision and hope,

building connections and a foundation, empowerment and care, solidarity, support for youth, expansion of

awareness, celebration, equity, access, and witnessing an external expression of passion within the Black

community.

Next Steps

The consultant team will build out different programming scenarios and spatial options to further

explore the feasibility of a future Center for Black Arts and Culture at IFCC. A second community

meeting will take place in the upcoming months to ground truth the team’s analysis and gather more

crucial input from the community.

To stay connected visit: https://www.portland.gov/parks/construction/interstate-ﬁrehouse-cultural-

center-feasibility-study

Document prepared by Concordia, LLC

Appendix

What kind of events and programming

would you most like to experience at the

IFCC?

• Pseudo boys and girls club

• Continous food cart pod

• Pop-up shop annual event

• Incorporating monumental tower - adding courts

for play & landscape

• Fashion institute collab. Partnership & training

• Seasonal shows

• Summer programming - theater for kids / youth

• Daily programming. Open daily

• Water tower as treehouse / meditation garden

• Maintain vibe and magic in IFCC history

• Center community! Via dance, visual art, theater

• Daily programming accessible to youth for after

school involvement in theater / arts

• Capoeira!

• Artist storage

• Retail space

• Black archival space / library

• Black restart incubator

• Community led events, workshops / makerspace

• Larger dance studio space

• Easy access entry system to support door

management

• Kiln space, glassblowing equipment (and

teachable space)

• Space for media. Media literacy

• Creators space displays of artwork

• Dance space

• Additional windows in the gallery

• Small kitchenettte to support artist residents

• Art gallery

• All black! No one else!

• Memberships for programming

• Installation noise / soundprooﬁng

• More amenities for artist & patrons

• Events. Dance. Theatre. Poetry. Book tours. Panel

discussions.

• Craft quilting. Indigo dyeing. Basket weaving.

• Outside arts hosted at space

• Comedy

• Better amenities. Food & pantry

• Grant / fellowship applying gatherings supports

for this

• Ongoing activation 12 hrs day

• Gatherings center for elders

• Community distro events gatherings / call to

action

• Conversations about social impact on community

• Youth performance family game night (black

poetry)

• Live theatre musicals classes for all ages

• Screenings - & proper a/v

• Update the structure to provide space required for

programming

• Can the staff be volunteer based?

• Live music (jazz) curated events of multiple genres

• Finding our roots. Story of local oregons shaker’s

& movers

• IFCC ten talks “the schience of..”

• How ___ direct programming towards black

portland history, antestors, etc.

• Sundial. Outdoor performance

• Headsets & general accessibility

• Behind the scenes opportunity to create a

learning environment

• Preservation & archiving of artists.

• Creating a permanent or rotating collection

• Home ownership - community advisory as part of

programming

• Interactive intermissions. Sharing community

resources

• Community garden

• Strong theater spaces. Reconﬁgure the sound

system.

• Protection of intellectual property. Internal

consulting strategy planning

• Time for a change. Switching gallery to theater

• Portion of proceeds to art

• Crafting & crotchet

• Place for black farms play with your food

• Talks about history

• Gospel music night

• Dance studio

• African dance

• Weddings

• Health class

• Multigenerational programs & activities

• Black inspired ﬁlm

• Kwanza celebrations

• Food carts

• Spoken word. Tap (nwtap connection) poetry

• Underground parking

• Black modern dance. Plays for children

• Comedy shows

• Juneteenz

• Movies (fam)

• Open mic

• More plays. More family events. For black

families.

• Break dance class

• I’d like to see high school plays from across the

city

• Teen centered street art

• 300 Seat theater

• Canjam

• Apartments

• Talent show for families

• Black independent ﬁlms. Black childrens

interactive storytelling. Open mic: comedy,

poetry, black lit.

• Cafe

• Dance - jazz. Youth theater & dance. Culture -

poems, musicals. Spoken word

• Fundraising

• Conference room

• Black box 99 seats

• Teen centered street art

• Historic black artists museum

• Plays

• Dance recitals, plays, gala’s, art shows, concerts,

ﬁlm showings, retail

• Drama productions

• Musical productions

• Is the goal fully funded through residencies?

• Promotion coordinator: need to know whats

going on, promote events.

• Cafe

• Gallery space

• Teaching spaces

• Create a global campus for arts & culture

• Harm redux programming

• Event space for orgs

• Dance parties

• Murals. Street art.

• Really free markets & clothing drives / food drives

/ item drives

• Grant writers

• Artist mixers

• Support for working artst

• Underrepresented spaces (for black artists)

mediums

• Holiday gathering; community events

• Bring in great artists/ normally recognized artists

• Fashion shows / drag shows / sewing shops /

classes / etc.

• Movie nights / theatre nights / local stage plays

• Artist mentorship

• Free guitar lessons /artist programming

• Open mic nights

• Bold & audacious new work!

