Providence Reporter

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced its first round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2025, totaling over $36.79 million. Of this amount, $300,000 is allocated to 11 arts organizations and one artist in Rhode Island. This represents an increase from the $275,000 awarded in 2024.

The grants fall into several categories: Grants for Arts Projects, Challenge America, Research Grants in the Arts, Research Labs, and Literature Fellowships. The application deadlines for this year are February 13 and July 10.

The Rhode Island recipients include newportFILM in Newport with a grant of $10,000 to support a free summer film series on Aquidneck Island. CACD Capeverdean American Community Development of R.I. in Pawtucket also received $10,000 to fund fashion design classes for low-income teens. Artist Communities Alliance in Providence was awarded $80,000 to support a conference on emergency preparedness in the artist residency field.

Other grantees include AS220 ($20,000), DownCity Design ($35,000), New Urban Arts ($25,000), Providence Preservation Society ($15,000), Queer.Archive.Work ($15,000), RISD Museum ($30,000), Trinity Repertory Company ($25,000), and Woonasquatucket Valley Community Build/The Steel Yard ($20,000). Julia Sanches of Providence received $15,000 to assist with translating a novel by Mariana Salomão Carrara.

Governor McKee congratulated the grantees and thanked the NEA and Rhode Island's Congressional delegation for their support. "Congratulations to the 12 Rhode Island grantees," he said. "We are pleased that the NEA continues to support this community."

NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson expressed pride in supporting organizations and artists across the nation. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place,” she stated.

Each year, panels of experts review NEA applications based on published criteria before recommendations are made to the National Council on the Arts and subsequently approved by the NEA Chair.

Todd Trebour of RISCA also expressed gratitude for continued federal support. “These awards will support projects that educate our young people," he said.