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Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol at TBA 2012

Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival

The Time-Based Art Festival shatters barriers between artist and audience.

1 min read

Eric Gold

Called “the best contemporary summer festival in the country” by The New York Times, Portland’s Time-Based Art Festival (TBA) returns every September with boundary-pushing performances, visual art and projects that defy categorization. Expect an eclectic array of artists, both local and from across the globe, including from far-flung locales like New Zealand, Ontario and the UK.

Modeled after international contemporary arts festivals in cities like Edinburgh and Adelaide, TBA is orchestrated by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA). Installations and performances take over Portland’s theaters, galleries, warehouses and public spaces, while workshops and talks keep the arts going almost nonstop. Together, these works effectively obliterate the barriers between artists and their audiences.

In 2024, TBA will span three weeks to give audiences and performers some time between the busier days of the weekends. This year’s festival will start with an all-inclusive jam session on Opening Day, welcoming everyone to join with instruments and voices — no musical ability required. On the weekends, Happy Hour will be held before the performances begin, hosted by special guests who will kick things off with a toast relevant to the day’s theme. Happy Hours are a relaxed way to discuss observations, meet performers and grab a bite before a night full of artistic experiences.

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