• Community art space

• Space to create art for people w/o materials or

experrational access

• Programming for children (things that might be at

a library)

• Big annual festical for black creatives / block party

• Food trucks

• Casual hangout space

• Wellness workshops/mental health support

• Culturally aware / lineage - rooted

• Music classes & song circles

• Dance classes africa & afrocuban nikki brown

• Gallery space for black artists: workshops,

presentations, sale, workspace, curration

• Entrepreneurship in the arts for all ages

• Elder mentor-led circles, classes, apprenticeships

story hours to preserve transitional black wisdom

• Productions (theatre, gallery, multimedia) where

all staff are black & well paid

• Artist collaborations to support each other with

projects & events

• Engaging neighborhood in art making i.E. Gather

local stories and turn into play-songs

• Maker space with tools, supplies and project

storage space

• Book clubs focused on black authors

• Community gospel choirs with singing workshops

& song writing workshops

• Plays, poetry, small concerts, black led

programming, residencies, speak easy, black

registry, marketplace

• Black cinema: movies, acting, workshops &

presentations from black actors, directors, etc.

• Black comm/”family” townhalls to have a safe

space to talk about issues speciﬁc to the black

community

• Book clubs focused on black authors & books

• Maker space with tools, supplies, and project

storage space

• Regular art classes taught by black artists. Is

there a way to bring other artists from around the

country to share ideas

• Summer art camps for kids & teens. Showing

black art & getting to explore making

• Holiday markets & summer popups by artists

• Special workshops: writing, acting, music, dance

• Programming, 3d printing, robotics team

• Virtual demos with other black artist collectives

maybe do an artist residency trade

• Photography classes

• Internet radio station

• Art classes in various media

• Art gallery internships

• Art management & pricing classes

• Jewlery making & design

• Accessibility

• Internet radio: youth commonwealth, community

news

• International cultural exchange between

indigenous & diaspora black

• Youth workshops. Trimet partnerships. Authentic

communication. Ethics guide. Education w/o

borders

• Herbal classes. Tea blending workshops

• Historical gallery space where some founding

artists photos and

• Ability to do audio recording of media music

• Plays, artist seminars, storyboard writing, video/

ﬁlm

• Youth workshops: art, creativity, video production

• Afrofuturist book / graphic novel gathering &

symposium

• Ethics guide before ai bypasses our presence &

momentum

• Healing oriented ayahuasca ceremonies, boga

ceremonies guided by a shaman

• History & storytelling in the family & community

• We need community media library space, video,

audio, body movement, spoken thought

• Juneteenth celebration

• Have a show on the real old school 60-80 / 50’s.

Detailed history

• Multi track recs classes. Grant writing seminars

• Nutrition & wellness resources

• Community forums /edus

• Markers market site

• Rehersal studios

• Resources for teen & famillies

• Understanding legal rights / legal clinic

• Mobile health

• Adult scholarships for potential students

• Audience development aka educating people to

love art

• Film production classes for black people

• Grant workshops & fundraising training for artists

• Trades training and/or

• More events for children and families and lonely

people. New cool events

• Grants & scholarship education

• Theatre of all kinds & music & jazz events

• Costume making workshop studio

• Black businesses market

• Wedding venue

• Photography studio / equipment rental on site

• Story nights. People / families that lived in n/ne

portland

• Business classes for artists

• Community healing space to process harmful

events

• After school art programs

• Instrument exchange

• Personal branding classes or advisors for artists

• Childcare support

• Non-ofﬁce atmosphere, nice quiet light for

conversations

• Community forums, education

• Animals from shelters, invitation to work with

them for children & pensioners

• Connection resources

• Recording studio

• Culture keepers incubator space

• Acting classes

• Theatre in the park production

• Mentoring events / programs

• Tax preparedness / education

• Kids courses tactile arts

• Community workshops: bystander interbention

• Rentable space

• Field trips

• Community /social location based gallery events

(intersections of identity)

• Different courses: pottery, watercolors, different

senses

• Dance nights

• Arts apprenticeship programs

• Programming across the city

• Agriculture classes

• Classes for elders

• Mutual aid: food bank, clothes drive

• Local craftsshop / black businesses

• Impromptu performances / open studio

• Poic albina arts center as possible network

• Agriculture classes / growing food

• Health & wellness initiatives

• Food cart(s)!

Are there any ideas you have for

structures or opportunitiesthat would

help support affordability?

• Auctions

• Donations from wealthy community members

• “Sugar daddy” / large funding

• Rent for studio space

• Rental: pop-ups, food trucks

• Artist residence housing to generate stable

income steams

• Annual fundraiser

• Pay for visitor access to meditation garden.

Sliding scale for local black community

• Charlene zidell - she got _?_ Money

• Membership - community & artist & company

(theatre/dance)

• Existing white art orgs pay reparations to this

space. All the folks with blm stand at their

windows

• 1803, Meyers collins ocf they billionairs run them

checks

• Depends on the programming

• Yearbook output

• Memberships perks included

• Tiered costs

• Sliding scale

• Albina trust. World arts

• Arts for all. Comes in for weekly performances $5

• Entertainment taxes

• Corporate sponsors

• Pnw ﬁlm festival

• Onyx gallery - seattle

• Trimet night

• Kaiser sponsorship partners

• Trimet sponsorship

• Fundraising events with national talent $50-$100

• Snap card holders admissions pricing. Locals

talent $10-$25. National talent $25 $50

• Vanport festival

• Reparations prices! C.P. Discount! Bipoc nites!

