The Oregon Symphony summer concert
The Oregon Symphony
The Oregon Symphony’s annual end-of-summer riverfront show in Portland has been cancelled.
The popular free concert draws tens of thousands of people, and has been staged almost every year since 1999. Staffing, logistics and other costs for the show total about $300,000 to stage. Traditionally, the city has picked up about two-thirds of the bill.
"We've grown to the point that we are the largest free outdoor concert in the Western United States," said Oregon Symphony President Scott Showalter.
But Michelle Plambeck, a spokeswoman for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said the city can't afford those costs this year.
"The City is in the midst of a housing and homelessness emergency and had to make a lot of tough budget choices," Plambeck wrote in a statement.
She went on to suggest other funding avenues might be available.
But Showalter said it was impossible to make up such a large amount from funders such as the Regional Arts and Culture Council so fast.
"I know people who treat this like a holiday," Showalter said, "and camp out with their blankets all day and make a real day of it. We're sorry not to continue it."
Still, Showalter said the symphony has "absolute respect" for the mayor's decision, and understands there are many competing budget priorities.
Showalter said the symphony hopes the event can resume next year.
People who still would like to attend some end of summer classical music can still buy tickets for the symphony's Sept. 2 outdoor concert at the Oregon Zoo.
This is the second time in five years Portland has withdrawn its support. In 2013, budget woes led then-Mayor Charlie Hales to decline funding and operational support.
The partnership was rebuilt for the following year’s budget.