Our History

Vibe of Portland was an idea in 2006 that transformed in to an organization with the mission to provide high-quality art and music education to all students in the Portland Metro area, regardless of their socio-economic background. Vibe was created in response to the devastating cuts in public school arts programing stemming from the passage of Oregon Measures 5 and 50 in the late 1990’s.

2006

Idea for Vibe gets hatched, research and planning gets started.

2007

Vibe gets our State and Federal nonprofit status. Vibe’s official IRS birthday is September 18, 2007.

2008

Vibe @ School Programming starts with one middle school music class and one middle school art class at Harrison Park K-8

2009 - 2011

Vibe @ School Programming grows at HP and other schools added to our rosters.

2011

March 2011 - Vibe opens our first public art studio at TaborSpace in SE Portland

2012 - 2017

Vibe @ School programming grows to a dozen schools. Vibe Studio continues to increase offerings, adds summer camps and art exhibits.

2015

Vibe takes over management of East Winds Band Camp in East County - the only day camp for middle and high school students in Portland.

2017

Vibe Studio outgrows TaborSpace location and moves to SE Divison near Atkinson Elementary and Franklin high school - triples studio programming offerings.

2019

Opens a 2nd Vibe Studio location in the St. Johns North Portland neighborhood. Vibe @ School programming serves 4 school districts .

2020

COVID pandemic shuts down in person programming.

Close both studio locations.

Move all programming online.

2021

One of the first orgs to run summer camps again, Vibe partners with the Moose Lodge #291 in SE, Green Tulip Nature Preschool, Portland Child Art Studio in NW, and Paisley Studios in NE to provide 10 art focused camps in summer of 2021.