By Anne Tria Wise
Whether you call it Portlandia, PDX, P-town, Stumptown, the City of Roses, or Bridge City, ФВК is proud to name Portland, Oregon as our second Arts & Sciences City of Distinction. The award showcases metropolitan areas with exceptional artistic vitality, cultural vibrancy, and scientific
engagement.
Portland area members are invited to a reception on October 19 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Enjoy complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as we give $5,000 prizes to four local organizations that build creative connections with new and diverse audiences in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and mathematics.
The recipients are the Regional Arts & Culture Council’s Right Brain Initiative, Literary Arts, Lewis & Clark College’s Community Engagement and Leadership in Science, and Portland State University’s Archaeology Roadshow. Eloise Damrosch, executive director of the Regional Arts & Culture Council and a ФВК member, will accept the Arts & Science Cities of Distinction Award on behalf of the city.
The evening will continue with electrifying lightning talks open to the public. Dave Miller, host of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Think Out Loud daily talk show, will emcee the event. Featured speakers are poet Turiya Autry, arachnologist Greta Binford, classicist Ellen Millender, cultural theorist Anoop Mirpuri, and marine microbiologist Rebecca Vega Thurber.
Each presenter will have just five minutes to spark your imagination! Shortly after the event, videos of the talks will be available online. Learn more about the event at www.pbk.org/portland. Please email Rhiana Quick at rquick@pbk.org to register for the reception and talks.
Anne Tria Wise is the director of the National Arts & Sciences Initiative at Phi Beta Kappa.