Business Details
Arts Education & Community Programs in Portland, OR
The Multnomah Arts Center (MAC) has been a cornerstone of arts education and community engagement since its founding. As a program of Portland Parks & Recreation, we provide high-quality instruction in visual and performing arts to students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Our diverse offerings include music, dance, theater, ceramics, photography, and literary arts, with financial assistance available to ensure accessibility. Recognized by national and regional arts organizations, we serve over 6,000 students annually through year-round programs taught by professional instructors. Our facility hosts performances, exhibitions, and rental events that enrich Portland's cultural landscape.We prioritize inclusivity, offering specialized services for individuals with disabilities and maintaining ADA-accessible spaces. Through partnerships like the Parks Local Option Levy, we implement equitable pricing models to remove financial barriers. Our nonprofit affiliate, the Multnomah Arts Center Association (MACA), supports facility improvements and program expansion through volunteerism and donations. With state-of-the-art studios and a commitment to community-driven programming, we foster creativity and connection across generations. Our legacy of excellence continues to evolve while maintaining core values of artistic integrity and public access.
Services
Art Classes
Music Lessons
Dance Programs
Theater Arts
Photography Courses
Ceramics Workshops
Metalworking Classes
Textile Arts
Literary Arts
Event Rentals
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of arts education excellence in Portland
- Our instructors include 25+ professional teaching artists
- We provide Pay-What-You-Can pricing for Portland residents
- Our facility includes specialized studios for ceramics, metals, and photography
- We host 100+ annual community art exhibitions and performances
Associations and certifications
- National Guild of Community Schools of Art
- Regional Arts and Cultural Council
- Oregon Arts Commission
- National Endowment for the Arts
Services
Art Classes
We offer comprehensive visual arts instruction for all skill levels, including painting, drawing, printmaking, and mixed media. Our experienced instructors guide students through technical fundamentals while encouraging personal artistic expression. Classes are available for youth and adults with specialized equipment and studio access.
Music Lessons
Private and ensemble music instruction is available for multiple instruments including piano, guitar, voice, and percussion. Our 25+ professional musicians provide personalized lessons for students of all ages, with performance opportunities through our community music programs.
Dance Programs
Our dance curriculum develops agility, coordination, and artistic expression through various styles. Classes cater to all ages and skill levels, focusing on technical development while maintaining fun and creative movement experiences in a supportive environment.
Theater Arts
We provide theater education emphasizing collaboration, ensemble building, and technical production. Students engage in acting, stagecraft, and performance creation while accessing professional-grade facilities for rehearsals and public productions.
Event Rentals
Our ADA-accessible facility offers versatile spaces for weddings, conferences, and cultural events. Rental packages include technical support, climate-controlled rooms, and optional digital advertising on our front entrance reader board for event promotion.
Questions
What types of arts classes do you offer?
We offer visual arts, music, dance, theater, photography, ceramics, metalsmithing, textile arts, and literary arts classes for all ages and skill levels.
Are there financial assistance options available?
Yes, Portland residents qualify for Pay-What-You-Can pricing through the Parks Levy. Non-residents can apply for need-based scholarships through our nonprofit partner MACA.
Can I rent your facility for events?
Our ADA-accessible spaces accommodate weddings, conferences, performances, and community events with technical support and climate-controlled environments available.
Do you have programs for children?
We provide youth-focused arts education emphasizing creative process development with age-appropriate instruction in visual arts, music, dance, and theater.
How are instructors qualified?
Our teaching artists are professional practitioners in their fields with extensive experience providing structured instruction in specialized studio environments.
What community partnerships exist?
We collaborate with Portland Parks & Recreation, Regional Arts and Cultural Council, and maintain membership in the National Guild for Community Arts Education.
Reviews (5)
Augustina Elizabeth Lifeofauggie
Apr 16, 2022
Report
What an incredible place to be able to explore arts and learn new skills! I just got done with my first adult tap class here and it was not only enriching with a supportive instructor but also fun! You can register for classes on Portland parks and rec and there are all age and skill level classes available. I highly recommend checking it out for affordable community development and personal growth.
Julia Montoya
Jan 03, 2020
Report
Easy place to find and the parking was plentiful. Such a great place to have a holiday bazaar. The building was very open and there was great lighting in order to see all of the awesome stuff that people were selling. I look forward to going to this again next year and I hope to find even more of the amazing gifts that I found this year.
Af
Mar 13, 2019
Report
My boyfriend & I were here today for a workshop and since this our first time here we didn't know where the class is located. Their was a really friendly, helpful, & nice tall woman who gave us very detailed direction on how to find our class : ). We also liked that they have ample parking spot and it is easily accessible. We would like to come back here again at some point to look at all the artwork in the near future : ).
Elyse Arezzini
Feb 06, 2019
Report
This place is just the best. I've gone here for years and there are so many awesome classes available for all levels. I did a lot with the ceramics department and I thought it was a wonderful program, definitely definitely recommended
Jackie M.
Aug 06, 2018
Report
I'm glad we have an arts center in the neighborhood, but I haven't been able to enroll my toddler in any of the arts classes because there don't appear to be any available on the weekends for music or dance for toddlers. With two full time work parents, the classes they offer just don't work for us. We do visit often to enjoy the playground outside. I'm glad there's playground equipment in the village and judging by the number of kids we see here, others agree.
