Portland Queer Arts

Auditions for the 2026 Q***r Arts Spectacular are officially open!

All disciplines are welcome. Drag. Dance. Vocals. Spoken word. Poetry. Original music. Short film. Visual art. Burlesque. Cabaret. Circus. Street Performance. Voguing. Aerial. Clowning. Miming. Puppetry. Any other experimental or whimsical performance styles? If you make something, we want to see it.

Two ways to audition: In person on April 27 or 28, 2026 at Resound NW — 7:30–9:30 PM each evening. Or by video: submit a recording of an existing piece. A previous performance or rehearsal recording is great.

Your piece should reflect this year’s theme: The World We Create — or your interpretation of what that means. There's no single right answer.

Artist stipend: $550 for all planned rehearsals and performances.

Portland Q***r Arts Foundation celebrates and affirms q***r and trans artists of all races, ethnicities, genders, abilities, and experiences. BIPOC, trans, nonbinary, disabled, and other historically marginalized artists are strongly encouraged to apply.

Artistic Director: Daniel Switzer

📝 Sign-up: https://pqa.info/az16R5

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Meet your 2026 Portland Q***r Arts Spectacular Artistic Director!

Daniel Switzer (he/him/they) is a performer, director, choreographer, and multidisciplinary creative whose work lives at the intersection of theatricality, collaboration, and community. Daniel has spent more than a decade performing on Broadway — including Wicked, Newsies, Frozen and more — before planting roots in the Pacific Northwest and turning his attention to directing, choreography, and making things from scratch.

This year’s theme, The World We Create, explores q***r identity through the act of creation. The act of making something that didn't exist before you did.

In Daniel's words: "I've always believed art can change how people see the world. The World We Create is our chance to ask: what world are we making? What does it look like when we build it together?"

This fall, that question takes the stage again for two nights at the Alberta Rose Theatre.

🏳️‍🌈 2026 Portland Q***r Arts Spectacular: The World We Create
📅 September 19 & 20, 2026 • 7:00 PM
📍The Alberta Rose Theatre
🔗 https://pqa.info/KUouDj

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🌈 We’re Looking for Our Next Artistic Director.

Portland Q***r Arts Foundation is now accepting proposals for the 2026 Portland Q***r Arts Spectacular.

Each year, we invite a new guest Artistic Director to bring bold vision, collaborative leadership, and a unifying theme to our flagship multidisciplinary performance. The Spectacular returns to the Alberta Rose Theatre on September 19–20, 2026, and we’re seeking a q***r creative leader ready to shape an unforgettable evening of art, joy, and community.

✨ $2,500 stipend
🎭 Curate across disciplines
🤝 Foster collaboration
🌟 Center q***r voices

We strongly encourage BIPOC, trans, nonbinary, disabled, and historically marginalized artists to apply.

📅 Proposals due March 22
🔗 Learn more & apply: https://portlandq***rarts.foundation/jobs

Help us spread the word — the future of q***r art in Portland starts here.

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Today is Giving Tuesday!
Your gift to Portland Q***r Arts Foundation goes twice as far thanks to a generous matching donor. 🌟

As a newly recognized 501(c)(3), all donations to PQA are tax-deductible and eligible for corporate matching through programs like Benevity — meaning your support has even greater impact.

Your generosity fuels paid opportunities for LGBTQ+ artists, community listening sessions, and the joyful, inclusive programs that keep q***r creativity thriving in Portland.

✨ Donate today to double your impact:
portlandq***rarts.foundation/givingtuesday

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