Who we are and why we do this.
Portland Queer Arts Foundation is a nonprofit arts organization rooted in Portland, Oregon — dedicated to amplifying queer voices, sustaining queer artists, and building a more expressive, equitable cultural landscape.
Portland Queer Arts Foundation empowers queer artists to share unapologetically queer stories, build sustainable creative careers, and inspire a more just and accepting world.
We do this through live productions, artist grants, community gatherings, and by building the tools and infrastructure that queer creatives need to thrive.
A Portland where every queer artist has a stage — and an audience.
We envision a cultural ecosystem where queer artistry is not niche or exceptional, but woven into the fabric of how this city creates, celebrates, and sees itself.
Art is infrastructure. Representation is not a bonus — it is the point.
Portland Queer Arts Foundation grew from a simple conviction: Portland's queer community deserves arts experiences that center queer voices — not as a gesture, but as a foundation.
What began as the first Queer Arts Spectacular — a scrappy, joyful celebration of local talent — has grown into a multi-program organization with a growing artist grant fund, community education initiatives, and an expanding network of queer creatives across the Portland metro area.
We are a young organization doing the slow, meaningful work of building something lasting.
Board & Leadership
Photo: Greg Parkinson 
Those who make it possible
