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Portland Monuments Symposium to examine the past, present, future of commemorative public works

Community members are invited to attend panel discussions and breakout sessions as the city continues to shape its public monuments policies.

October 10, 2024 • 
Cambrie Juarez
A golden statue of Joan of Arc, seated upon a prancing horse and holding a banner, sits atop a stone pedestal in the center of a large traffic circle.

This Joan of Arc statue at the center of Coe Circle in the Laurelhurst neighborhood is an exact replica of one commissioned by Napoleon III following the 1870 Franco-Prussian war.

Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

What do you think about the monuments currently occupying Portland’s public spaces?

That’s one of the questions the city’s Office of Arts & Culture wants you to think about at the Portland Monuments Symposium taking place Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12.

The event, hosted by Converge 45 at Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus, will feature panel discussions and keynote speakers who seek to encourage public engagement and expand dialogues around the topic of public art + monuments. Community members, artists, and arts administrators are invited to attend and learn about the history of public monuments — including those removed or damaged in 2020 + 2021 — and discuss their place moving forward.

Learn more about the ongoing Portland Monuments Project or register for the symposium. Tickets are free for students and members of the community.