Portland’s arts sector remains resilient, even while facing ongoing financial challenges

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The Office of Arts & Culture worked with SMU DataArts to examine the financial and operational health of Portland's nonprofit arts and culture organizations. The report, released today, provides a comprehensive look at how local arts organizations have adapted through the COVID-19 pandemic and in subsequent years, while highlighting both the strength of Portland's creative sector and the challenges that arts organizations continue to navigate.

Portland's arts organizations continue to demonstrate creativity, adaptability, and a deep commitment to serving our community. This detailed report provides valuable information to help us better understand the conditions facing our nonprofit arts sector and make informed decisions about how public investment can support a thriving creative ecosystem.

The report analyzes data from 79 arts and culture organizations in Portland that received General Operating Support from the Office of Arts & Culture and compares local trends with more than 6,800 organizations nationwide.

Key findings from the report include:

• Portland attendance remains below the national average. Attendance remained relatively stable, while national attendance experienced much larger swings and a sharper overall decline from pre-pandemic levels.
• Portland organizations remain smaller than national peers. Portland's arts organizations consistently operate at smaller financial scales than the national cohort, with average expenses and revenues below national averages throughout 2019-2025. Over 70% of the Portland cohort operates below $1 million in annual expenses.
• Local & State government support, corporative giving remain below national averages. Local government funding covered only 2-5% of expenses for Portland organizations throughout the study period, consistently trailing the national cohort along with state government and corporate giving.
• Portland organizations devote a larger share of resources to personnel. Personnel expenses accounted for 62% of total expenses, compared with 56% nationally. Despite these staffing levels, Portland organizations served fewer attendees per full-time staff member than their national peers, suggesting a more labor-intensive operating model and higher personnel cost burden.
• Operating surpluses weakened after 2021. Like the national cohort, Portland organizations experienced temporary surplus growth during the height of pandemic relief funding in 2021. However, surpluses deteriorated afterward, with Portland organizations falling into slight average deficits by 2025, performing worse than the national cohort. These trends suggest continued financial fragility.

"The data confirms what we hear from arts organizations across Portland: the sector is resilient, but organizations are operating in a challenging financial environment," said Chariti Montez, Director of the Office of Arts & Culture. "This information will help guide our ongoing efforts to support arts access and strengthen the nonprofit organizations that make those experiences possible."

These findings will inform future grantmaking strategies, program development, and efforts to support a sustainable and accessible arts ecosystem in Portland. In July, the Office of Arts & Culture will begin accepting applications for its redesigned Operating Support Grant program, with applications due in September.

View the full report and learn more about the Office of Arts & Culture's grantmaking programs.

The image on this page is from 2026 Biamp Jazz Festival, featuring Delbert Anderson with Acosia Red Elk, photo by Tim Labarge.