Building AS220 – Insight into the Providence Arts Organization

Over 500 people sat in the bleachers at Trinity Repertory Company’s main stage, as AS220 founder Bert Crenca explained, “Every time I go somewhere, somebody asks, ‘What the heck is AS220?’ Probably not anyone in this room. But it shows that we still have a lot of awareness to raise.”

The event Monday night was a recognition of 29 years (roughly, and counting) since the creation of the Art Space (or Alternative Space), once found at 220 Weybosset St.

It was an unusual sort of a show – an odd, unconventional combination of presentation types. At times, it felt like you were crashing an annual trustees meeting (an idea ). At other moments, the event had a soft-sell fundraising vibe. And then there were interludes of musical and spoken word performance. And a slide show of kittens playing with Ipads.

The stated theme of “past, present and future” acted as a throughline, apparent throughout the evening. The speakers sat in a semi-circle on the stage and took turns describing the evolution, state, and future goals of their part of AS220. One of the surprises of the evening was just how many people were on that stage – the diversity of programs at AS220 is pretty remarkable. Beyond the fairly well-known performance spaces, bar and eatery, lie an astonishing number of labs and workshops, laser cutters, print-making facilities, video production services, darkrooms, 3D printers, youth programs, artist residencies, technology classes, drawing sessions –  the list goes on and on. Encompassing all of these programs and arts has helped AS220 grow to over 60 employees and an annual budget of over $4 million.

Interesting informational tidbits were sprinkled throughout the evening – from the high-school student whose wall doodles have inspired the commission of creative street signs by the city of Providence, to the anticipated dip in funding in the next couple of years, to the stat that about 85% of the funding that keeps the organization running comes in the form of payment for services (from individuals and organizations).

The history of the organization was presented by Crenca, who began with an $800 investment. There were short talks by program leaders, by technology (Jonathan Murphy) and finance (Aaron Peterman), including some hardcore charts for the data nerd. Food presenter Sarah Quenon discussed concentric sourcing practices (basically, start looking for needed culinary supplies close to home, then work outward). The event also featured a spirited performance by in-house musical youth group Zukrewe and intense spoken word performances by Jared Paul, Christopher Johnson and Sussy Santana.

The evening was followed by food and cocktails at AS220’s 115 Empire St. space, when many local arts leaders were spotted exchanging thoughts on Rhode Island’s creative economy, its past, present and future.