Pell Lecture 2026 Recap: The Artist & The Revolution
On April 22, 2026 ACT hosted its annual Pell Lecture on the Arts & Humanities event. The 2026 theme was “The Artist and the Revolution,” which featured a keynote address from National Book Award longlisted poet, writer and former political strategist Camonghne Felix, author of Let The Poets Govern: A Declaration of Freedom. The address was an examination of language; an indictment of its potential to oppress; and an invitation to imagine new possibilities.
The event, held at The Pavilion at Grace at 300 Westminster Street, started with an invitation for attendees to engage with a poetry installation by Sussy Santana called “Let Us Name Freedom.” Guests got to reflect on what they imagine freedom to be. The program then began with a vibrant performance by drum group Yoruba 2, accompanied by Lydia Perez’s powerhouse vocals and dynamic dancing. After the call to audience by Yoruba 2, poet Justice Ameer, one of ACT’s new writing scholarship recipients, delivered a poetic invocation and reading of two poems “The Color of Burning” and “Imports.” ACT Director Joe Wilson Jr. then welcomed the audience, providing background context for the ACT Pell Lecture Series then introduced Mayor Brett P. Smiley. Mayor Smiley delivered welcoming remarks to attendees, also reflecting on the dynamic scope of the event and its featured artists. ACT Special Projects Manager Charlotte Abotsi introduced the keynote of the evening, highlighting the role of artists in changemaking capacities. After the keynote address, ACT Deputy Director Rebecca Noon introduced the Community Responders, which featured community reflections from City of Providence Chief of Staff Emily Ward Crowell, youth leaders from the Providence Student Union, and Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading co-director Kai Cameron. After the community responses, Rebecca Noon invited up April Brown, co-director of the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading to lead a post-keynote author conversation and Q&A with Camonghne Felix. The night ended how it began–with the invitation for guests to “name freedom,” and Sussy Santana and Wendy Grossman shared the community poem written by guests who imagined what freedom looks like to them.
ACT wishes to thank Elite Systems Management for providing tech, The Pavilion at Grace for hosting the event and Suya Joint for providing dinner for attendees. Special acknowledgments to Ruchika Nambiar for designing digital and printed takeaways for the event this year.
Photographer Dominique Sindayiganza documented the evening with photographs.
