Head to the Portland Art Museum for a vibrant celebration of art, community, and connection at the Miller Family Free Day! They will officially unveil the Cultural District Plaza on SW Madison Street, anchoring a major revitalization project.
Made possible by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative—with Portland proudly selected as one of only 10 cities in North America—and funding from the City’s Office of Arts & Culture, this project transforms the SW Madison Plaza into a pedestrian haven. Designed by internationally acclaimed British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori, the monumental asphalt mural was shaped by our local community to revive the space with joy, color, and a deep sense of belonging.
Schedule of events
- 12 p.m. – Official Ribbon Cutting: Be there for the big reveal of the Cultural District Plaza and celebrate the collaborative community effort that brought this vision to life.
- 12:20 p.m.– Special Performance by Heidi Duckler Dance Group: Experience a breathtaking, site-specific movement performance that interacts beautifully with the newly painted asphalt art.
- 2 p.m. – Artist Talk with Yinka Ilori moderated by 1803’s Rukaiyah Adams: Hear directly from the artist about his design philosophy and the power of using joy, color, and traditional parables to beautify civic spaces. Reserve free tickets to the talk here.
Admission is free all day. Bring family, friends, and neighbors to experience art, connection, and community pride at the new Cultural District Plaza!
