If you’ve ever attended a Broadway show, enjoyed a musical performance, or relished a night of theater in Portland, odds are you’re familiar with Portland Ovations, the 94-year-old nonprofit organization making the arts an integral part of community life in the area. Founded in 1931 by a group of music teachers looking to perform at the city’s newest venue (known today as Merrill Auditorium), the organization was initially limited to around five performances annually, usually chamber music concerts. “Over the last 94 years, and especially the last 25, we’ve really grown and expanded into all the different performing arts disciplines,” explains Casey Oakes, associate director of Portland Ovations. “It’s not just chamber music anymore—we present big Broadway tours, we present circus, we present theater, we present School-Time Performances for over 10,000 students each year,” he says.
Oakes, whose background is in theater, was drawn to the organization because of its all-encompassing dedication to the arts. “We support such a wide variety of disciplines, which means we get to perform at all kinds of venues throughout Portland and beyond,” he says. “It also means our audience is diverse in terms of age and background, and we get to reach all kinds of people—about 50,000 people each year—through our high-quality programming.”
Portland Ovations’ Membership program recently underwent an overhaul that eliminated tiered giving, placing an emphasis on equity and accessibility for all. “We made a big shift so that no matter what level you give at, you’re receiving the same benefits,” Oakes explains. Membership, which starts at $25, includes early access to ticket sales, discounts on each ticket, and reduced ticketing fees, but there's also an experiential element. Last fall, for example, Portland Ovations members met with performers from the touring production of STOMP and learned how to stomp themselves. “These experiences give our supporters an up close and personal connection to the arts that they might not otherwise have,” Oakes says. “We love giving people the opportunity to get as close as possible.”
The recent shift away from tiered giving resulted in even more local support for the arts organization. “We didn’t see anyone dropping their gifts. In fact, we saw people giving more,” says Oakes. “As a nonprofit organization, Membership makes everything we do possible. Most performances are budgeted to break even or take a loss, so we look to our Membership base to help us make up the difference and support our mission pieces.” Oakes’ favorite program is the School-Time Performances that bring nearly 2,000 students at a time to Merrill Auditorium for an arts-filled field trip. Another program, called Cultivating Curiosity, provides select School-Time Performance audiences with children’s books in an effort to increase literacy across the state. Membership also supports Destination Portland, a program that provides $400 mini grants directly to schools to fund buses that bring students to the venue, and allows the organization to commission new works from emerging artists. “During the pandemic, we funded five projects from Maine artists, including Wabanaki Stories, which has now been seen by almost 10,000 people,” Oakes says. “These projects take significant investments, and our membership makes it possible.”
Thanks to Membership funding, Portland Ovations provides complimentary tickets to various Portland groups, from the Boys and Girls Club to the Maine Housing Authority, and is able to offer sign language interpretation for any spoken word performance. In addition, the organization offers free public programs including outdoor performances in the park and professional development workshops for teachers. “It’s all about building community, access, and opportunity,” says Oakes. “Arts education is usually the first thing to go when public schools make cuts, so to be able to create opportunities is extremely important,” he adds. Of course, there’s another element involved, too: economic benefits. “If you buy tickets to a show downtown, you’re probably going to pay for a babysitter, go out to dinner, and maybe enjoy a drink afterwards. It really drives the economy and makes Portland a vibrant place to be.”
This month, the organization is preparing for its annual fundraiser on December 12, a bash called POP! (Portland Ovations Presents) that will be held at Ocean Gateway and hosted by Blake and Kelly from Coast 93.1. According to Oakes, “the event is intended to raise funds for our School-Time Performances, but it’s also a giant celebration of food, culture, and art in Portland.” At the heart of it all, members and supporters of the arts are what make everything possible, and Portland Ovations is thankful for each and every dollar. “We’re not only a city that punches above our weight in food, but in the arts, too,” Oakes laughs. “You can go out any night and find all kinds of experiences. Whether it’s at SPACE, Indigo Arts Alliance, Portland Stage, or Portland Symphony Orchestra, there’s always something going on. And without the support of our Members—whether it’s $25 or $25,000—it wouldn’t be possible. Support means everything, and it keeps Portland an incredible place to live.”
“These experiences give our supporters an up close and personal connection to the arts—we love giving people the opportunity to get as close as possible.”
“On any given night, there's always something going on. Portland is not only a city that punches above our weight in food, but in the arts, too.”