New ownership for Albina Arts Center. Dozens of Black community, business and arts leaders collaborate future vision for Albina Arts Center; welcome intergenerational wealth and community building.
History
Located at the corner of NE Williams and NE Killingsworth (5412 North Williams Avenue), the Albina Arts Center is a one-story, brick building that has been an important symbol of Portland’s Black community since the early 1960s. Used as a community hub, arts center, and meeting place, the Albina Arts Center was incorporated to give intentional space for the development of cultural and intellectual resources of the Albina neighborhood.
Current Status - Summer 2023
Latest News
The center's new owner was chosen through a Request for Proposals (RFPs), following a year-long community visioning process to develop a future vision for the center. The submission period has closed. The RFP is available here for reference.
Albina Arts Center Selection Committee
A competitive, rigorous, community-led grant process - facilitated by Oregon Community Foundation - began in early May 2023 and was preceded by a nearly year-long engagement to create a vision for the future of this vital community hub. The following notable community, business and arts leaders have served on the Albina Arts Center Selection Committee:
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D’Artagnan Caliman, Vice President, 1803 Fund
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Kayin Talton Davis, Artist; Partnerships + Design, Albina Vision Trust; Owner and Designer at Soapbox Theory
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Stephen Green, Executive Director, Business for a Better Portland; Founder, Greener Pastures NW
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Joyce Braden Harris, educator, speaker, writer, workshop trainer, facilitator, community activist, and advocate for justice and fairness
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Kimberly Moreland, President, Oregon Black Pioneers
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Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, Vice President, DEI & Community Initiatives, Moda Health
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Akasha Lawrence Spence, Entrepreneur + Civic Activist; Former Oregon State Senator, D-18; Former Oregon State Representative, HD-36
Informed by vital community input and guidance, in early August 2023, the Albina Arts Center Selection Committee will recommend a nonprofit organization to lead the Albina Arts Center into the future.
Visioning Committee Session Notes
- April 21, 2023: Visioning Committee Session #10 Summary
- April 13, 2023: Visioning Committee Session #9 Summary
- March 15, 2023: Visioning Committee Session #8 Summary
- February 27, 2023: Visioning Committee Session #7 Summary
- January 25, 2023: Visioning Committee Session #6 Summary
- November 30, 2022: Visioning Committee Session #5 Summary
- October 6, 2022: Community Group Meets to Discuss Vision for Albina Arts Center
- September 28, 2022: Visioning Committee Session #4 Summary
- August 18, 2022: Visioning Committee Session #3 Summary
- July 20, 2022: Visioning Committee Session #2 Summary
- June 9, 2022: Visioning Committee Session #1 Summary
- March 23, 2022: Community-Centered Process Launches to Identify Next Steward for Albina Arts Center
In 2016, Oregon Community Foundation was approached by a court-appointed receiver — working on behalf of the State of Oregon — to serve in a temporary administrative capacity for the Albina Arts Center.
The property is currently held by the North Portland Economic Development Fund and is currently leased to several commercial tenants. This Fund was created pursuant to a Fund Agreement between the DOJ and AWL Building LLC, a limited liability company of which the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) is the sole member. The Fund was created to accept, title, and administer the Albina Arts Center with the intention to distribute all such property to a qualified charitable organization.
Community-led Process
Oregon Community Foundation has contracted with Try Excellence to provide an equitable engagement strategy to develop a path for transferring ownership of the Albina Arts Center to a nonprofit organization that is representative of the Albina community historically served by the building. Try Excellence is a Portland Area consulting firm providing innovative solutions to create environments where human brilliance is valued and celebrated.
Community Engagement Consultant and Facilitator
Portland native, Ericka Warren will lead the Try Excellence Project team and serve as Community Engagement Consultant and Facilitator for this work. Try Excellence will facilitate a community visioning process that will engage leaders and stakeholders in Portland’s Black community in strategic visioning and planning for the future of the Albina Arts Building.
Steering Committee
Serves as key advisors to the project in collaboration with Try Excellence and key Oregon Community Foundation staff who are responsible for the success of this project. The Steering Committee will help to create structures, maintain consistency, and offer accountability for an equitable, inclusive process.
