The Walters Cultural Arts Center is located at 527 E. Main St. and is situated on the corner of Northeast 5^th Avenue and East Main Street in a one-way grid in Downtown Hillsboro.

The Walters is also conveniently located just a few blocks from the MAX Blue line, closest to the Tuality Hospital/SE 8th Avenue stop.

The Walters parking lot is located on the north side of the building and can be accessed from 5th Avenue or 6th Avenue. Designated accessible parking spots are located at the east end of the parking lot, near the front entrance of the building, and electric vehicle charging stations are located on the west side of the parking, near 5th Avenue.

The Walters Gallery is spread throughout the building with primary exhibit spaces on the second floor and in the basement. The Gallery is always free and open to the public and features two-month exhibits by emerging and professional artists from the local community and the broader region.

Gallery Hours

Monday through Thursday: 9 am to 9 pm

Fridays: 9 am to 5 pm (hours extended for events and performances)

The Walters Cultural Arts Center strives to accommodate the needs of all patrons and offers various options for accessibility to assist with providing the best possible experience of our programming.

Please see information below for specific accommodations we can provide.

If you would like to discuss your specific needs to attend a performance, event, or class at the Walters, call 503-615-3485 or Email Us.

Accessing the Walters Cultural Arts Center

Entrances

The Walters has two sets of entrance doors on the east side of the building. These entrances are accessible by ramps from both the north and south side of the building.

When facing the entrance, the set of doors on the right are also equipped with an automatic door opener.

Please note, the three sets of doors the south side of the building (along Main St) on the terrace are locked and not accessible from the outside. This often gets confused for the entrance of the building, so please keep moving along Main St. toward the east side of the building to enter.

Parking

The Walters parking lot is located on the north side of the building and can be accessed from 5^th Avenue. There are three designated accessible parking spots at the east end of the parking lot, near the front entrance of the building.

Elevator & Rest Rooms

All levels of the building are accessible by elevator access.

The Walters has restrooms on the basement and 2^nd floor levels that are ADA accessible.

The restrooms on the basement level have multiple stalls and are gender specific. The restrooms on the 2^nd floor are single user and all user.

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome inside the Walters Cultural Arts Center, but pets are not allowed inside the building.

Attending Performances & Events

When visiting the Walters Cultural Arts Center, our team is happy to provide specific accommodations to ensure you have a successful visit. To discuss seating assistance or other accommodations, contact the Walters Box Office at 503-615-3485 or at BoxOffice@Hillsboro-Oregon.gov. Our staff will be happy to assist you.

Seating Choices

Seating accommodations can be offered to assist based on the needs of the patron, including reserving accessible seating for patrons using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

If you need a seating accommodation to attend a ticketed event, you can note this when reserving your tickets. Our staff will follow up with you to confirm the details and seating will be reserved for you when you arrive.

If you arrive for an event and have not reserved seating, but find that you need a seating accommodation, just check in at the Box Office for assistance. We will assist in finding seating for you and at least one additional attendee in an adjacent seat, though we will do our best to seat you with your full party if possible.

Theatre Seating

Our standard theatre chairs do not have arms, but we can provide a chair with arms upon request.

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices are available for every performance. These devices amplify the performance and enhance the words spoken on stage by separating speech from background noise. Devices can be checked out at the Box Office on the night of the show.

Sensory Processing Supports

The Walters will include information about any potential sensory sensitivities when promoting a performance, event, or class. This could include information about the use of bright lights, loud sound effects, or other possible sensory concerns.

Sensory Kits

To improve the experience of all our visitors, we have sensory kits available at the front desk and in each of our classrooms. These kits contain earmuffs, sunglasses, fidget items, a medium weight lap pad, a glitter wand, and a bubble timer. Items in the kits are sanitized between uses.

Acoustics in the Walters Theatre

The Walters Theatre has amazing acoustics for transmitting sound due to the stone walls and high arched ceilings of the space. This means that it is a wonderful space for a live music and other performances.

