Pawtucket Awards Arts Grants To Support Free Programming

PAWTUCKET, RI — The city has announced its latest Arts Panel Program grant recipients, and 11 local artists and arts organizations were awarded funds.

The grants help ensure that artistic experiences are available to a diverse range of residents and visitors, Mayor Donald Grebien said in a news release. The money will support free and low-cost events in September during the Pawtucket Arts Festival.

“We all know how important the arts are to our community,” said Grebien. “By assisting our arts organizations and artists, we bring quality artistic programming here which, in turn, impacts our community in a positive way by creating jobs and increasing business.”

Eleven artist and art groups received arts panel grants up to $1,000:

• Aurea Ensemble
• The Empowerment Factory
• Charles Chachi Carvalho for Culture Shock Virtual 2021
• Festival Ballet Providence
• Pawtucket Film Festival
• Downtown Live
• The Pawtucket Foundation for a downtown arts exhibit
• Robert East for a photo exhibit
• Shri Service Corps for a mural
• Julianna Sabo de Figueroa for a flute recital
• Mary Lee Partington for folk music

In addition, nine organizations received funding from the city’s Arts Organization Grants program. The money can be used for operating expenses including rent, utilities, and staffing. Grants up to $ 4,000 were awarded by the AOG program to the following:

• Mixed Magic Theatre
• Burbage Theatre Company
• The Community Players
• The Empowerment Factory
• The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative
• The Rhode Island Watercolor Society
• The Art League of Rhode Island
• The Art Connection
• Shri Service Corps

“Pawtucket works hard to support its art community, and one of the most visible ways is through this art grant funding program,” said Miriam R. Plitt, chair of the Pawtucket Advisory Commission on Arts and Culture.

Officials said the commission strives to reflect the city’s identity, improve quality of life, stimulate pride, attract economic development, and engage artists and the community in the life of the city.

Grebien said Pawtucket’s arts community “has become a powerful economic engine” by filling the city’s mills and bringing people into studios, galleries, theatre spaces, music venues and restaurants.