• Fundraiser / fees go to free or reduced youth

programs

• Subsidies

• Restaurant / cafe space

• 3 Tier membership

• Progressive for those that really wanna support

• Water options

• Yearly membership

• No one turned away

• Fundraisers

• Upfront

• Fundraising through performances /

programming

• Leverage the d.E.I. Budgets of local corps to fund

art access equity. Nike, addidas, intel

• Urban league pps (ﬁeldtrips) pcc / psu > college

classes or hosting productions

• Charging for-proﬁts / corporations for space use

• Scope out the hollywood theatre membership

pricing structure & how they do fund raising.

They’ve done some things that can be adapted.

Also maybe do a join ﬁlmfest

• Sell / provide paid membership access to

recordings of classes, shows & artist events

• Interns & network to produce a project to draw

audience

• 8 Million mingos maps for the black community

• City grant to support healthy food at events

• Food especially for young people. Feed folks!

• Memberships / sliding scale

• Conferences

• Divest revenue streams

• Selling t-shirts / annual fundraiser

• % Of sales from markets

• Rent the rooms

• Sponsors (banks, corporate, individuals)

• Partnering with ﬁlm production companies

• Who are you willing to accept money from?

• Large money “shadow” donors

• Memberships

• Rafﬂe / gala

• Grants

• Membership

• Sell shares

• Directly asking non-black, white people for $ /

donations

Based on the events and programming

your group would like to see: what

organizations, community members,

and artists are doing similar projects in

portland? Who could best utilize the IFCC

space?

• School groups

• Black pnw circus collective

• Black youth

• Historic tax credit / restoration credits

• At risk youth outreach partnering with roots and

• Prosper portland economic development district

• Work with non proﬁts

• All of that! All community members

• Memberships

• Festivals

• Black beyond the binary collective

• Grants

• Afro village

• James dixon

• Ashe

• Black usa pageant

• Viva la free

• The sims family

• Dont shout pdx

• Mrs. Aaiylah collins

• Sade dubois

• Bobby fouther

• Nphc

• Sad restoration center

• Word is bond

• Xb app

• White bird

• Passin art

• Confrontation

• Steps pdx

• One grand gallery

• Labs pdx

• Nikki paxton

• Kingsley

• Kyra watkins

• Rejoice diaspora dance theater

• Alberta house

• Silver

• Dalia dela belle

• Jason hill

• Hobbs

• Kayin & cleo davis

• Latoya lovely

• Morrison joy

• Samara andre

• Alex wright

• Jocelyn seid

• Jason hill

• Andrea white

• Rob lewis

• Ygb portland

• Shareen jacobs

• Sharita towne

• Kenneth dembo

• Imagine black

• Heart & hustle

• Numberz

• Sharde nabors

• Summer martin

• Zeloszelos marchandt

• The black youth program

• Black oregon land trust

• Oregon black pioneers

• Sei (self enhancement inc.)

• Hoffman construction. Universities & colleges

• Dailmer

• Intel

• Trailblazers

• Friends of noite

• Jefferson high (dance)

• Portland public schools

• Blazers

• Nike

• Addidas

• Multhonok city

• Clothes drive

• Passin art

• Trimet partnerships

• World stage theatre

• Bravo

• Poi c

• Partnerships with larger venues for events

• World stage theatre

• Partner with orgs who work with students. Offer

programming. Have ties with artists who exist

• Passin art

• Pps - portland public schools

• Harm red orgs

• Big singers/artists who donate

• Big corps.

• Nike

• Kelly’s olympian

• Hmine

• Intel

• Erica’s soul food

• Kate’s la cream

• Schilling cider

• Alberta abbay

• Rev hall

• Mississippi studios

• Rock dojo

• Local & black owned business owners

• “Go outside the black cool kids club”

• Me, my friends, family, visitors/visiting artists, etc.

• Artists, creatives, performers, curators, etc.

• “No gatekeeping” of resources, funding, or

information!

• Elders offering mentorship

• Partners from african black diaspora (american,

african, caribbean, etc.)

• Nikki brown clown

• Akela auer

• Mr. Bobby

• Michael crenshaw

• Blacque butterﬂy

• Emergout artist collectives who do not yet have

non-proﬁt status

• Tori bleu

• Friends of noise!

• Roots & sprouts catering (food cart)

• Caldera i am more

• The geurgeena warren collection (jewlery,

photography

• Education without borders pps youth. Spirited

justice

• Brown girl rising

• House of jaksiri

• Boedecken

• Reser foundation

• Black future farm

• B.E.A.M.

• Caldere

• Jefferson dancers

• Invite shelter animals

• Health clinic / resource fair

• Pps

• Darrell grant

• Theatre companies

• Universities & colleges: psu, pcc, reed

• Portland center stage

• Nationally known black artists for a residency &

presentation

• Civic engamgent deij

• Homeschool pdx

• Manuel artuto abreu & vicotria anne reis

• Black hat books

• Black future farm & other black farms

• Ayco african youth coalition

• Black & beyond the binary

• Local record / music equipment stores

• Momentum alliance

• Pdx sex worker resource project

• Kairos

• Portland public schools

• Poic kitchen apprenticeship

• Coalition of racial educational justice

• Fka campus compret oregon

Please list 3 positive outcomes of the

meeting.

