Cicilline unveils plan to promote arts in Providence
2:52 PM Fri, Jun 26, 2009 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« Senate delay leaves Carcieri with one less budget option |
Main
| Humpback that washed up on R.I. beach finally buried »
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Flanked by dozens of local arts and cultural leaders, Mayor David N. Cicilline on Friday unveiled a sweeping plan designed to boost arts-related activities and investment throughout the city and to make good on Providence's bid to become a "creative capital" for the 21st century. The proposals, which include promoting Providence as an arts and cultural destination, increasing arts programming in local schools and neighborhoods and positioning the city as a leader in filmmaking and graphic design, are contained in "Creative Providence: A Cultural Plan for the Creative Sector," a 40-page report that aims to make the arts a major part of the city's future. (Copies of the report are available at www.creativeprovidence.org.) "For centuries, creative businesses and cultural institutions, together with individual artists, designers, writers and scholars, have helped shape the city economic development and quality of life," Cicilline said. "Our goal today is to provide a blueprint that insures that the city remains a vibrant cultural and creative center." While admitting that some parts of the plan may have to wait until economic conditions improve, Cicilline insisted that many of the proposals could be implemented relatively quickly and with little additional expense. "Granted, these are difficult economic times, but that only makes the kind of innovative programs and initiatives we're proposing even more important," he said. Highlights of the "Creative Providence" plan include: strengthening ties between the city's Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism and the Department of Planning and Development; creating a Downtown Cultural Authority to help market downtown-based arts and cultural activities; establishing a network of neighborhood cultural centers; increasing arts and cultural education in local schools; and working with local arts organizations to secure funding from public and private donors. Cicilline said that some proposals, including using money from the federal stimulus program to create an arts-related summer job program for city youths, would be implemented immediately. Others, such as plans to revive the city's long-dormant one-percent-for-art statute for municipal building projects, would take longer to put into effect. Overall, the plan, which took nearly two years to complete, is intended provide a cultural blueprint for the city over the next decade. 
|
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
Leave a comment
Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.