OUR HISTORY!
2007
Vibe of Portland was founded in 2007 to provide quality art and music education to all students in the Portland Metro area, regardless of their socio-economic background. The idea arose due to the significant budget cuts in public school arts education following Measure 5.
2008
Vibe’s first @Schools Program launched at Harrison Park K-8th with art and music classes in partnership with the SUN Schools program.
2010
Vibe's @Schools programming expanded to three new schools: Bridger Elementary, Kelly Elementary, and Creative Science K-8.
2011
Vibe's first studio opened at TaborSpace. It operated as a public art space offering affordable classes, camps, and workshops primarily for families with preschool-elementary-aged students. Funding from the studio goes towards programming at Title One Schools, and the Vibe @Schools Program expands to seven more schools.
2012-2016
As the organization grows and deepens relationships with partner schools, Vibe Studio adds workshops and summer camps to its program. During this time, Vibe adds six more schools to its @Schools Program and takes over ownership of East Winds Band Camp.
2017
Vibe Studio's programming outgrew its location and moved to Tabor Commons on SE Division Street, offering daily after-school instruction and middle school. East Winds Band Camp relocated to Mt Hood Community College.
2018
Vibe tripled its impact at the new studio location compared to the previous year by providing art and music instruction.
Vibe @Schools Program expanded into 12 schools within SE, NE, and North Portland.
2019
While the current studio expanded camp and workshop offerings, in September, Vibe opened a second studio in downtown St. Johns, a historically underserved quadrant of Portland, to expand art education access and opportunities for the peninsula.
2020
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, both studios closed, and all learning goes online.
2021
Vibe continues offering online classes and partners with Green Tulip Peace & Nature School, the Moose Lodge #291 and Montavilla United Methodist Church to restart in-person camp offerings!
Thanks to a generous grant from the Oregon Community Foundation, Vibe offers a full summer line-up of camps in SE Portland, with full scholarships available at all camps.
2022
Vibe opens its first Music Recording studio at the Cathedral Village Apartments in St Johns. Paisley Studios becomes a partner and Vibe facilitates more than 30 summer camps across the city at five locations, including a mural project at the Moose Lodge. This project was funded by several organizations, including the Marie Lamfrom Foundation, James and Marion Miller Foundation, Portland Public Schools, and the Oregon Department of Education.
2023
Vibe facilitated FIFTY-FOUR summer camps at 6 locations throughout Portland! We are thankful for our continued partnerships with the Miller Foundation, Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, and Portland Public Schools Summer Enrichment funding to make this programming available to many kids in our community.
For more on Arts Education, where Vibe stands with teachers, and the critical need for the arts to continue to be advocated for as a CORE subject within Education, please take a look at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences "Art for Life's Sake" The Case for Arts Education report that was just released in September 2021. Art for Life's Sake Report
