About This Studio

Facilitator: Robert Leaver, New Commons

Panelists:

1. Caitlin Strokosch, Executive Director, Alliance of Artists Communities

2. Louisa McCall, Consultant, LEF Foundation

Many creative individuals call Providence home.

Providence artists’ livelihood and quality of life depends on the city’s ability to thrive, as a dynamic, creative city but Providence will not be able to fully realize this goal without the support of its creative individuals (and vice versa). Individual artists and designers have diverse values and specific concerns, including workspace. As a group, they are bound together by creative practice. However, sustaining different kinds of practices requires multiple strategies. Providence’s community of individual artists, designers, and creatives are one of the city’s most valuable, yet, underutilized community-based assets. The cultural plan should address ways to sustain the community of individual artists and creatives appropriately, effectively, and fairly and establish mechanisms for these individuals to actively participate in shaping the future direction of the city.