lune 30, 2010
^Jortlanò (Observer
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The Week.
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Center Draws Suitors
Parks bureau
evaluates
applications
by J ake
T homas
T he P ortland O bserver
C lassifieds
O pinion
A uto
R eview
* «as»
page 13
pages 14-15
page 17
F ood
page 20
Several potential suitors are lin­
ing up to take over the Interstate
Firehouse Cultural Center, an incu­
bator for many minority artists who
now occupy prominent positions in
Portland’s art scene.
In May, the previous operator.
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Cen­
ter, Inc., closed its doors due to
chronic financial instability. Port­
land Parks and Recreation, a city
bureau that owns the 1910 building
at 5340 N. Interstate Ave., put out a
call for proposals for another like­
minded non-profit to continue its
mission.
So far PPR has kept the selection
process for the new operator o f
firehouse shrouded in secrecy. Beth
Sorenson, PPR spokesperson for
the bureau declined comment. But
here’s what we know so far:
Four non-profits applied for the
space, and include the northeast
Portland-based music education
organization Ethos, the theater
group Stum ptow n Stages, NW
D ocum entary, and Com m unity
Music Center- PPR’s own music
education program.
Ian McCluskey, the director o f
photo by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
NW Documentary, told the Port­
The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center at 5340 N. Interstate
land Observer that his two-person
Ave. awaits a new tenant.
staffed organization is not in the
running, but will be in contact with to the other organizations,” said He also said that it will begin a
whoever gets the facility to hope­ Mouser. He also added that he wants marketing plan and develop other
fully work out some sort o f partner­ to carry on the center’s original mis­ strategies to make the operation
ship.
sion by fostering diversity in the viable.
No one from PPR’s Community arts, which was established by
H o w ev er,
lo o k in g
at
Music Center would comment on Charles Jordan- the city’s first Afri­ Stumptown’s most recent set o f tax
where they are with negotiations, can American city commissioner.
documents, the organization has a
leaving Stum ptown Stages and
But the big question is the finan­ ways to go before it is financially
Ethos.
cial viability o f whatever organiza­ stable. According to the most re­
Kirk Mouser, the executive artis­ tion takes over the firehouse. The cent set o f tax documents, it’s over
tic director o f Stumptown stages, previous occupant o f the building $23,000 in the red and has no paid
said that his group is still vying to struggled with fundraising, and staff. The year before, it was in a
take over the firehouse. He said that when the city could no longer afford similar position.
if his group, which got its start at the to subsidize them due to declining
Charles Lewis, the executive
IFCC in 2005, gets control o f the revenues, they had to close their director and founder o f Ethos,
building it will continue the educa­ doors.
confirm ed to the Portland O b­
tion pro g ram s it lau n ch ed at
“The challenge with the IFCC server that his organization is in
Jefferson High School. Mouser also has been the financial need,” said negotiations with PPR about tak­
said that he wants to collaborate Mouser, who added that his organi­ ing o v e r th e f ire h o u s e , b u t
with other artistic groups, including zation will get help from the African co u ld n ’t say much more citing a
the other non-profits that applied. American Chamber o f Commerce
continued
on page 16
“W e’ve extended an olive branch beating the bushes to raise money.