Creative Grid

Neighborhood — Community — City

PNCA is a place modeled by the kinds of artists and thinkers that we bring to be a part of a PNCA education.

“PNCA is a ‘place of ideas’ a place that’s modeled not just by our students faculty, and graduates, but by the decisions the institution makes and by the kinds of artists and thinkers that we bring to be a part of a PNCA education,” said President Tom Manley. Recently, PNCA’s Writer-in-Residence Kim Stafford joined President Manley in the College’s new radio station for a far-reaching conversation that further addresses: the role of artists and artistic practice in our world; how PNCA is changing the traditional education model through new initiatives like FIVE and the Global Studios program and where the school is headed as it approaches its centennial.

President Tom Manley spoke in-depth about the future of PNCA and its role in activating the creative grid in Portland. President Manley defined the creative grid as a “map or a way of picturing the overlay of the creative organizations in the city and state and how they’re positioned to support the development of art and culture. The goal is for PNCA to join with other organizations to in effect, increase the density of creative activity,” he said.

Kim Stafford was curious about this partnership, specifically about how PNCA could contribute to the greater Portland community; “In a couple of years, we’ll be celebrating the Centennial of PNCA, said Kim Stafford, do you think the College and the city share an aesthetic? How could we celebrate this 100 years together?”

“The visual arts and cultural landscape of Portland, Oregon and the Northwest is very much shaped and influenced by what PNCA and the individuals who have moved here to teach and those who have moved out in to the community that includes more than 50,000 students of all ages, from children to older adults, including college students and continuing education students who have gone through PNCA and the Museum Art School,” said President Manley. “Each of those 50,000 people are bringing their creativity to families, to communities, to organizations — we can see the impact the college has had for a 100 years. The question is not whether we’re going to have an impact in the next 100 years, but how can me make that optimal and how we can develop it in a way that’s consonant with a shared vision for Portland and the Pacific Northwest.”

Listen to the full interview now, or visit Radio PNCA.

Radio PNCA is a student-run Web radio station that provides an eclectic mix of entertainment and educational programming. The station focuses on the talent and diversity of the community with weekly, eclectic music shows streaming live, including interviews with visiting artists.