Providence Reporter

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) is conducting a series of meetings, both in-person and online, aimed at refining its grant guidelines and application process. These sessions are designed to gather input from the public to ensure that RISCA's programs remain accessible.

Todd Trebour, Executive Director of RISCA, emphasized the importance of these sessions: “We are sending our staff on the road this fall to learn, listen and act on how our grant programs can be more accessible to Rhode Islanders as well as simplify the application process. We want our constituents to spend less time writing grant applications and more time delivering critical arts and cultural programs to their communities that bring joy, foster cohesion, and drive local economies." He added, "We look forward to hearing from you.”

The revised grant process will be introduced with new program openings expected in late winter, with an April 1 deadline for submissions. The meetings are free and open to all residents of Rhode Island.

Scheduled sessions include:

- Artist Programs: In-person meeting on Monday, Dec. 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Woonsocket Public Library; Online session on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., requiring RSVP.

- Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships and Fellowships: Online session on Thursday, Dec. 5 from noon to 1 p.m., requiring RSVP.

- Arts Education and Arts Educators: In-person meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Newport Public Library; Online session on Friday, Dec. 6 from noon to 1 p.m., requiring RSVP.

Additional in-person meeting for arts education is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Weaver Library in East Providence; followed by an online session on Thursday, Dec. 12 from noon to 1p.m., also requiring RSVP.

These initiatives reflect RISCA’s commitment towards enhancing community engagement in arts through simplified access.