A New Model for Community Arts
The Living Opera Circles are artist-led initiatives that bring high-quality performances, educational programs, and creative projects directly to local audiences. Each Circle operates within a shared national framework designed by the Living Opera Foundation, combining artistic excellence with responsible management and community collaboration.
Our goal is simple: to empower artists to create and share their work sustainably while giving communities access to exceptional cultural experiences, often free of charge or at minimal cost.
How It Works
Each Circle is guided by the Living Opera Foundation’s framework for community-based artistic development. Local fellows take the lead in producing performances, workshops, and cultural events that reflect their communities, while the Foundation provides mentorship, administrative support, and national visibility.
The model emphasizes:
- Artist empowerment: helping performers gain hands-on experience in programming, production, and leadership.
- Community access: ensuring that audiences can experience live performance and arts education in welcoming, vibrant settings.
- Sustainability: encouraging responsible planning and collaboration so that local projects can thrive year after year.
Through this program, artists develop practical skills that strengthen both their creative practice and their communities, creating a cycle of mentorship, excellence, and opportunity.
The Pilot Circle in Portland, Oregon
The Portland Circle is the first pilot initiative within the Living Opera Circles framework. Led by Living Opera's first Fellow Gyan Singh Maria, the Circle is currently in development in collaboration with St. Michael’s Church and community partners across the region.
The pilot’s purpose is to build a locally led, artist-driven program that combines performance, education, and mentorship to serve musicians and audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Support the Portland circle
Your support makes it possible for Living Opera to nurture local artists and create spaces where art connects people from every walk of life. Contributions to the Portland Circle directly fund performances, mentorship programs, and community events that bring artistic experiences to new audiences. Every gift helps artists gain the tools, confidence, and experience to lead creative projects in their own communities, ensuring the arts remain accessible, vibrant, and community-driven.