S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
RHODE ISLAND
FOCUS ON RHODE ISLAND
The Basin, downtown Providence, RI. Photo: PWCVB/Nicholas Millard.
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hode Island knows how to make a name for itself. Scattered around the state are eclectic galleries and historical sites, famed arts festivals and diverse townscapes, each one fondly contributing to Rhode Island’s budding reputation as a preeminent arts and culture destination. On December 1, 2013, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to stop collecting sales tax on original and limited edition, locally made art. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed was at the forefront of establishing this incentive, and in branding Rhode Island with the fitting nickname, “State of the Arts.” Fine art created in the
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Art New England
May/June 2014
state, including books, plays, musical compositions, paintings, prints, photography, sculptures, jewelry and ceramics, are now exempt from sales tax. The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts has been hard at work with the State Division of Taxation, tourism agencies, chambers of commerce, and local governments to ensure artists can use the new tax incentive to promote and sell their work and build Rhode Island’s creative economy. In 2013, the Arts Council awarded more than $1 million dollars in grants to schools, community centers and artists doing community based arts programming throughout the state. The
smallest state in the nation is known for having the largest number of artists per capita, and the Arts Council helps build a vibrant cultural life for Rhode Islanders. With so much for a visitor to explore, where do you start? Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to provide expert advice on how to make the most of your stay in the Providence area. Stop by a Visitor Information Center at the Rhode Island Convention Center or nearby GTECH Center and hear what they have to say about where to eat in the #1 Place for Food in the U.S. (Travel + Leisure 2012 Poll) or what’s hot on the scene in the Arts and