Newport preservation and cultural agencies awarded $789,559 in grants

Daily News Staff
·3 min read

Eight cultural and public sites in Newport are among multiple statewide to receive capital grants for arts, culture, heritage and public historic sites. The $3.46 million in capital funding, was announced earlier this week by Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee.

Together, 24 State Cultural Facilities grants, and 18 State Preservation grants were awarded through the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, with RISCA's portion representing $2.28 million and RIHPHC representing $1.8 million.

The Marble House mansion in Newport.
The Marble House mansion in Newport.

The Newport sites received a total of $789,559. The Island Moving Co. and Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum were the highest awarded organizations across the state and were each granted $250,000.

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“Rhode Island is rich in history, arts, and culture, which play a significant role in our economy in every city and town,” said Governor McKee. “Through this funding, our state will continue to be a leader nationally in historic preservation, and arts and culture. On behalf of the State of Rhode Island, our congratulations to these organizations, and thank you to RISCA and RIHPHC for their work to improve the quality of life in our State.”

Newport sites that received the grant funding are as follows:

  • Newport Art Museum and Art Association was granted $18,700 in state cultural facilities grants

  • Island Moving Co., was granted $250,000 in state cultural facilities grants

  • Newport Performing Arts Center was granted $50,000 in state cultural facilities grants

  • La Farge Restoration Fund was granted $94,109 in state cultural facilities grants

  • La Farge Restoration Fund was granted $150,000 in state preservation grants

  • Fort Adams Trust was granted $122,500 in state preservation grants

  • Preservation Society of Newport was granted $74,250 in state preservation grants

  • Newport Restoration Foundation was granted $30,000 in state preservation grants

“Rhode Island is recognized nationally as a leader in historic preservation and the arts,” Jeffrey Emidy, interim executive director of the RIHPHC, said in statement. “These state grants are investments that build on our strengths.”

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In March 2021, Rhode Island voters passed the Cultural Arts and State Preservation Grants Programs ballot measure, which authorized the state to allocate $7 million in funding for arts, culture and historic facilities. Of the $7 million, $2 million was appropriated to RISCA for competitive grants while $1 million went to RIHPHC to fund grants for capital improvements to key historic facilities. Carryover funds from the 2014 $30 million ballot measure totaling $460,930 were included in the grants being distributed. Both programs require grantees to secure matching funds for their projects.

“Rhode Islanders recognized the significance of these investments in their community and their importance to our state’s economy,” said Faye Zuckerman, RISCA’s director of communication. “Our museums, cultural arts centers and performance spaces, which are open to the public, will receive the capital improvements they badly need.”

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: State grants awarded to Newport cultural and preservation agencies