State Announces $3.46 Million in Capital Grants for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Public Historic Sites

Published on Tuesday, January 11, 2022

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) jointly announced today the recipients of 24 State Cultural Facilities Grants and 18 State Preservation Grants. Together, the projects represent some $2.28 million from RISCA and more than $1.18 million from RIHPHC for capital preservation work at public and nonprofit arts and performance facilities, museums, cultural arts centers and historic sites throughout the state.

“Rhode Island is rich in history, arts, and culture, which play a significant role in our economy in every city and town,” said Governor McKee. “Through this funding, our state will continue to be a leader nationally in historic preservation, and arts and culture. On behalf of the State of Rhode Island, our congratulations to these organizations, and thank you to RISCA and RIHPHC for their work to improve the quality of life in our State.”

“Rhode Island is recognized nationally as a leader in historic preservation and the arts,” said Jeffrey Emidy, Interim Executive Director of the RIHPHC. “These state grants are investments that build on our strengths.”

“Rhode Islanders recognized the significance of these investments in their community and their importance to our state’s economy,” said Faye Zuckerman, RISCA’s Director of Communication. “Our museums, cultural arts centers and performance spaces, which are open to the public, will receive the capital improvements they badly need.”

In March 2021, Rhode Island voters passed the Cultural Arts and State Preservation Grants Programs ballot measure, which authorized the state to allocate $7 million in funding for arts, culture and historic facilities. Of the $7 million, $2 million was appropriated to RISCA for competitive grants while $1 million went to RIHPHC to fund grants for capital improvements to key historic facilities. Carryover funds from the 2014 $30 million ballot measure totaling $460,930 were included in the grants being distributed. Both programs require grantees to secure matching funds for their projects.

Some examples of the 42 projects include:

  • Teatro ECAS, Rhode Island’s only Spanish-language theatre, will renovate a new performance space in the Valley Arts District of Providence. $204,420.
  • The City of Central Falls will complete critical structural repairs to Cogswell Tower, built in 1904, located in historic Jenks Park. $150,000.
  • Historic New England will replace the roof and gutter system of the circa 1796 barn at Watson Farm in Jamestown. The barn is a rare 18th century structure still in use for farm activities, and also provides space for programming and farm tours. $69,000.
  • The East Providence Historical Society will install storm windows and complete exterior repairs at the John Hunt House Museum and Education Center in Rumford. Built in 1751, the house contains local history exhibits, an education center, library and meeting space. $26,865.
  • Exeter-based Tomaquag Museum will build a new campus in a partnership with the University of Rhode Island. The new facility will increase the Museum’s capacity and visibility. $250,000.
  • The Artists’ Exchange, located in Cranston, will renovate its lower-level multipurpose room. This project will ensure code and safety compliance while expanding programming space. $40,000.

List of Grantees

ORGANIZATION NAME

LOCATION

AWARD

GRANT NAME

Herreshoff Marine Museum

Bristol

$112,000

State Preservation Grant

Linden Place

Bristol

$28,200

State Preservation Grant

City of Central Falls

Central Falls

$150,000

State Preservation Grant

Artists' Exchange

Cranston

$40,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Historic Metcalf-Franklin Farm Preservation Association

Cumberland

$75,000

State Preservation Grant

Cape Verdean Museum

East Providence

$100,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

East Providence Historical Society

East Providence

$26,865

State Preservation Grant

Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum

Exeter

$250,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Foster Preservation Society

Foster

$11,900

State Preservation Grant

Historic New England

Jamestown

$69,000

State Preservation Grant

South County Art Association

Kingston

$128,535

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Newport Art Museum and Art Association

Newport

$18,700

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Island Moving Co.

Newport

$250,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Newport Performing Arts Center

Newport

$50,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

La Farge Restoration Fund

Newport

$94,109

State Cultural Facilities Grant

La Farge Restoration Fund

Newport

$150,000

State Preservation Grant

Fort Adams Trust

Newport

$122,500

State Preservation Grant

Preservation Society of Newport County

Newport

$74,250

State Preservation Grant

Newport Restoration Foundation

Newport

$30,000

State Preservation Grant

Pawtucket Public Library

Pawtucket

$58,100

State Preservation Grant

Teatro ECAS

Providence

$204,429

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Providence Performing Arts Center

Providence

$100,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Rhode Island School of Design Museum

Providence

$45,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Festival Ballet Providence

Providence

$13,820

State Cultural Facilities Grant

DownCity Design

Providence

$100,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

The Steel Yard

Providence

$36,400

State Preservation Grant

The Steel Yard

Providence

$53,178

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Dirt Palace Public Projects

Providence

$49,880

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Community MusicWorks

Providence

$84,275

State Cultural Facilities Grant

The Players

Providence

$90,500

State Cultural Facilities Grant

AS220

Providence

$61,976

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Wilbury Theatre Group

Providence

$56,079

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Oasis International

Providence

$150,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Museum of Natural History and Planetarium

Providence

$88,500

State Preservation Grant

Rhode Island Historical Society

Providence

$48,000

State Preservation Grant

Scituate Historical Society

Scituate

$9,900

State Preservation Grant

South County History Center

South Kingstown

$42,075

State Preservation Grant

Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre

Warwick

$128,327

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum

Warwick

$50,000

State Preservation Grant

Stadium Theatre Foundation

Woonsocket

$73,133

State Cultural Facilities Grant

Beacon Charter Schools Corp.

Woonsocket

$95,000

State Cultural Facilities Grant

RiverzEdge Arts Project

Woonsocket

$41,300

State Cultural Facilities Grant

TOTAL

 

$3,460,931