Arts Council Gives $50,000 for Building Rehab

BRISTOL, RI ­­—The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is awarding a $50,000 grant to Arts in Common, a new nonprofit that plans to renovate the long-vacant Walley School into an arts and cultural hub on the historic Town Common.

According to Roger Williams University, the school is a partner in the project and plans to be the anchor tenant in the renovated building, which will provide public gallery space, shared office space for local cultural groups and a home for Arts in Common. RWU plans to use one floor for academic programming and community engagement activities.

"The goal is to revive a historic, 19th-century school building located on the Town Common and demonstrate to Bristol residents the power of the arts to revitalize the social and civic life of the town common," according to the press release.

“Roger Williams University is delighted about the possibility of being an anchor tenant for a portion of the building,” RWU Provost Andrew Workman said. “Doing so not only provides RWU students in visual arts a richer academic experience via access to local artists and cultural professionals but also supports this important local initiative and helps further community engagement.”

Arts in Common is a collaboration between local artists and arts organizations, the town of Bristol, RWU and community members. It embraces and supports the shared goal to stimulate, make accessible and sustain arts activities and organizations that promote educational, economic and cultural growth, the school said.

For more details about Arts In Common, contact Michael Rich at (508) 280-6303. For additional information about the Walley Transformation, contact Craig Fisher at (401) 396-5003.