Rhode Island’s Arts and Culture Sector Left in Need Following Omission from New State Budget

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Funding for the arts has long faced an uphill battle throughout the country. But many Rhode Islanders feel it was quite the blow when the House Finance Committee failed to allocate any of the newly unveiled state budget towards a proposed RI Creative Futures Fund (RICFF), a fund which hopes to provide one-time grants to arts and culture nonprofits that have suffered from fiscal harm due to the pandemic.

(It’s worth noteing that the state did include a $10 million bond for Capital Projects for the Arts, but its use will be limited to construction, and not address the needs of cash-strapped nonprofits.)

According to the RI Coalition for the Arts, arts and culture organizations across the state are in need more than ever. A 2023 survey revealed slow audience return, diminished revenue return (down an average of 20%), COVID-19-related inflation (operating costs are up 38%), and high levels of pandemic-induced debt. As a result, the sector has been faced with programming cuts, staff shortages and unsustainable deficits.

For example, WaterFire Providence, one of the state’s most popular summer events, had to reduce its usual ten full lighting-schedule down to just five, with an estimated loss of $6 million in state tax revenue. Meanwhile, Trinity Rep made the difficult decision to cut its number of main stage productions from eight to six. Additional iconic Rhode Island institutions such as AS220, Providence Public Library, the Steel Yard and the RI Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School have also been forced to make steep spending cuts. Moreover, a Boston Globe article even attributed the recent closure of the Columbus Theatre in Providence to the current predicament.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis cites arts and culture as a $2.2 billion dollar sector of the state economy. Without aid, nearly 18,000 jobs and $32 million in annual state tax revenue could be at stake. And this is just the economic impact. The lack of funds also stands to negatively impact the community at large, as well, including educational programs and partnerships.

“This is an unnecessary crisis,” says David Beauchesne, Executive Director of the RI Philharmonic and spokesperson for the Coalition. “Many other states used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Cares Act money to create arts recovery funds. Massachusetts created a $60 million fund, Tennessee $80 million, and Oregon $90 million. We brought plans to the Governor and Speaker last year. We’ve reduced our ask from $18 million to $10 million. We’ve proposed different ways to fund it. We’re committed to working with the General Assembly to solve this issue this session.”

Bills H 8098 / S 2985, a.k.a. the legislation that would create the RICFF using re-allocated ARPA funds, has already garnered support from mayors and town managers across Providence, East Providence, Pawtucket and Westerly. Likewise, the public has made their opinions on the matter known through thousands of supportive phone calls, letters and emails to state leaders, plus a large rally outside the statehouse on May 28. If you are also interested in supporting the bills, you can check out the outreach campaign/petition here.