Access Page Information for Artist Showcase

Our 2026 Artist Showcase will be on the evening of Thursday, September 24.

Schedule:

  • Early entry for 5:30 pm – Doors open for all attendees with other access needs. Blind/Low Vision patrons can meet with the Audio Describer and get oriented.
  • 6:00 – Doors open for everyone.
  • 6-6:30 – Preshow DJ set, the visual arts gallery is open, and there’s free heavy appetizers from Akadi PDX.
  • 6:30-8:30 – Showcase
  • 8:30-9:00 – Hang out

Location: Alberta Abbey

126 NE Alberta St

Portland, OR 97211

Parking and Transportation:

The Alberta Abbey is located in NE Portland’s King Neighborhood, 2 blocks west of NE MLK Blvd on NE Alberta.

Parking near the venue is extremely limited. They highly recommend walking, biking, using rideshare services (Uber/Lyft) or public transportation (nearby lines include 6, 44, and 72).

Plan your Trimet trip here: https://trimet.org/home/planner

If you do drive, please be mindful of our neighbors and avoid blocking driveways.

Bike racks are available in front of the main entrance and there is a Biketown rack just a couple blocks away.

Mobility Access:

  • There is an accessible drop off at the intersection of NE Alberta and NE Mallory. There is a curb cut there with truncated domes.
  • There are three Disabled parking spots on NE Mallory, right in front of the accessible door. There is no curb cut for these spots. 
  • The ramp is steep and is not to ADA standards, but theatre staff understand this issue and are readily available to help you navigate this. From the ramp, you will enter stage right, into an accessible seating area.
  • There is one accessible and all-gender restroom near the accessible seating. There is a stepstool available. Here is a video of the restroom. We will encourage people who do not need an accessible restroom to use the ones upstairs.
  • Between 6 and 6:30 people will come around through the seats to distribute appetizers (see below). There are also accessible paths to the concessions, and assistance is available if needed.

Blind/Low Vision Access: 

  • Live Audio Description is available. Please RSVP in advance at ben@newrooms.org, so we can ensure there are enough receivers.
  • There will be reserved seating for people using Audio Description services stage right, near the front of the theatre, near accessible seating.
  • Doors will open at 5:30 pm for people using Audio Description services, and soon after, the Audio Describer, Barb Green, will provide an orientation for the evening.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access:

  • We will have American Sign Language/English Interpreters stage right, near the accessible seating area.
  • Assisted listening devices will also be available.
  • We will have printed lyrics and scripts for some of the acts available via a QR code.
  • We will be showing a few short films, and they will have captions.

Neurodivergent Access:

  • The lighting for this event will be pretty calm, with no strobe lighting or rapidly changing patterns.
  • We do not have a designated quiet/sensory space, but patrons can leave their seats at any time and peruse the visual arts gallery or go to the concessions area. These spaces may feel calmer, but there is no significant sound dampening between the main theatre and these spaces.

Content notices:

  • There will be 14 acts presenting onstage. One of them – a performance of works by the writer Lora Lafayette – touches on her experiences of institutionalization, mental illness and self-harm, though it is ultimately a story of survival and triumph through her art. It will last about 6 or 7 minutes, and it will be about halfway through the program. It is clearly marked in the program, so you’ll know when it is approaching.

Reserved seating area for people wearing masks:

  • We will reserve a few rows of seats in the back of the theatre, stage left, for people who are wearing masks and don’t want to sit next to unmasked people. This area is far from the air returns, and you can access these seats as early as 5:30, before others arrive.

Catering and concessions:

  • From 6 to 6:30, people will be walking around distributing free appetizers from Akadi PDX (West African cuisine). This will include:
    • Lentil samosas: flaky pastry filled with spiced green lentils and potatoes
    • Beef samosas: flaky pastry filled with spiced ground beef
    • Chicken skewers: tender chicken breast skewers grilled and served with Akadi sauce
    • Plantains: caramelized sweet plantains
    • Corn fritters: sweet corn, bell pepper, habaneros fritters
  • The Alberta Abbey will also be selling drinks and pizza slices from Atlas Pizza in their concession area.

Questions and contact information:

For any questions about access or to reserve Audio Description services, please contact New Room Studios’ Director Ben Moorad at ben@newrooms.org or at 503-756-4011.