We have a highly qualified sound engineer who adjusts the sound levels during performances and events to ensure the comfort of both the audience and the performers. With performances including drums or horn instruments, there can still be times when the sound can feel intense or at too high of a level.

If you have sensory processing concerns, you may wish to bring a set of ear plugs or earmuffs when attending a performance or event in the Theatre. They may not be necessary, but you’ll have them just in case you need them.

Ear Plugs & Earmuffs

The Walters Box Office can provide disposable ear plugs upon request. We also have a limited supply of earmuffs available.

Contact the Walters staff at 503-615-3485 or Email Us. Our staff will be happy to assist you.

Supplies are provided with registration for most classes at the Walters. If students do need to purchase materials or tools, the supply list will be attached to your registration receipt. If you have any questions, please call 503-615-3483 for more information.

Colours Art 

Located just a few blocks down from the Walters Cultural Arts Center is local art supply store, Colours Art.

For questions about supply availability, please call 503-648-5064 or visit their location at 270 East Main Street. For business hours and additional information please visit: www.coloursart.com.

The Walters Cultural Arts Center provides Ceramics Open Studio sessions to current and previous students to allow them time to practice techniques and to encourage personal enrichment.

By registering, you are agreeing to the terms outlined in these guidelines:

Ceramics Open Studio

• Open Studio (OS) is not for production work.
• Open Studio is not a ceramics class with guided instruction.
• To register for OS, participants must have completed 2 multi-session ceramic classes at the Walters or have equivalent experience.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Open to current and previous students.

Ceramics Studio Expectations

• Participants are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. If you use it, clean it and put it away.
• OS sessions and class time includes clean-up.
• Size Maximums: Length 12”, Width 10”, Height: 11.5”.
• Works should not exceed 1/2” thickness all around.
• Works exceeding these sizes will not be fired.
• An OS Supervisor/Class Instructor will take attendance each session.

Purchasing Clay

• No outside clay allowed. Participants must purchase clay at the Walters.
• Clay must be labeled with the participant’s name with the DATE and YEAR at the time of purchase.
• All clay must be taken home on the last day of your OS session/class. Any clay not labeled or left behind will be recycled by the Walters.
• The Walters sells Cone 6, medium temp clays.
• Storage space is available for participants.

Clay Bag Pricing

• $25 per 1 bag of 25lbs Pat Horsley (CC75).
• $25 per 1 bag of 25lbs G-Mix 6 (CC520).

Studio Safety

• Sanding is not permitted inside the studio, please step outside the building.
• Participants are not permitted to open, add or remove pieces from the kilns.
• For safety, wear rubber-soled, close-toe shoes, avoid wearing jewelry or clothing that could be caught in the wheel (necklaces, scarves, etc).
• Cubbies are located outside the classroom to store personal belongings.
• Turn off your wheel when you are not using it.

Etiquette

• Please work harmoniously with others in the studio and be respectful of all individuals in this community space.
• If you’d like to play music on the shared speakers, please check in with the other
  participants first.
• Treat others’ work with respect. Do not move or unwrap work that is not yours.
• Always check the bottom of the piece to make sure it is your work.
• Please move your works through the studio on a timely basis. Regularly check the bisqueware and pick-up shelves.
• Bring problems to the attention of the Instructor/Supervisor immediately.
• Evaluation forms are available at the end of OS/class.

