Portland'5 Centers for the Arts

What Portland'5 Centers for the Arts does

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts is a multi-venue performing arts complex headquartered in downtown Portland, Oregon, operating five distinct venues — Keller Auditorium, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Newmark Theatre, Winningstad Theatre, and Brunish Theatre — all within a few blocks of SW Broadway. The organization presents Broadway national tours, large-scale comedy productions, concerts, and an internally curated speaker series called "Voice of the People" through its Department of Culture and Community. Customers are general-public event attendees in the Portland metropolitan area and broader Pacific Northwest visitors, with tickets sold directly via on-site box offices and the portland5.com website, which runs on the Paciolan e-commerce ticketing platform with mobile-ticket delivery.

The business model is event-driven, monetizing each performance through ticket sales (price points ranging from roughly $20 for speaker events to $56+ for Broadway-tier productions, all-inclusive of fees), venue rentals to external promoters and organizers, and gift card sales. Distribution relies on the organization's own digital properties, email newsletter, and social channels (Facebook with 436,272 fans and Instagram @portland_5), supplemented by third-party ticket links for some events. The technology footprint is minimal: Paciolan for ticketing transactions and Google Analytics for audience measurement and display-ad attribution; no proprietary platform, mobile app, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Portland'5 operates under the governance of Oregon Metro's Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission (MERC), indicating publicly funded cultural-institution status rather than private commercial ownership. It is programmatically connected to the City of Portland's Arts Tax through the Arts Access Fund, which channels $8.1M annually to Portland school districts for elementary arts education reaching over 28,000 students, providing both a public-good mandate and an indirect funding tie. Revenue figures are not disclosed in the available data, and headcount is reported as 251–500, consistent with a mid-sized non-profit arts operation but unusually wide a range to triangulate revenue precisely.

Name

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts

Legal name

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts

Website

https://portland5.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts is a publicly funded, five-venue performing arts complex in downtown Portland, Oregon, presenting Broadway tours, comedy, concerts, and speaker events to general-public audiences under Oregon Metro/MERC governance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venues

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Music Venues & Venue Operators (Clubs, Theaters, Arenas) (MPAIAFAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venues
• Live event ticketing
• Broadway touring shows
• Arts education programs
• Venue rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of tickets to events across five venues: Keller Auditorium, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Newmark Theatre, Winningstad Theatre, and Brunish Theatre. Ticket prices range from $20 for speaker series events to $56+ for Broadway productions.
2. Venue Rental: Venues available for rent to external promoters and organizers for events, performances, and gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts operates a portfolio of five downtown Portland performance venues (Keller Auditorium, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Newmark Theatre, Winningstad Theatre, and Brunish Theatre) that produce and present live entertainment including Broadway touring productions, comedy shows, concerts, and speaker events. The organization sells tickets directly to event attendees via its own box offices and the Paciolan online ticketing platform, and rents venue space to external promoters and organizers. It also runs community programming such as the Department of Culture and Community's Voice of the People speaker series and channels Arts Access Fund dollars to elementary arts education.

Product overview

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts is a multi-venue performing arts complex in Portland, Oregon, consisting of five distinct venues: Keller Auditorium, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Newmark Theatre, Winningstad Theatre, and Brunish Theatre. The organization sells tickets and gift cards for events across all venues through both online platforms and physical box office. The Department of Culture and Community offers programming including speaker series and community-focused events. Additional services include venue rentals for external organizers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Broadway in Portland: Broadway touring productions presented at Portland'5 venues
• Department of Culture and Community

