FirstWorks Annual Report 2022-23

Annual Report 2022-23

Ukrainian folk sensation DakhaBrakha joined audiences at The Strand in August 2022.

Photo by Erin X. Smithers

100+

50+

CREATIVES EMPLOYED

FIRSTWORKS EVENTS

In 2022-23, FirstWorks continued its mission to enrich the social, educational, and economic fabric of Rhode Island by engaging diverse audiences with

Why didn’t I receive FirstWorks’ Annual Report in the mail this year?

world-class performing arts experiences.

volume of direct mail that we gen-

As we work on the next Strategic Plan, we are reflecting on our organizational values. Exemplifying our EarthWorks initiatives, we are being intentional about the erate. While you can still expect to receive mail from FirstWorks, we are working to reduce our overall environmental impact.

2022-23 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Revenue

17%

FirstWorks’ 2022-23 season inspired: 83%

• First-time investments from Papitto

$1,283,718

Support & Contributions

$1,066,484

Earned Income

$217,234

Opportunity Connection, Rhode Island Energy, and Walmart Foundation.

• Renewed contributions from Rhode Island Commerce, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Rhode Island Foundation, and many others.

For Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2022, pre-audit.

Expenses

9% 35%

56%

$1,277,782

Program Services

$715,039

Administration, Marketing & Operations

$441,710

Institutional Advancement & Fundraising

$121,033

GIFTED TICKETS

As a leading cultural partner...

FirstWorks is transforming the lives of Rhode Islanders through performing arts experiences.

Summer Beats Returns Since 2020, FirstWorks has offered free Summer Beats concerts in partnership with Roger Williams Park Conservancy. The 2022 series—featuring concerts spanning AfroRican jazz, hip-hop, and Ukrainian roots music— brought 1,200+ multi-generational attendees together, providing community gathering opportunities for healing through the arts.

Especially well-known for his appearance on Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow­, Rhode Island native rapper and produer FLAWLESS returned to his hometown for an energizing performance at the Roger Williams Park Bandstand, followed by an inspiring workshop for 200+ Providence youth at his alma mater, Mount Pleasant High School.

EXPERIENCE

500+

FirstWorks once again brought Ukrainian folk band DAKHA BRAKHA to Rhode Island, while re-invigorating a relationship with The Strand Ballroom & Theatre downtown. Funds raised through pay-what-you-choose ticketing supported relief efforts in Ukraine. An audience of more than 500+ gathered for this moving performance.

WILLIAM CEPEDA and his band collaborated

with local activist/dancer Lydia Perez in a spirited and utterly danceable performance at the historic Roger Williams Park Bandstand.

Prior to the show, the artists engaged 70+ youth and their families in a music-making workshop.

OPPOSITE : From Roger Williams Park to

ABOVE : Lydia Perez, founder and

the BankNewport City Center, FirstWorks created arts experiences for all.

artistic director of the Puerto Rican Institute of Arts and Advocacy, Inc engages FirstWorks audiences.

COLLABORATION

Creating platforms for dialogue FirstWorks residencies invite world-class artists to engage in creative partnerships with Rhode Island communities through performances, workshops, and conversations.

What Problem?

FirstWorks welcomed BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY to Rhode Island for a robust residency that culminated in the performance of “What Problem?” for 1,000+ attendees in the historic VETS Auditorium in downtown Providence. Co-produced with Brown Arts Institute, the constellation of residency events included engaging 26 local Community Participants selected to perform alongside the company.

The Telling In September 2022, renowned Haitian American composer, violinist, and activist DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN premiered “The Telling” at WaterFire Arts Center. The performance was the finale of a long-arc collaboration with FirstWorks, beginning in January 2022 with “The Seeing” film exhibition. The new collection of original live works, featuring 12 artistic collaborators, is a cry for racial justice. FirstWorks connected with audiences in a post-performance Town Hall conversation and reached local students with a multi-faceted workshop.

TOP: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company members perform onstage at The VETS. BOTTOM: Scenes from

“The Telling” performance and Town Hall conversation.

‘What Problem’ was truly magnificent— perhaps the best performing arts experience I’ve ever had. I was brought to tears on several occasions. The combination of spoken word storytelling, talented dancers, and singers/ music was incredible.

—Sophia Mackenzie, RI Humanities Associate Director of Development

Integrating the arts in education FirstWorks engaged more than 2,000 youth in arts-integrated experiences during the 2022-23 academic year.

Montréal’s Le Patin Libre

This inaugural, immersive five-week experience connected students from Pawtucket, RI with professional artists to explore creation, self-expression and arts careers.

The contemporary ice-dancing company empowered Providence middle school students by giving them the confidence to skate for the first time ever. By the end of the workshop, students were skating backwards!

Youth Board FirstWorks’ inaugural Youth Board consists of high school students representing communities across Rhode Island. Meeting quarterly to review and provide feedback on our artist-educator program, workshops, curricular themes, curation, and other initiatives, this stipend program also provides exposure to careers in non-profit arts.

RIGHT: Students share

artwork made during FirstWorks’ Arts Education engagement.

The Wondertwins Award-winning dancing twins Billy and Bobby McClain conducted an interactive workshop and matinee performances to K-12 students, prompting one participant to offer thanks: “for teaching me how to have more spirit in my dance moves than shyness.”

LEARNING

Summer Arts Camp

ou can make the arts available to all! Your generous support helps enrich the lives of students, strengthen the cultural fabric of our community, and create opportunities for artists. Thank you!

SAVE

To see a full list of our current supporters, please visit our website.

THE DATE 20TH

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Staff Kathleen Pletcher

Executive Artistic Director

Marissa Hutton

Managing Director

Suzanne Kim

Program Director

Sam Zimmer

Interim Education Director

Meredith Cutler

Marketing Manager

Abigail Comtois

Development Director

Kim Najjar

Development Associate

Board of Trustees Vanessa Villon

Fundraising Operations Assistant

Mary Gagnon and Tara Feury

Vitalo-Gagnon, Fiscal Management

Catherine Terry Taylor President

J. Richard Ratcliffe Vice President

Tomás Ávila

Board Advisors Nicole Chakraborty

Dr. Robert J. Allio

Brendan Chipley Roane

Deming E. Sherman

Wendy Kagan Siu-Li Khoe

Vice President

Nirva LaFortune

Karen E. Silva

Frederick K. Butler

H. Jack Martin

Honorary Trustees

Secretary

Sydney Skybetter

Alan Chille

Kevin S. Hundley Treasurer

Melissa Snape Wisniewski

Jorge Cardenas

Kathleen Pletcher

Isabelle Tadmoury

Ex Officio

Kyle Adamonis Akanksha Aga

Evan Villari Grafton “Cap” Willey IV

235 Promenade Street, Suite 130 Providence, RI 02908

firstworks.org

Chair Emeritus

PHOTOGRAPHY BY : Erin X. Smithers, Jared Jorge, and the FirstWorks Team

Founding Board Member (in Memoriam)