Portland Arts Center To Close

By Kristian Foden-Vencil | March 22, 2010 9:19 a.m. | Updated: June 16, 2010 11:56 p.m. | Portland, OR

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The City of Portland says a well-known local arts center will close at the end of April. The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center has been putting on plays, classes and exhibitions in North Portland for almost 28-years. The non-profit gets its name from the historic former firehouse it rents from the city. But now Lisa Turpel, a senior manager with Portland Parks and Recreation, said the center has a significant budget shortfall and has to close."We're hoping that they can regroup, build back some capacity and re-open at some point in the near future. I don't know how doable that will be. Unfortunately it's not like we can race in and give them a lot of money or something like that," she said.The center has a staff of three plus a team of volunteers. Calls to IFCC weren't immediately returned. About 20 percent of its income comes from ticket sales, rental fees and classes. The remainder, which comes from foundations, grants and contributions, has dropped off during the recession.

© 2010 OPB

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