• “Community connection & dialogue

collective sound-boarding

understanding more of IFCC history

taking steps to preserve this space”

• “Community connection.

Dreaming.

Collaborative list of black artists - so extensive.”

• “Great ideas.

Community driven table.

Shared concerns.”

• “Meeting community.

Food.

Encouraging discussions with purpose.”

• “Identiﬁed common community needs/wants.

Representation of youth and portland elders.

Spread knowledge of the IFCC.”

• “Opportunity for artists to create solutions.

Opportunity to see others that we’ve been away

from.

Exploring the possibilities.”

• “Collaborative effort.

Community engagement.

Excitement.”

• “Nice relaxation after work.

Great vibes.

Streamlined!”

• “Meeting new folks.

Brainstorming/visioning about the future of IFCC.

Seeing folks for the past!”

• “Reunion with community members.

Breaking bread is helpful for building/maintaining

relationships.

Performance and visuals.”

• “Hope!

I’m hopeful for this space as a black community

meeting place.”

• “Seeing smiley face.

Networking.

Seeing sunshine.”

• “Excitement about the possibilities for the black

arts community.

Building a team to actualize the program.”

• “Gathering of the old school.

Release of thoughts.

Get to be with real people.”

• Reconnection with artists.

• We are here.

• Community connection and seeing friends.

• “Community coming together.

Dinner.

Brainstorming.”

• “Brainstorming.

Gaining a idea of interest.

Collecting feedback.”

• “I learned about the history of IFCC.

I met some great community-minded folks.

I heard some great ideas.”

• “IFCC history and mission.

Brainstorming for the vision.

Meeting everyone.”

• “Community voices being heard.

Ideas being put into actionable goals.

Connection & collaboration.”

• Unity. Unity. Unity.

• Community combined communication and

resolution.

• Transparent. Informative. Commutative.

• Talking. Listening. Agreeing.

• I met great people in the community.

• Networking.

• Community. Outreach. Goals being set.

• “To brainstorm without ﬁlters.

To be in community.

To create together.”

• “Got movers to show ip.

Remind us that we need to keep our eyes on our

prize.”

• “Connection with artists.

Collective ideation.

Co-piloting possibilities.”

• “Met new community members.

Good brainstorming session.”

• “Collaborative - everyone was open and listened,

packed with passionate people.

Knowledge of what the space has meant to

people (its importance)”

• Collaboration. Cooperation. Respect for each

other ideas.

• “How funding will be taking care of the building.

The opportunities of using the building.

How often it will be used.”

• Networking. Community engagement.

Community awareness.

• Great community. Phenomenal conversation.

Comprehensive plan at our table.

• “Inspiration.

Group-minded genius.

Sharing of grounded information (both the

practical and the hopeful) and joy.”

• Learned about project. Great ideas. Love the

vision.

• “Great introduction of the space and vision and

community history.

Meet cool people/people meeting cool people.

Learned a lot more about how these work.”

• “Community came together!

Thought above ﬁnancial sustainability.

Stakeholders all building consensus.”

• “Community showing up.

Personal intentions set.

Great speakers.”

• “General idea of activities.

Local fund/payment outlook.

Good look at the community/sense of gathering.”

• “Making connections with black community

members.

Visibility of black life and need.

Blueprints for the future, additional project and

efforts.”

• “Learned about IFCC history.

Learned about how the IFCC needs to be

supported to be sustainable.

Explored ideas for a foundation community

space.”

• Community. Innovation. Awareness of the

brilliancy of thought among the attendants.

• Imagination. “Feeling” of community reunion.

• “Bringing people to be present with each other.

Town hall style collaboration/open discussion.

Enthusiasm.”

What are your concerns?

• “Focus/language surrounding proﬁtability vs.

Programming functioning within means.

Prioritization of how funds will be utilized.

Funds to artists vs funds to building vs funds

to staff.

Needs social media presence.”

• Blank

• Always who is not at the table.

• “We aren’t dreaming big enough.

Losing water tower possibility.

Focus on proﬁt from a community space,

especially in a neighborhood with no parking.

Will the space truly be useable or basically a

museum?

Will artists be paid?”

• Just another “do-nothing” meet and greet.

• Representation of intersectional communities

being lost.

• Blank

• Keeping things black centered.

• As a person in public funding, i know funding

everywhere has been strained.

• “Follow-through.

Not staying committed or getting updates.”

• Follow-through.

• “Historically, black centered projects in pdx

has been sidelined, delayed or outright

opposed.

A big concern i have is the gentriﬁed areas

around IFCC will be upset by the cultural

center being placed near them.”

• That the mission of creating space to

encourage the creation and exhibition of

black arts is not maintained in authenticity.

• Let this truly be “an energy beyond the

moment.”

• This this is more than talk.

• “Distribution of funds.