Equipment Use and Clean-Up

Clean your tools and workspace per the following guidelines:

• Bats: Only plates can remain on bats. All other work should be placed on wood boards. Bats should be scraped, washed thoroughly and placed back on the rack.
• Canvases: Spray water on the surface, use a scraper tool to remove any harden clay. Use a
  damp sponge to wipe off clay.
• Extruder: Clean inside and out. Dies and ‘Z’ brace must be cleaned and returned to their spot.
• Molds: Clean and return to proper shelf. Remove work from molds as soon as possible so they are available for others to use.
• Slabroller: Please use a canvas on both sides of slab. Use a scraper tool to remove any clay.
  Use a damp sponge to wipe off clay.
• Tools: Clean and put back where they belong. This includes tongs, whisks, stirring sticks, pitchers, sponges, brushes, etc.
• Splash Pan: Clean thoroughly and give a final
  rinse with a sponge that has been wrung out in clean water.
• Wheels: Turn off when not in use. Wipe
  down the control box, the white tabletop and around the edges. Place stool on top of wheel head. Place pedal on top of white tabletop. If you are in an evening OS session/class, unplug the wheel and leave the cord handing on the stool.
• Workspace: Rinse all surfaces using a sponge that has been wrung out in clean water. All glaze spills/drips should be wiped before they dry and become airborne hazards.
• Sponges: Avoid scrubbing them on the canvas tables. Sponges should only be used to gently
  wipe off surfaces and tools. Wring out sponge
  in clean water. Return to their proper spots.
• Water buckets: Slowly pour clay water down the sink, leaving any clay chunks in the bucket.
  Use a rubber rib to scrape off clay chunks into
  the Clay Reclaim Buckets located under the sink. Use a sponge to clean your bucket. Rinse bucket thoroughly and return on the rack.

Clay Reclaim Buckets

• Do not throw garbage in the clay reclaim buckets. Trash bins for non-clay items are available in each classroom and labeled.
• Any clay scraps that are debris and glaze-free can be recycled in our Clay Reclaim buckets (under the sink in B40, under the wedging table in B30).

Storage

• Label all your work with your name and date.
• Clay bag storage is available in B40.
• Any works in progress can be stored on the shelves labeled “Open Studio” or under your class instructor’s name.

Glazing

• Do not glaze the bottom of your work.
• Only underglazes can be used on the bottom.
• Use wax to cover the bottom of your bisqueware prior to dunking in glaze.
• Use a sponge to remove glaze residue at the bottom of your greenware or bisqueware.
• See Glazing Guidelines poster for more info.
• Outside glazes are allowed but must be approved by an OS Supervisor/Instructor.

Kiln Firing Schedule

• Kilns are fired when completely full. Expect 2-3 weeks for your work to be fired.
• Kilns are loaded Fridays, Saturdays, and unloaded Tuesdays.
• During busy weeks, we will fire as needed.
• Wide plates, platters and tall forms take up a lot of space and require more time for firing
  as we make space available.
• Special Requests: Leave a blue Kiln Fairy note (located in the Kiln Room) on top of your work. Subject to approval, must be discussed with OS Supervisor/Instructor first.

Work Pick-up

• All glazed pieces will be in B30 for pick up during Open Studio hours.
• Do not pick up work that is not yours. Always check the bottom to confirm it is yours.
• Ask the Supervisor/Instructor if you need help locating your work.
• All pieces will have the date they are removed from the kiln written on the bottom. Pieces not collected within 30 days of the date are considered abandoned and may be discarded.

Questions about the Ceramics Studio?

Please contact Julio Badel, Arts Education & Outreach Supervisor, at 503-615-3483.

View the Ceramic Studio Guidelines PDF

The Walters Cultural Arts Center is the premier arts center in Hillsboro and houses a 200 hundred seat theater, gallery, and four classrooms, including a ceramic wheel room, and outdoor areas. We offer classes for children and adults, as well as family classes in a wide range of mediums.

If you are interested in teaching at the Walters, please submit a Teaching Artist Interest Form as well as Class Proposals Form for each class. Interest and submissions are accepted throughout the year and reviewed on an ongoing basis. If there is mutual interest, we will follow up with an interview. Most of our teaching artists are independent contractors, but background checks are required.

If you have any questions, please contact Julio.Badel@Hillsboro-Oregon.gov.