This Week in the Mercury
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Artsy OBT Leads Big Arts Rally Today in Pioneer Square
Posted by Stephen Marc Beaudoin on Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 9:08 AM
When was the last time the Portland arts community got up a big public rally to celebrate its own bad-assness?
It hasn't happened in recent memory, but Portland's Oregon Ballet Theatre has big reason to pop a cork, of course: they succeeded in raising more than three-quarter of a million dollars in less than three weeks - through aggressive fundraising and a jaw-dropping gala performance at the Keller - which saved the company from the brink of extinction.
Now OBT's assembling a day of blowout partying - today! - to thank Portland for their generosity (although OBT admits they received donations from 25 states outside of Oregon to help boost their coffers) and spread the arts community love a little bit. The mega "thank you rally" kicks off just before noon today in Pioneer Courthouse Square, and OBT encourages you to hoist a sign sending some props to your fave Portland arts group. See you there?
Later today (7 tp 9 pm), the company's hosting a five-buck fundraiser (five bucks?!?!) at Forkfly, 332 NW 6th, featuring noshes and booze, a fashion show, and live performances from some of my personal favorite OBT company members: Steven Houser, Anne Mueller, Gavin Larsen and Adrian Fry. Go, already!
UPDATE, 10:15 am: Oops! Seems OBT forgot to request a city permit for the rally, according to company spokesman Erik Jones. Instead of a massive blowout rally with speakers and raucous music, they're changing gears: "We’re going to meet there as scheduled and then go for a little arts walk through downtown and the Pearl," Jones says. "I figure we’ll head up to PCPA [Portland Center for the Performing Arts], swing by the art museum, and then down past the symphony office, the armory, PICA, and RACC. That should be a nice little jaunt — and we can distribute the RACC material along the way."
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I'm definitely going to have to check that out and see if my favorite ballerinas are wearing short shorts on this nice hot day.
So they raise money to avoid bankruptcy, and use some of it to throw a party? I wonder why they were in financial trouble to begin with....
Hey Blabby, just to respond: the evening event tonight at Forkfly is sponsored by Forkfly as a low-dollar fundraiser for OBT. OBT's not footing the bill for the party; Forkfly is (this information comes directly from the company).
Word. And the arts walk has no cost.
Snarky objections withdrawn.
If they can't properly follow rules to secure a permit, then one has to wonder if they are also mismanaging monies leading to its budget shortfall.
I think perhaps the confusion stems from our use of the word "rally." Speeches and music were never on the agenda in the first place, so none were cancelled.
We would have needed a permit to distribute fundraising materials for the Regional Arts and Culture Council while at the Square. We didn't have one, so we passed out the RACC flyers on the street instead. That's the only change of plans that took place today.
Thank you to everyone who showed up to help create awareness for RACC and our city's arts organizations.
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