Arts advocacy groups have failed to win the confidence of lawmakers on a funding plan for the 2024 legislative session. But the Rhode Island General Assembly had a gut-wrenching outcome for the arts in the form of bond issues aimed at capital improvements for three popular arts organizations.
A yes vote would provide $10 million in funding for facilities and preservation efforts, as well as a bonus to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) in the form of support for capital improvement grants.
A no vote would oppose the issuance of bonds and block spending.
Rhode Islanders have traditionally been generous with their ties to arts and culture. Voters approved funding packages for similar purposes in 2014 and 2021. The 2014 bond cost was triple the current proposal, with 60% of voters approving $30 million for nine organizations in the state. The 2021 bond was smaller at $7 million, but it was also approved by 60% of voters.
With this measure,
$2 million for the Tomaquag Museum, the state’s only Native American museum, located in Exeter. The capital improvement fund will help Tomaquagu open its new home on 18 acres of land owned by the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. The new master plan includes four buildings for the museum campus. Provides $2 million to Newport Contemporary Ballet to build an arts, dance and education center. The ballet company will purchase a new building on Broadway in Newport in 2022, which it plans to use as its center, which will house three large studios and hold more classes than its current location on Charles Street. and students. An additional $2 million will be donated to Trinity Repertory Company for various construction and expansion projects, including a 12,000-square-foot addition to the Lederer Theater Center and seating and stage changes. Replacing the elevator and consolidating office space will also be part of what Kate Liberman, Trinity’s executive director, calls “a major renovation, not just a renovation.” There was some local opposition to the proposal, primarily from local skaters whose skate park adjacent to Trinity would be affected by major renovations. The Rhode Island Arts Council will receive $4 million for a 1:1 grant match in the Cultural Arts and Economic Grants Program. Unlike the grants that RISCA gives to individual artists and groups for art production, these funds are limited to capital improvements, renovations, and preservation of nonprofit arts, culture, and performance centers and museums.
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