Rhode Island schools, organizations, community centers and artists were awarded $142,998 in the December 2015 round of grants from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. The Arts Council's board approved the awarding of these grants at its December meeting in Providence. These grants will go to support arts in education, community-based projects by organizations and individual artist fellowships and projects for the remainder of this fiscal year.
Statewide, 75 grants were awarded in response to 234 applications received at RISCA's October 1 deadline.
Governor Gina Raimondo applauded the recipients of these grants, saying, "Each of these grants represents an investment in jobs and the local economy through the arts. These grants support the great work our state's artists and arts educators are doing to support the Rhode Island economy and add to the cultural vitality of our state."
"We're particularly pleased with this round of grant awards," said Randall Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. "Programs in arts education and projects that support the work of artists contribute to the economy and vitality of life in communities throughout our state."
This year to date the State Arts Council has awarded 262 grants totaling $1,452,975 to non-profit organizations, schools, artists and community groups. RISCA funds are matched by businesses, individuals, and earned income. The Council receives its support through an annual appropriation from the Rhode Island General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Examples of projects supported in the current round of grants include:
A $2,000 grant to UPP (Urban Pond Procession) Arts. UPP Arts will collaborate with local artists to provide educational art workshops and public awareness events with the focus on Urban Waterways and Indigenous Culture. Final projects will be shared and celebrated at the 9th annual Urban Pond Procession which will be a fun, engaging, and informative event enriched by performing artists.
A $2,000 grant to ECAS Theatre in Providence to mount a forum-theatre production of the Brazilian play "The Fox and the Grapes" by Guilherme Figueiredo, with a cast combining bilingual and ESL high school students.
A $2,000 grant to The Community String Project, based in the East Bay. The Community String Project will continue making afterschool orchestral string music lessons available to all East Bay youth (ages 8-18), so far serving 110 children/youth during the 2015/16 academic year. 42% meet income qualifications for free instruction & subsidized instrument, removing cost as a barrier.
A $1,500 grant to artist Alfonso Acevedo from Central Falls for the program "The New Millennium Art Factory", a series of visual arts and movement classes for young people 6-18 years old at the Adams Library in Central Falls, culminating in pop-up exhibits in Blackstone Valley business districts.
For a complete list of December grant recipients, as well as a list of all grants awarded by RISCA this year, go to the Arts Council's web site at www.arts.ri.gov/grants/recent
About the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders. Visit www.arts.ri.gov for more information.