Who decides what programs get funded.”

• Economics and funding.

• Maintaining excitement and ensuring

integrity.

• Blank

• Being able to ensure funding for the space

while being accessible ﬁnancially.

• I’m concerned artists are historically

underpaid. I would love to see sustainable

support of bold and audacious work.

• “Artists being paid.

A vision that will resonate with the

community.”

• Non-black voices being louder than others.

• I have no concerns. None.

• Timeframe of partnerships.

• Funding.

• That this nonproﬁt is self-sustaining.

• “That we are going in circles.

What is the real goal of the friends of IFCC

for IFCC?”

• The amount of facilitators were coordinating,

a lot of overlapping.

• Funding sources and who will see this

project through to keep this space open for

generations to come.

• Time is running out.

• Long-term funding and sustainability of IFCC.

• Sustainable funding.

• Finding a funding model that will be

sustainable and getting even more black

community involved.

• “White people being concerned racialized

communities are “”winning.””

People complain bipoc get enrouing?”

• Making sure the money goes directly to the

building and not back to the city.

• “Long-term city investment.

Maintaining black control.”

• “Implementation.

Maintaining black community space.

Nonproﬁts don’t make proﬁt. That shouldn’t

be terms used. Sustainable yes, but proﬁt

no.”

• “That we did not meet at the IFCC site.

Hard to hear each other - too many people

for such a small room (too much echo)”

• “Role of city to support.

Getting grants for ongoing support.”

• “Funders inﬂuence subverting community

mission.

Securing stable funding.”

• Stafﬁng the operating non-proﬁt with people

and resources necessary for long-term.

• Potential pricing accessibility.

• Low income households not being able to

afford the initial higher costs to keep the

venue alive, thus cutting off a large portion of

people.

• “Struggle to navigate all that come with/can

be implicit in black relationships.

Neglect of the political elements of a sort of

ambiguous political orientation.

Intervention by the powers that be. Nearness

to the city/gov meaning dependence

meaning control.”

• “IFCC not getting support ﬁnancially.

Timing of meetings.

Different times of day.”

• Follow-through.

• “Funding section gave our table trouble

brainstorming.

Seems to be the most glaring concern.”

• “Intra-group equity that there’s diversity and

variability in the black.African diasporic artists

chosen to beneﬁt from IFCC.

Not the same old chosen ones who are

allowed to gatekeeper and beneﬁt their

friends, colleagues or those they are narrowly

familiar with.

Do the work, be open.

Go outside of your circle. Pass the baton.

Be intentional about intergenerational

relationships.”

Do you have suggestions for

improvements for this meeting?

• “A sign language interpreter who

doesn’t stop during certain parts of their

performance.

Combine more art with these presentations

and highlight black artists and their work

during them (more than 3 minutes - elevate

us!!”

• Would prefer to have papers on the wall to

be eligible to all.

• “These sessions during times.

More parents can show up with ease.

It’s the ﬁrst day of back at school today.”

• Focus on funding outside of proﬁts made

possible ny black artists.

• Better acoustics - room needed carpet and

sound tibs.

• Longer and more often?

• Not really.

• I don’t know.

• Keep up the great work!

• More time.

• Everyone stay ﬂuid, open and ﬂexible.

• More time.

• This was a good event.

• Unsure

• Get a working mic.

• I have no concerns. None.

• Monthly meetings.

• More meetings

• Transparency with how organizational

partnerships are conducted.

• Have a more structured outline.

• “More gatherings like this.

More outreach to community members that

have been displaced from n/ne portland.”

• Share the notes publically.

• This was a great gathering. I wonder if people

could wander around the room more.

• Maybe slightly more time.

• Digital renderings for the property.

• “Meet in the theater at IFCC or outside so we

could hear each other.

Try to plan for 2 hours or less.”

• Great location.

• I have no concerns. None.

• Better microphone.

• Not at this time.

• None.

• More time to talk through ideas.

• I don’t know.

How would you explain, in 2 sentences,

what we have accomplished at this

meeting?

• “Community brainstorming

collective work on behalf of a space we aim

to protect and uphold.”

• Molding/curating space for dreaming while

feeding the peoples so we can vision.

• We did the work of an out of state consulting

ﬁrm.

• For me i’m more interested in what comes

out of the gathering and when!

• Brought folks in portland together to

preserve/revive a vital resource for black

portland.

• Reigniting hope!

• Gather like-minded folks to create a vision for

the enhancement of our lives and community.

It’s beautiful!

• “We have taken the ﬁrst step in collaboration,

and we celebrate the energy of holistic

resilience and black community!

Ase!”

• “Hope for the future of this amazing space.

This is not just a building, it’s magic!”

• Community members which include clergy,

visual artists, poets, activists and educators in

collaboration for a common goal.

• “You’ve begun dreaming of a new reality for

black portland citizens.

You’ve shared a spark.”

• Collective energy.

• “To push forward and staying real.

Direction and brainstorming and stay

focused/on point.”

• Bringing young and older artists and

community members together.

• Moving forward.

• Laying the foundation for a new, reenvisioned

space to cultivate black art and community.

