A Time-Honored Commitment to the Performing Arts
Portland Ovations is a nonprofit cultural organization based in Southern Maine dedicated to gathering communities to share in the power of live performance. Ovations connects artists and audiences both onstage and off — making the arts an integral part of community life.
Our unique array of live performances for the public and school audiences are curated to delight, inspire and educate. Venues used throughout greater Portland include historic and modern theaters, clubs, galleries, and classrooms — chosen carefully to ensure the best possible experience for both audiences and artists.
Join us for a season of performances that span the traditional to the contemporary, the intimate to the spectacular, the popular to the unexpected.
Our Vision
To inspire a curious and imaginative community where the experience of the performing arts is a vital part of every day life.
Our Mission
Portland Ovations propels the artistic, social, educational and economic wellbeing of communities through the power of the performing arts.
Our Core Values
- celebrates the power and brilliance of the performing arts.
- commits to being anti-racist.
- continues to evolve governance, operations, finances and programs to embody inclusivity, diversity, equity and access.
- nurtures a staff, board and collective culture that is compassionate, committed and enthusiastic.
- collaborates with other arts organizations, nonprofits, education systems and the business sector to promote lifelong learning through the arts.
Land Acknowledgement
Portland Ovations’ programs are presented on Wabanaki land, home of the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Abenaki and Penobscot Nations, their elders past and present, and future generations.
We encourage you to learn more and take action in support of Maine’s Indigenous communities through the following organizations
Abbe Museum
Maine’s premiere museum dedicated to Indigenous history and culture. Their mission is to inspire new learning about the Wabanaki Nations with every visit.
Wabanaki Reach
Supporting the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and restorative practices in Wabanaki and Maine Communities.
What is a “land acknowledgment?”
A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. (source: http://www.lspirg.org/knowtheland)
Racial Equity Plan
Portland Ovations is committed to advancing racial and cultural justice through the arts. From the artists we present from around the world to the networks we participate in across the country and beyond, Ovations is part of a global community. The goals and aspirations in this Racial Equity Plan reflect that larger global perspective and are not limited to Maine’s predominately white demographics and systems which have in part, contributed to its history of racism.