Products and services

• Keller Auditorium Large-scale performance venue in Portland, Oregon, hosting Broadway touring productions and major touring shows such as Hell's Kitchen and Dan and Phil: Hard Launch World Tour. Located at 222 SW Clay St, Portland, OR 97201, it is Portland's premier venue for dramatic, large-attendance productions. Ticket prices for Broadway productions start at $56.40.
• Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Historic, elegant concert hall at 1037 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205, originally a movie palace converted into a performance venue. It hosts comedy shows, concerts, and touring productions (e.g., Killers of Kill Tony, Jeff Arcuri Road Trip Tour, DL Hughley & Don Lemon) and serves as Portland's most elegant stage with nearly a century of history.
• Newmark Theatre Intimate theatre venue located inside Antoinette Hatfield Hall at 1111 SW Broadway, hosting speaker series and smaller-scale performances including the Department of Culture and Community's Voice of the People speaker series (e.g., Dr. Matthew Desmond on June 30, 2026).
• Winningstad Theatre Performance venue within the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts complex, hosting diverse entertainment, community cultural events, and programs supporting local talent on and off the stage.
• Brunish Theatre Performance venue within the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts complex, part of the five-venue arts center hosting performances and community events.
• Ticket Sales Online and on-site box office ticket sales service for all events across the five Portland'5 venues, including mobile ticket delivery and online account management via the Paciolan platform. Ticket prices range from $20 for speaker series events to $56+ for Broadway productions; 8-9 ticket limits per event apply.
• Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable for tickets and events at any of the five Portland'5 venues, available for purchase by individuals and as gifts for performing arts attendees.
• Venue Rentals Rental program allowing external promoters, arts organizations, and individuals to rent any of the five Portland'5 venues for their own events, performances, and gatherings, generating venue rental revenue in addition to ticket sales.
• A Voice of the People Speaker Series Speaker series presented by the Portland'5 Department of Culture and Community, hosting thought leaders and public intellectuals (e.g., Dr. Matthew Desmond on June 30, 2026 at the Newmark Theatre) who explore intersections of identity, social systems, creativity, and narrative. Tickets start at $20.00 with Arts for All accessibility pricing available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Arts Access Fund distributes $8.1M annually to support arts education for 28,000+ students

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Oregon Metro / Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission (MERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland'5 Centers for the Arts operates under Oregon Metro's oversight. The organization is governed by the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission (MERC). The website footer indicates 'Powered by Metro' and links to Oregon Metro job postings and visitor venues information.
• PaciolancoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party ticketing platform used by Portland'5 for online ticket sales. Personal information may be shared with Paciolan for transaction processing. The privacy policy explicitly references Paciolan ticketing platform as an associated website.
• City of PortlandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Portland's Office of Arts & Culture administers the Arts Tax, which funds elementary arts educators in Portland schools. While not a direct organizational partnership, Portland'5 is connected through shared arts funding initiatives and civic arts programming.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aronoff Center for the Arts: Cincinnati, OH multi-venue performing arts complex (Procter & Gamble Hall, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Fifth Third Bank Theater) presenting Broadway tours, concerts, and family programming. Comparable multi-venue regional presenter with similar Broadway-tour dependency.
• Blumenthal Performing Arts: Charlotte, NC-based operator of multiple performance venues (Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse, Stage Door Theater, McGlohon Theater) under a similar presenting-and-rental model with mixed Broadway, comedy, and community programming. Directly comparable multi-venue mid-size city operator with strong community-education mission.
• AT&T Performing Arts Center: Dallas, TX multi-venue performing arts center (Winspear Opera House, Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, Strauss Square) presenting Broadway, concerts, and community programming. Comparable multi-hall operator in a comparable mid-major US market.
• Broward Center for the Performing Arts: Fort Lauderdale, FL operator of the Au-Rene Theater and Amaturo Theater presenting Broadway tours, concerts, and educational programming. Comparable mid-size multi-venue presenter with strong community-education footprint.
• Tobin Center for the Performing Arts: San Antonio, TX multi-venue performing arts center (H-E-B Performance Hall, Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater) presenting touring Broadway, concerts, and community events. Similar multi-hall regional presenter with civic-arts mission.
• Segerstrom Center for the Arts: Costa Mesa, CA performing arts center operating multiple halls (Segerstrom Hall, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Samueli Theater) presenting Broadway tours, concerts, and family programming. Comparable regional multi-venue presenter with similar mixed-use programming strategy.
• Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts: Orlando, FL multi-venue performing arts center (Walt Disney Theater, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Steinmetz Hall, Judson's) presenting Broadway, concerts, and community programming. Closest peer in scale and venue diversity to Portland'5's Keller/Schnitzer/Newmark mix.
• The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts: Houston, TX multi-venue performing arts complex (Sarofim Hall, Zilkha Hall) presenting Broadway tours, concerts, comedy, and family programming. Similar mid-market presenting model with diverse programming mix.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: New York City multi-venue performing arts complex (David H. Koch Theater, David Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Rose Theater, Mitzi E. Newhouse, Vivian Beaumont) presenting Broadway, opera, ballet, and concerts. Larger-scale presenting peer in same business model category.
• Kennedy Center: Washington, DC national performing arts center operating multiple theaters (Opera House, Concert Hall, Eisenhower Theater, Terrace Theater, Family Theater) under federal government oversight. Larger-scale presenting peer with comparable government-affiliated institutional model.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Portland5-Centers-for-the-Arts/436272063152742
• Instagraminstagram.com/portland_5
• Xx.com/portland_5

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Portland'5 Centers for the Arts