• Getting the word out to the community and

allowing our input.

• We met about the IFCC, crowdsourced some

ways to support black artists.

• We learned about IFCC and brainstormed

about the future.

• Community care for the future to norish what

we need in the present.

• We have accomplished a speak into

existence, halfway theme to reality.

• Lots of love and meaningful understanding.

• More opportunities to input and ideate.

• We got a conversation going on what needs

to be improved.

• Collaboration to create long lasting space for

art community to thrive.

• Shine a light on complacency.

• Pp&r partnered well with community leaders

to curate and co host this event.

• More ideas and energy to move forward.

Empowered the seeds of prosperity.

Energized!

• “Came up with ideas for IFCC to be a black

community space.

Tossed around ideas for equitable

membership and access.”

• We accomplished having solidarity should to

become a ?

• “Being able to expand and fund this building

for our youth.

Having our community come together to

help our youth use their gifts.”

• Generated ideas and solutions.

• Great involvement from community. Great

overview of the project.

• We expanded community and our minds.

• A sense of the community and the patrons of

the IFCC. Great encouragement for people’s

spirit and the overall chances of making it

real.

• A black playtest, a dip in the deep well of

dreams. A question for the future and past.

• Knowledge of the direction of IFCC.

• To gather in celebration of something

beautiful and so many of the people who

care about and have walked for black folks

are here.

• “I appreciated seeing community and the

passion behind it.

I fully believe that “”third places”” and brkt

and renters to lift people up.”

Online survey results

The in-person, interactive meeting activity

was adapted into an online survey. Thirty-two

of community members ﬁlled out the survey.

The most common programming and event

ideas included performing arts space, music

rehearsal space, wellness events, and community

gathering events. For admissions, 68% of

responses were comfortable paying $0-$25 per

event. Funding and affordability ideas included

public-private partnerships, sliding scale and

tiered payment options, corporate sponsorships,

and more.

Potential events and programs: The

following list represents potential spaces

and uses at the IFCC. Uses and spaces

can overlap and uplift one another, use

this list as a kicking off point for your

ideas:performing arts space, classrooms,

dance studios, retail, open event space,

food services, black box theater, gallery

space, artist studios, music rehearsal

space, etc. What kinds of events and

programming would you most like to

experience at the IFCC?

• I have very fond memories of performing in

the building, and affordable venues have

all but dried up since the pandemic. I hope

IFCC will remain a space for performing

artists to produce work on their own terms.

• Workshop space for community members &

birthworkers, performing arts space, dance

studio, open event space, black box theater,

gallery space, artist studios, etc.

• Classrooms, food services, black box theater,

gallery space

• IFCC should be a performing arts center

ﬁrst and foremost. Hosting concerts, plays,

and dance recitals. It should be an open

event space, it should be used as a meeting

space for local groups. A rehearsal space

for theatrical events and a classroom for

performing g artists.

• These sound good

• Open community events. It could be a

little like an art festival where something

happens on each ﬂoor. Events that invite

the community to come together. A safe

space for artists to showcase their art. Rafﬂes

to support artists. Performing arts space,

classrooms, dance studios, retail, open event

space, food services, black box theater,

gallery space, artist studios, music rehearsal

space

• Classes; art/gallery; theatre; ﬁlm; food

• Black and brown lead plays, dei facilitation,

community healing, art shows, community

gatherings

• Black box theater, open event and dance

studio

• Concerts, arts experiences, kids art access

• Art, music, educational, bipoc only events

• Small plays, music events, interactive exhibits

• Plays. Lectures. Comedy shows. Weddings.

• Open event space and music rehearsal.

• Dance classes, self defense classes for

youth 5+, subsidized food cart pod, makers

space to create products, retail storefront

with rotating vendors, gallery throughout

out the space each room being a tapestry

of history and present, living library events,

culturally speciﬁc cooking classes, farmers

market, housing and resource connections,

coworking space, community garden

• Arts programming that is accessible to

community. I’m talking visual arts classes

of all kinds, dance classes, all types of

performances and gallery shows -- all with

free admission.

• Art exhibitions, cultural events like

celebrations of traditional holidays.

• Dance performances, live music, plays,

art exhibits, dance classes, yoga classes,

meditation, sound healing, workshops for

skills training/classes: cooking, sewing,

herbs, gardening etc, birth work or care work

practices ans skills, podcast space, etc.

• Wellness events, workshops/skillshares,

survival skillshares, movement events…

• Free workshops, yoga and art classes

• Some sort of multidisciplinary art space

• Artist studios, community use

• Music production shows surrounding black

love & excellence

• Small space concerts short term art vendor

space (a weekend for pop ups of individual

artists to sell their work)

• I would primarily be interested in

programming geared towards kids, including

culturally-speciﬁc classes related to the arts,

and even culturally speciﬁc steam education

programming, homeschooling resources for

black families, art community classes and

events, community spaces, family-oriented

programming, opportunities for artists to

grow and develop their practice, a space

dedicated to preserving and growing black

history in portland

• Theater, ﬁlm showings, visual arts

installations, arts workshops, meeting spaces,

classes, nonproﬁt fundraiser events

• Music and theatre and poetry.

