Wild Arts Festival 2021 at PSU’s Viking Pavilion

by Charles Milne, Director of Development

Wild Arts Festival 2021 is on! We all missed celebrating at a live event last year and we look forward to seeing friends, authors, and artists in person again. Plans are now underway for the 2021 Festival to take place November 20-21. We’re moving quickly to finalize details and are so excited to announce our new location at Portland State University’s Viking Pavilion in the Peter W. Stott Center. This is a wonderful opportunity for new collaborations, and we hope to continue this partnership into the future!

Wild Arts Festival Main Image 2021

Wild Arts Festival Silent Auction Donations Requested

This year the Silent Auction is as critical as ever to support Bird Alliance of Oregon’s work! You’ll be able to bid on hundreds of items, and we are reaching out now for donations from our members and supporters to make the auction a great success. We need nature-related art (all mediums welcome), merchandise, vacation stays, and gift certificates. We ask that the item have a value of at least $75. With 5,000 people attending, local businesses find that donations to the silent auction are excellent advertising. If you have questions or would like to donate an item, email wafsilentauction@birdallianceoregon.org.

A Fun Volunteer Gig

Heading up the welcome wagon will be a robust flock of volunteers to construct, run, and close out the event each year. Specifically, help is needed for set-up on Friday, guest assistance on Saturday and Sunday, tear-down on Sunday evening, and help with wrap-up tasks on Monday. Running the Festival takes a variety of skills, and many different shifts are available, most lasting about half a day. It’s also a favorite activity to do with a buddy!

We hope you will be part of the Festival crew! Contact Volunteer Chair Kate Foulke at wafvolunteers@birdallianceoregon.org to learn more and to sign up.

Portland State University’s Viking Pavilion

PSU is a large inner-city university in SW Portland, easily accessible by car, bus, and streetcar and with plenty of parking near the event space. PSU’s Farmers Market, located just outside the event, happens every Saturday and is popular year-round. We anticipate it will bring many new visitors to the Festival.

A few facts about the Viking Pavilion:

    • Air quality: Modern, recently updated facility with brand new HVAC systems
    • Size: 14,000 square feet of event floor space
    • Spacious concourse with floor-to-ceiling windows
    • LEED Gold Certified energy efficient building
    • Photos and more information: pdx.edu/conferences/viking-pavilion

COVID Update

The health and safety of our staff, artists, and community remains our top priority. We will determine final protocols for the event in October or early November by reviewing the latest guidance from the State of Oregon and the CDC. We will post all information prior to the Festival on our website, social media, and email list. As the virus continues to impact our community, these guidelines will be subject to change to ensure we continue to comply with current local and state requirements to protect your health and safety.