UPDATE—MARCH 27, 2020: This announcement has been updated to reflect the closure of the Portland Art Museum and Northwest Film Center until further notice, in accordance with the community health order issued by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. Stay well, and we hope to see you again soon.
The Portland Art Museum and Northwest Film Center (NWFC) are closed to the public effective Saturday, March 14, in an effort to further stem the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The official reopening date will be determined according to community health developments and recommendations from federal, state, and local health authorities.
Following the recommendations from the State of Oregon and the Oregon Health Authority, all public programs, tours, field trips, films (including all films and programming for the remainder of the Portland International Film Festival at the Whitsell Auditorium and at partner venues), classes, events, and rental events have already been canceled.
“Closing our doors is a difficult decision because we know that cancellations and closures cause real hardship for visitors, staff, artists, and partners,” said Portland Art Museum Director Brian Ferriso. “The Museum and Northwest Film Center are places for people to connect with each other through art and film, and our ballrooms host countless important community events. However, now our focus must be on the shared goal of overall community health.”
We look forward to welcoming visitors back into the galleries when we reopen. In the meantime, we’ll be offering expanded online opportunities to experience our collections and exhibitions, including Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art; Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott; and newly opened exhibitions in the APEX, Photography, and Center for Contemporary Native Art galleries. See all exhibitions here.
The Museum and NWFC have many ways to enjoy art and film outside the gallery walls, and resources for parents and kids at home during state-wide school closures including artist talks and lectures on our YouTube channel, podcast, and Online Collections. See below for good places to start.
Listen, Watch, and View
- Portland Art Museum YouTube channel
- Portland Art Museum Podcast
- Online Collections
- Resources for Learning
- Northwest Film Center YouTube Channel
- Northwest Film Center Vimeo
Museum and NWFC staff are looking forward to welcoming everyone back soon. Stay tuned to social media channels for updates and other ways to bring art and film into your life during these uncertain times.
If you are able to continue to support the Portland Art Museum and Northwest Film Center while we are closed, we would be most appreciative. We know that when this passes, our community will again seek inspiration and connection, and the Museum must be ready to be a part of our community’s healing and restoration. Please visit our website to make a donation.