• Cultural events open free or by donation:

-music concerts -dance performances- -arts

exhibitions -community meet ups -

• Showcasing black arts- visual, performances

etc. Healing spaces - therapy, mindfulness,

yoga, art therapy , afﬁnity groups

• I would like to ensure that programming is

managed and employs the bipoc community

such as local groups and individuals that

have successfully created programming apps

the community. Music, dance, spoken word/

poetry, all arts... Workshops (both public and

for speciﬁc target groups - youth...)

• Dance classes, arts classes, rehearsal space,

theater...I would love to see a resident

company

• Theatre, dance, and music

The IFCC aspires to balance the need for

funding from a diverse group of sources

with the desire for access to its programs

and services. Are there any ideas you

have for structures or opportunities that

would help support affordability?

• Co-producing with artists, so that they

are charged reduced rental rates with a

percentage of ticket sales returning to IFCC

to cover overhead costs. That way the initial

expense isn’t a burden on the producer and

both are committed to the success of the

event. I don’t know if anyone has tried it,

but a “reparations for $5” add-on option on

ticket sales or entry fees for anyone called

to make them could be a way for allies to

support with their dollars.

• Public private partnerships with other non-

proﬁt institutions.

• Sliding scale services

• Tiered payment options, with higher prices

for those who can pay or some type of paid

membership program that could help keep

ticket prices for events low

• When i lived i las vegas i worked for the las

vegas clark county library. The libraries there

all had performing arts centers attached to

the library branch. They had a rental fee

schedule that gave a deep discount for

local artists and nonproﬁts. There was a

very expensive corporate/ commercial fee

for that type of user. You should advertise

to corporate clients and make sure they are

aware that hosting events and paying the

price goes a long way in supporting IFCC

mission. Look for sponsorship by local

corporate entities.

• Membership, grants, class or event cards

• The IFCC could help individual artists apply

for grants and allow them to use the space

for free. The IFCC could make some money

from this, from the grant. So charge for the

grant writing, a rent fee written in for the

space and time the artist has the space for.

The artist would learn about grant writing,

managing a project budget, and get money,

like a stipend from the grants.

• Reach out to your corporate partners

• Create a diverse payment structure that

supports a sliding scale.

• Business sponsorship partners, grant funding,

free rent for nonproﬁts to provide affordable

programming.

• The board will simply need to fundraie for

a percentage of the funbding. Arts work

doesn’t happen without subsides, and then,

maybe there is a mebership based operating

budget that community members can opt

into at tiered levels of giving.

• A grant from the government . The local

neighborhood association should donate as

well.

• No ideas at the moment.

• Sliding scale, in kind donations, business

sponsorship, heritage grants, from cannabis

or similar taxes, redevelopment taxes

• Start an endowment

• The traditional chinese moon festival (9/29)

could take place in IFCC. We have artists

groups who are often participating with all

different performances and art shows in

those event. You can charge a entrance fee.

People will come.

• Fiscal sponsorship (non proﬁt or corporate),

grant programs that fund arts or health

equity that focus on something about social

emotional well being for marginalized folks,

community partnership with university or

other private funders.

• Pay as you’re able/suggested donation

amounts roughly based on income/need/

access. Also, some ppl can contribute in

some way to other events in order to have

access to events others put on.

• The community invest trust may be helpful

• If you want to keep things cheap you would

have to government fund it with no cap.

Realistically, it will have to be fees, grants and

private donors/sponsors

• Grants and partnerships with foundations

and local (neighboring) organizations and

businesses

• City county state & federal local businesses

gentriﬁcation fee/“tax”

• Have certain nights be affordable

• I hope this will be well-funded by the city

but also think that a sliding scale fee system

could be helpful, perhaps community

donations, membership fees, admission for

events, market or restaurant or coffee shop

housed in the building

• Low-cost rental for bipoc arts groups

• Oct

• - Marketing for events - support from

pp&r for resident artists: attendants, staff,

marketing

• Appeal to the large development ﬁrms

to encourage them to do free and lower

cost work. Work with the trades unions

to get apprentice programs to train with

journeyman on jobs (where appropriate) to

offset costs.

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:Based on the

events and programming you would like

to see, what organizations, community

members, and artists are doing similar

projects in Portland? Who could best

utilize the IFCC space?

• Mixed media artists like Bobby Fouther.

Actor/Directors James Dixon and Damaris

Webb. Bee Bee Sanchez and her Querencia

Dance.

• Artichoke Community Music, Ethos, Alberta

Abbey

• Birthworkers - Doulas/Midwives Performance

Artists

• Local radio stations are a good resource,

including KBOO, Freeform radio, X-ray. It

could be a good meeting place for local

groups like the city sponsored Portland

NET (neighborhood emergency teams) and

emergency Ham radio operators. There

should be dance classes offered in the space.

It should be used as a community center with

a focus on performing arts but be receptive

to being a meeting space as well.

• RACE TALKS, local artists, Thesis, folx doing

reoccurring monthly events and seeking a

community space

• Community members, Samara Andre and

Judith Pacheco, together they run Art Heaux.

