Drop-In Session with Art Design Xchange / ADX Fest

Music often takes center stage on Sounds of PDX, but Portland’s arts and culture community creates many different kinds of sounds.

We spoke with Art Design Xchange founder and creative director Kelley Roy and community manager and head curator Syd Spencer about what ADX has built during its 15 years in Portland—and how that spirit of creative exchange is expanding across the region through ADX Fest.

Taking place throughout October, ADX Fest brings together exhibitions, performances, workshops, studio tours and other experiences at galleries, studios, makerspaces and independent creative businesses across the Portland area. Instead of asking everyone to travel to one central festival site, ADX Fest gives people opportunities to discover creative activity happening in and around their own neighborhoods.

Our conversation also explored the role independent creatives play in Portland’s cultural and economic vitality, why shared space and collaboration matter, and how people who may not consider themselves artists or makers can experience the festival.

Portland Radio Project is also participating. Our monthly Open Mic at The Riff on Sunday, October 18, is included in the ADX Fest calendar.

Listen to the conversation, explore the full festival calendar at ADXFest.com, and learn more about Art Design Xchange at ArtDesignXchange.com.