May 21, 2019

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is excited to offer six free community events hosted by PP&R and our space grant artists.

In February, PP&R announced a new pilot program to offer grants for artists and arts organizations to lease under-utilized PP&R spaces for free. As a requirement of their grants, the artists are offering the community free, accessible, and immersive arts events. All events are free of charge; no RSVP required.

Friday, May 31, 2019 | 7:15 p.m. | Ages 12+

FUTURE PRAIRIE

Film Screening

Multnomah Arts Center | 7688 SW Capitol Hwy | Portland, OR 97219

Future Prairie is offering a free screening and showcase of recent interdisciplinary work by Future Prairie artists, followed by a Q&A.

Founded in January 2018 by Joni Renee Whitworth in Portland, Future Prairie is a non-profit organization and artist collective led by women and queer creatives. They develop and mentor emerging and under-represented artists. Future Prairie also produces a monthly podcast, hosts a quarterly variety show, and curates exhibitions, panels, performances, and published works.

Future Prairie focuses on mentoring creatives of different abilities, races, gender identities, national origin, religion, and age. They serve historically-marginalized groups such as women, people with a disability, low-income individuals, and racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities.

Website: https://www.futureprairie.com

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/432199907349013

Saturday, June 8, 2019 | 12 p.m.| All Ages

KEYS, BEATS, BARS

Music Workshop

Multnomah Arts Center | 7688 SW Capitol Hwy | Portland, OR 97219

Keys, Beats, Bars is presenting a “Kids Junk Orchestra” and interactive rhythm and music workshop called "Routes of Rhythm," presented by Dennis J. Dove and Adam Carpinelli, Co-Executive Directors.

This hands on all-ages and all-skill levels introductory 2-hour workshop explores the routes and roots of rhythm with different percussion instruments from around the world, including repurposed industrial items such as buckets and other fun things! Music will be made as we realize the potential of percussion and rhythm. Feel free to bring your own percussion instrument such as a drum, shaker or bell.

Website: www.keysbeatsbars.com

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2169058260074255/

Saturday, June 8, 2019 | 4:30 p.m. | All Ages

VIVA LA FREE

Movement Workshop

Charles Jordan Community Center | 9009 N Foss Avenue | Portland, OR 97217

Join Viva La Free for a family-friendly meditation designed to encourage healing and joy, called Ecstatic Dance. Ecstatic Dance comes from the ancient and widespread practice of shamanism, where dance and rhythmic drumming are used in spiritual practices across the world, from the Kut ritual of Korea to the San of Southern Africa. 

Website: https://www.facebook.com/vivalafreeportland/

Sunday, June 16, 2019 | 11 a.m. | Ages 12+, young adults/high schoolers

KEN YOSHIKAWA

Poetry Workshop

Laurelhurst Dance Studio | 3756 SE Oak Street | Portland, OR 97214

Local poets Ken Yoshikawa and Kate Leddy will lead a 2-hour poetry workshop focused on writing and performing. The workshop will focus on how to use words and poetry to deepen understanding of personal identity. Attendees are welcome to bring previous work. Following the workshop there will be a Q&A with the workshop leaders.

Sunday, June 16, 2019 | 2 p.m. | Ages 12+

REJOICE! DIASPORA DANCE THEATER

Movement Workshop

Laurelhurst Dance Studio | 3756 SE Oak Street | Portland, OR 97214

Oluyinka Akinjiola, Artistic Director of Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater, presents a contemporary dance workshop in the African Diaspora style. The 1.5-hour class seeks to create bridges and cross-cultural understanding. Oluyinka brings inclusivity and connectedness to the dance studio for all experience levels. Get ready to bend your knees, wind your hips, and undulate your spine!

Website: https://diasporadancetheater.weebly.com/

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/643920319407537/

Saturday, June 22, 2019 | 2:00 p.m. | Ages 12+

OUTwright THEATRE FESTIVAL

Play Reading

Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) | 5340 N Interstate Ave | Portland, OR 97217

OUTwright Theatre Festival presents a staged reading of The Tempermentals by Jon Marans, the story of how Harry Hay and his love interest, Rudy, helped found the Mattachine Society, the first LGBT rights organization in the United States.  Come hear this personal story of love and collective politics and learn a more about the origins of The Radical Fairies and the redefining of queer consciousness.

Other free OUTwright Theatre Festival events at IFCC include:

Fusions Training Sessions: Movement for beginners who are interested in exploring theatre as a physical art. Participants should wear clothing that allows for movement. Saturdays, June 15, 22, 29, 10am-2pm

Discussion - Towards a Non-Binary Theatre: A discussion focusing on the changing landscape of gender representation in theatre. Thursday, June 20, 6:30 p.m.

Discussion - Stonewall… 50 Years Later: A panel comprised of elders who will share memories of the historic event. Thursday, June 27, 6:30 p.m.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheOUTwrightTheatreFestival/about/?ref=page_internal