Economic Developments. Despite some skepticism about whether the Portland Arts District really exists, cultural spending brings 33milliontothecity(morethanmanycommunitiesmuchlargerthanPortland),employs340people,andfundsover2,000artseventsayear,morethanhalfofwhicharefree.Theaveragepersonatanartseventspends22.36 in the city, making the arts industry an economic force to be reckoned with