Visioning Committee
The Albina Arts Visioning Committee, made up of Portland-based Black stakeholders, is driving a community-centered visioning and development process that will promote mutual understanding and collective vision for the Albina Arts Center and the nonprofit organization that will own and steward the building.
Visioning Committee Members
Intisar Abioto, Arts Professional, Intisar Abioto Photography
Joe Bean Keller, Representative, World Arts Foundation
Ifanyi Bell, Founder / Executive Director, Open Signal Labs
Faye Burch, Principal Consultant, Fay M Burch & Assoc
Jaquan Butler, A/V Specialist, Soul District
Tai Carpenter, President of the Board, Don’t ShootPDX
Joy Alise Davis, President / Executive Director, Imagine Black
Anthony Deloney, Development Director, Self Enhancement, Inc.
Jerry Foster, Artistic Director, Passinart
Bobby Fouther, Visual & Performing Artist, Mr BobbyDance
Sharon Gary Smith, President, Portland NAACP
Darrell Grant, Artist / Educator, Portland State Univ / Vanport Mosaic
Joyce Harris, Educator / Activist
Elijah Hassan, Owner, EHP, LLC
Sen Akasha Lawrence Spence, OR Senator, District 18
Sahaan McKelvey, Director of Restoration & Identification, SEI
Dr. S. Renee Mitchell, Founder / Executive Director, I am MORE
Kimberly Moreland, President, Oregon Black Pioneers
Lisa Saunders, Founder / Executive Director, FaithBridge LLC
Isaka Shamsud-Din, Studio Artist
Shalanda Sims, Executive Director, World Stage Theatre
Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, VP, DEI & Community Initiatives, Moda Health
Carol Tatch, Co-Executive Director | Chief of External Operations, Regional Arts & Culture Council
Elizabeth Venable, Owner, Turn! Turn! Turn!
Hobbs Waters, Youth Activist, Agile Philanthropy & Collaborative
Jeana Woolley, Owner / Property Manager, JM Wolley & Assoc / BICEP
Winta Yohannes, Executive Director, Albina Vision Trust
Frequently Asked Questions
Oregon Community Foundation supports a Black-centered, community-led visioning process to find a new owner and steward for the Albina Arts Center.
Oregon Community Foundation is serving at the request of the State of Oregon, in a temporary, administrative capacity until the community-led process is complete.
The Albina Arts Center is being held in trust by Oregon Community Foundation at the request of the State of Oregon. The building can only be granted to a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization.
The goal is to help the community select a permanent owner and steward of this beloved community asset.
The visioning process and RFP selection are necessary to ensure this is a transparent and equitable process that will honor the center’s history and reflect the community’s interest’s and needs. The Visioning Committee will:
- Contribute to an equitable RFP selection process;
- Have ongoing, open communications with community stakeholders to share progress.
The committee makeups are drawn from Black Community leaders and stakeholders will provide input throughout the process. The goal is to create a robust and equitable process to select a new organization to own and steward the Albina Arts Center.
All current tenants of the Albina Arts Center were invited to participate in the community visioning process. See the list in the Community-led Process section above.
The entire process is expected to culminate with the transfer of the building to a new owner in the fall of 2022.
The State of Oregon asked Oregon Community Foundation to serve in a temporary, administrative capacity until the community-led process is complete.
Oregon Community Foundation is committed to supporting a Black-centered and community-led process that is thorough and equitable to choose a new building owner and steward.
The Steering and Visioning Committees will give input into prospective selection committee members. Selection Committee members will be chosen based on previous experience, personal interest, ties/connection to the Black Community, availability, competencies and ethics.
The Albina Arts Center is being held in trust by Oregon Community Foundation at the request of the State of Oregon. The building can only be granted to a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization. The RFP will be developed by community leaders participating in the community visioning process, facilited by Try Excellence.
Questions and/or comments – email: AlbinaArtsCenterConversation@oregoncf.org
Stay Connected
For more information, sign up to receive updates about the community visioning process.
