Department Of Art, Culture + Tourism, LISC, and AS220 Selected as ArtPlace America Grant Finalists
ArtPlace America has announced that the City of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture + Tourism in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is a finalist in the 2015 grant cycle. AS220 is also one of the 90 finalists among 1,283 applications.
The City’s Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and LISC’s proposed project ‘Illuminating Trinity’ will engage the community and build upon transit oriented development in Trinity Square to re-envision and improve the design of the square.
“I am thrilled that Providence is a finalist in this prestigious grant competition,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “Providence is the Creative Capital, and the arts and culture must be integrated into everything we do in our City.”
“We are honored to be named an ArtPlace finalist,” said Jeanne Cola, executive director, LISC. “Creative placemaking is a tool in that transformation, lifting neighborhoods up with artwork as well as investments in artist housing, galleries and theaters. Most importantly arts and culture are powerful forces that help shape a neighborhood’s narrative — telling the story of what kind of place it is, changing its reputation and its trajectory.”
AS220’s proposal ‘The Interactive Center of Creativity’ will house a visitor center and convening space dedicated to promoting art and culture in Rhode Island, coupled with a retail gallery showcasing the rich cache of industrial and folk / traditional artists throughout the state. Recognizing that art and culture are significant economic drivers in the state, the ICC will help to grow and sustain these assets by increasing visibility and access to artists and makers currently spread across the state. The ICC will be located on the Washington Street Cultural Corridor, complementing the efforts of the City to create a focused cultural zone in downtown.
“We’re very excited to be ArtPlace finalists, along with the City,” said Umberto Crenca, Artistic Director and Founder of AS220. “Realizing The Interactive Center of Creativity will culminate 30 years of efforts by AS220, the City of Providence, its artists, and diverse cultural institutions, to help revitalize downtown Providence by providing the opportunity to promote what has become Providence’s most powerful resource: arts and culture.”
This year’s ArtPlace project finalists represent communities of all sizes from across the country. ArtPlace’s grantees will be announced in June. For more information about ArtPlace America and the other finalists visit ArtPlaceAmerica.org.