Art Heaux aims to create spaces to center

young Black and Indigenous creativity. Both

Samara and Judith were born and raised in

Portland and for the past two years, they

have been creating community events. From

BIPOC art markets, to dance battles. Recently

Art Heaux has been the curator for the popup

Oasis gallery. Dubbed the container because

it is in a storage container on SE 7th Ave & SE

Sandy Blvd. The container was made possible

through the Portland non-proﬁt Depave PDX.

• Energy Trust of Oregon, she bop the shop,

travel Oregon,

• Those who are seeking ongoing community

space to curated and host events.

• there are several Black run arts organizations

that are doing great work in the community,

other smaller local arts, music and cultural

orgs as well.

• Healing underground

• Any organization that is rooted in north

portland! Bipoc focused organization

• Taking Ownership PDX, PDX Hip Hop Artists,

Equitable Giving Circle, Brown Hope, Friends

of Noise.

• Keep Growing Seeds- Farm to

school education, design and garden

implementation keepgrowingseeds.com

• Steps PDX, Friends of Noise, Soul

Restoration/ I am more

• Oregon Chinese Artist Association (ORCC)

I am the chair. I have connections with many

cultural groups in the community.

• Rejoice diaspora dance theater, Bobby

Fouther (well known artist here in the

Portland area) , Daveed Jacobo (an artist

who organized a group of artists of color

for an exhibit at the Portland art museum),

Catherine Braxton, NRJC, Aisha Edwards,

Mario Depriest, Nikki Sandoval, Afrovillage,

maybe partnering with folks like abbey arts,

mudbone grown or one of their farmers,

Black Future Farms folks, Moon & Mirror

apprenticeship, Kirk Greener, and just putting

the word out to offer a space for self directed

learning, engagements, co-working, similar

to Alder Commons where members can host

events and pay dues to help maintain the

sustainability of the center.

• Ori Art Gallery, IPRC, Black and Beyond the

Binary, all help/put on various kinds of events.

• CIT, AAAH, Momentum alliance, healing

underground, gvrlblvnt

• Only Today, PICA, NACF

• Viva La Free Kemba Shannon Layna Lewis

• Domo Branch

• Equitable Giving Circle, faith communities

in the area (including mosques, not just

churches), Black Parent Initiative, Imagine

Black, Muslimahs United, PSU, Portland

Public Schools, OMSI, Kairos

• BIPOC theaters, performing and visual artists

• Future Prairie

• -Y.O.U.TH -Darrell Grant -Portland Jazz

• Darrell Grant Renee Mitchell Crosscut Black

Arts Legacies Seattle The Soul Restoration

Center RACC

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:Based on the

events and programming you would like

to see, what organizations, community

members, and artists are doing similar

projects in Portland? Who could best

utilize the IFCC space?

• IFCC has been effectively closed, except for

special events, to regular programing ever

since Ethos left the space. That’s over 7 years

ago. It is an idled resource that disrespects

the vision of the ﬁrst black city councilman,

Charles Jordon, who envisioned this space

and that was a cherished resource in the

community. Why has this taken so long?

• There needs to be a way to publicize events

happening at the space. I don’t know

about events until I see the space is open

and hosting an event on the day of said

event. Then I’m almost always busy! A sign

advertising events to the neighborhood

would be helpful. Or a mailing list email list

alerting people to events would be helpful.

A bulletin board outside? Or a covered sign

that can have ﬂyers posted so people walking

through the park can easily see the ﬂyer?

• My name is Judith Pacheco, I am an

indigenous woman, who was born and

raised in Portland. I am a community event

organizer, artist, and grant writer. I have met

many artists in Portland who like myself, have

big hopes for the IFCC, and hope to one day

be able to work in the space. I think having

a space that is accessible to the growing art

community is important. I think outreach and

opportunities speciﬁcally for and by Black,

Indigenous, and people of color are needed

to help our community’s artists.

• No

• When i was a kid I was at IFCC a lot. My sister

was in a lot of shows there. IFCC means a lot

to me. I am still in touch with a lot of other

actors she was in production with at that

time. She passed in97

• All minority groups need to be together

share our unique cultures and arts.

• No questions but please keep me in the

loop.

• This is awesome. Thank you for your efforts

reaching out to the community for input and

exchanging with us.

• While planning big is wonderful, the

neighborhood currently can barely account

for the extra people during a large show

(think if the theater is at capacity). If you’re

going to increase the performance space

capacity you will need to make sure that you

also ﬁnd a way to accommodate parking as

well (maybe somewhere around parking spot

for every 2 seats) and make sure you have a

way of keeping neighboring buildings from

using it as their own parking lot.

• I think culturally-speciﬁc extra-curricular

activities are really lacking in this city and

I hope that can be remedied with a new

iteration of the IFCC

• The IFCC has a decades long history with

BIPOC artists and nonproﬁt arts groups.

Please continue this relationship with low-

cost opportunities to present artistic events

and workshops.

• More LGBTQ engagement

• The Firehouse needs to continue to be knit

into the community itself. We do not want it

to become something run by the City without

neighbor stakeholders intimately involved.