East Providence Arts Council and City to host Community Design Workshop

Sign up for the Community Painting - Asphalt Art - HERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2022

CONTACT INFO. :

EP Arts Council                                                                                   Office of the Mayor

Jennifer Cahoon                                                                                  Patricia Resende

epartscouncil@gmail.com                                                                   presende@eastprovidenceri.gov

East Providence Arts Council and City to host Community Design Workshop

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI –The East Providence Arts Council, together with the City of East Providence and Artist Anna Dugan, are seeking community input during a design workshop on a street mural being created this fall, thanks to a Bloomberg Philanthropies grant.  

The City and Arts Council are asking the community to save the date for Thursday, May 26, 2022 from  4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. , for the Bloomberg Asphalt Art community Design Workshop being held at Agnes B. Hennessey School located at 75 Fort St.in East Providence.

The project team, together with community participation, will be installing street surface murals in the vicinity of Agnes B. Hennessey Elementary School and the Pierce Memorial Field Complex in September 2022.

Funded by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative grant, the purpose of the project is to improve pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the school and enhance connectivity between the school and Pierce Field. The project will include the installation of intersection and crosswalk murals, as well as other site enhancements

East Providence was one of only 26 cities nationwide to be awarded the grant, which is focused on revitalization, community beautification, and enhancing safety in busy city locations. The asphalt art will be painted in the vicinity of Hennessey School and the Pierce Athletic Complex this summer.

The selected artist is Anna Dugan, from Salem, Mass. She has extensive experience with this type of mural work and involving community members in the installation. The Arts Council and City are very excited to have her on board. The community may view her website here: https://www.annadidathing.com

“One of the most common requests EPAC gets is to spearhead public art projects that allow for community participation – especially those that allow for the participation of children,” said East Providence Arts Council Chairwoman Jennifer Gillooly. “Being able to partner with the City, the school community, and local residents on this is exciting!

“I’m so grateful to the East Providence Planning and Economic Department for taking a lead on writing this grant, and for doing such a tremendous job,” Gillooly added.

“This community collaboration with the Arts Council is what will put East Providence on the creative map,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “We are excited to hear from the community and even more excited to see Ms. Dugan’s creative work.”