Portland is carving out a new niche in the arts scene with a leadership shake-up at its Native Arts and Culture Foundation. Shyla Spicer, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, has been named president and CEO, a role she technically stepped into early December last year. Spicer, aiming to boost the city as a hub for Native arts and culture, is ready to escalate the foundation's efforts to support and promote Native artists.
According to a report by OregonLive, Spicer has set her sights on uplifting "cultural consciousness and Native thought" within the community. The old Yale Union building, now the Center for Native Arts and Cultures, was acquired via the Land Back movement and is expected to become a bustling creative hub under her guidance.
In an announcement shared by the Native Arts and Culture Foundation, Spicer said, “This is a place that’s alive with activation and presence with our native community.” Not only is the center planning to host an array of cultural activities, but Spicer also envisions it as a space where Native artists can truly thrive. Despite still filling up the historic building with life and art, plans are underway to make it a nexus for Native cultural enrichment, as per OregonLive.
In a light-hearted turn, Spicer referred to herself as "not a secret CEO anymore," as reported by the Willamette Week. With two months spent acquainting key foundation insiders with the leadership transition, she now publicly embraces the mantle, succeeding founding president Lulani Arquette. Spicer joked about the initial silence over her appointment, noting the deliberate effort to inform people thoughtfully due to the fundamental changes at hand.
One major step to opening the center's doors wider to the public is going to be through offering free monthly community tours. While the full schedule for 2024 is not out yet, it will be announced on their website, allowing the community to get an inside look, connect with Native artists, and learn about the historic building’s new life. Here is Oregon notes that the goal is to make the center a place for cultural historians, culture keepers, and storytellers to create, display, and share art as defined by the Native community itself.
