The Campaign
The Cuomo Theatre Fund is raising $4.1 million to purchase the building on NW Raleigh and preserve it as a permanent home for the performing arts in Portland. The space includes a 96-seat black box theatre, rehearsal and training studios, and a community resource center. The building is used by more than 100 individual artists and itinerant companies each year. For many of them, it is the only affordable, professional space available.
The Campaign is organized in three Acts:
Act 1 — The Studios (Complete)
Renovations to the rehearsal and training studios were completed in 2025, creating dedicated spaces for Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble and Third Rail Repertory Theatre. In addition to programmatic use, the studios provide rental space for the broader arts community and establish a new earned revenue model for both organizations.
Act 2 — The Building (In Progress)
Securing full ownership of the building on NW Raleigh is the centerpiece of the campaign. With more than $2 million raised, the Cuomo Theatre Fund is on track to complete the acquisition and transfer permanent ownership to the collaborative—establishing a lasting home for the three companies and the broader arts community they serve.
Act 3 — The Theatre (The Final Phase)
A comprehensive upgrade to the 96-seat black box theatre, including new lighting, sound, seating, electrical infrastructure, and accessibility improvements. These upgrades will expand the theatre’s capacity for rentals and community programming and complete the transformation of the NW Raleigh building into a fully activated performing arts center.
“It’s so special to feel that there’s a home for me and my art; one that connects me with my favorite artists in town and inspires me to seek out whatever is being rehearsed in the adjacent room!”
What Becomes Possible
The building on NW Raleigh is already one of Portland's most active performing arts spaces. Studios are in constant use. The black box theatre is booked every week of the year. Three resident companies, and dozens of organizations beyond them, depend on it as the foundation of their work. This campaign completes what is already underway, and gives it a permanent home from which to grow.
8,000+ community members access performances, workshops, residencies, and public programming each year
400+ youth participate in mentorship and education programs across nine regional high schools
200+ artists and creative workers are employed through productions, training programs, and residencies
Nearly $900k is invested annually in Portland's creative workforce
