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
DONATE
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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)