Report 2023-24
Many thanks to Catherine Taylor for her years of leadership!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT 2018-2024
A vibrant social tapestry has been woven between artists and over one million audience members. For two decades, we’ve brought art to theaters, schools, parks, and plazas—transforming skyscrapers into dance stages, storefronts into galleries, and a historic church into a multimedia feast for the senses and the soul.
Our belief in the power of the arts drives us to curate extraordinary experiences with courageous artists. From founding the FirstWorks Festival, now the city’s signature arts celebration, to fostering local and global collaborations and uniting students across Rhode Island, we’ve ignited lasting connections.
I’m deeply grateful to the dedicated FirstWorks team and all who have supported us from the beginning. Today, we proudly serve as a cornerstone of Rhode Island’s cultural landscape, with a clear vision to continue leading as a cultural powerhouse, fostering connection, and building community.
With heartfelt thanks,
ake a gift today to support FirstWorks’ continuing legacy of bringing one-of-a-kind programs to our community’s residents, youth, and visitors.
Many thanks to our generous supporters! While our 20th Anniversary catalyzed incredible support, we need your help to continue doing this impactful work. FirstWorks, like other arts organizations in our community and nationally, is challenged to maintain our pre-COVID level of programmatic offerings as government relief funding dwindles, ticket revenues continue to see attrition and program costs increase.
MAY
Long-time friends and supporters of FirstWorks joined celebrants in making our 20th Anniversary a night to remember! Bolstered by local talents Becky Bass and Sidy Maiga, NOCHE FLAMENCA once again transported our audience with passionate flamenco rhythms paying homage to centuries of Roma tradition and diaspora. Earlier that day, the group performed for 300 students in Central Falls as part of FirstWorks’ Arts Education program.
SEPTEMBER
FirstWorks and partners animated the streets of the Creative Capital this Fall with astonishing international and local performances, art installations, parades, artisan markets, and world-class cuisine. 2024 marked the 10th year of producing festivals in the plaza with the City of Providence.
ABOVE : Noche Flamenca onstage at The Providence G during FirstWorks’ 20th Anniversary event in May.
BELOW : At PVDFest, the electrifying all-women salsa band, Lulada Club, performs on the Main Stage; Italy’s eVenti Verticali dazzles an audience of all ages in Kennedy Plaza.
400+ PERFORMING ARTISTS 1M SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS
$3M
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
FirstWorks’ commission of new work by Boston’s MASARY STUDIOS animated the historic Grace Church campus during downtown Providence’s Three Nights of Lights celebration. The site-specific project included a new composition for an acoustic vocal ensemble, digital audio manipulation, video projection and dynamic lighting.
We live near Roger Williams Park, and events like this— which make our community feel vibrant and alive— are one of the reasons we continue to live here!”
—Attendee
“One of the most amazing and memorable sound + visual spectacles that I‘ve ever experienced.”
—Attendee
ABOVE : MASARY Studios’ Recursion and Release premieres at Grace Church.
BELOW LEFT : Dobet Gnahoré performs for crowds in July 2024 at Roger Williams Park.
JULY
In its fifth year, FirstWorks’ Summer Beats series grew to attract 2,100+ attendees ages one to one hundred. The free concerts, presented in partnership with Roger Williams Park Conservancy, featured GRAMMY Award-winning Afropop vocalist DOBET GNAHORÉ, tropical Afro-Latin combo QUITAPENAS, Salsa Dura greats LA EXCELENCIA and Cayman Islands’ SWANKY KITCHEN BAND on the first stop of their inaugural US Tour Summer Beats includes the cross-pollination of local and global artists, family-friendly workshops and participation from local businesses.
1,000 people filled the historic VETS Auditorium for a groundbreaking hip-hop take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: RENNIE HARRIS PRESENTS ROME & JEWELS. With live performance at the epicenter, major residency activities included: Artist Conversation with legendary choreographer Rennie Harris; Dance Floor Dialogues led by host Chip Douglas; Commissioned Essay by Jessica T. Pearson, Associate Professor of Dance at Rhode Island College; and in-school Arts Education workshops with Rennie Harris Puremovement company members. NOVEMBER
FirstWorks’ residency with SMALL ISLAND
BIG SONG featured renowned First Nation artists from across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Part of our ongoing EarthWorks theme, surrounding environmental stewardship, residency activities included:
• Live multimedia performance, attended by 1,000 people, at The Strand Ballroom & Theatre;
• Arts Education matinee, reaching over 800 students from ten area schools;
• Panel talk, with Brown Arts Institute, exploring climate change and artist activism.
I brought my 13-year-old to Rome & Jewels and it spurred some great conversation about hip-hop, BLM, respect for women, and much more.”
—Attendee