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Monday, March 31, 2025

The Ely Fund Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative

The Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism in collaboration with the Providence Parks Department and the Partnership for Providence Parks support events that celebrate the art and cultural heritage of Providence’s diverse neighborhoods

The 2025 application is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted applications to be part of this year’s Ely series. Our panelists are now reviewing the applications and will make decisions by May 1.

Curious about past events? Download the 2024 performance flyer here: ElyFundArtsSeries

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Over the past 20 years, the Ely Fund Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative has lived into the dream of Providence’s first Parks Commissioner, Edward Francis Ely by enlivening our parks as sites of congregation, play, and community life through grants for artists, organizers, and neighborhood groups to produce outdoor, free summer performances in city-run Providence Parks.

Grant Description and Guidelines

Events must be between July 1 and Sept 30. All organizations that receive funding must submit a Final Report to the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism within 30 days of the close of their project or before November 30th, whichever comes first. To access the final report form, click here.

Guidelines

NEW FOR 2025! Ely Fund Projects:

  • Don’t need power from Parks
  • Don’t need production support from ACT
  • Can bring their own self-contained power and production
  • Don’t need trash removal from Parks
  • Can happen in any park at any time (given the park’s availability)
  • Once accepted, must fill out their own park permit (with support from Parks, ACT and P3 as requested)
  • Will have their park fees waived
  • Must support their event with an engagement plan
  • Can be a one-off or a series
Promotion
  • The Parks Department will promote all NPAI events. Organizations must also promote and advertise their activities through their own means. Funding recipients MUST credit the City of Providence, the Mayor, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and the Providence Parks Department
  • Schedule of events need to be finalized and communicated to ACT team by June 30th
Please Note the Following:
  • For purposes of this application the performing arts are defined as: Theater, Music, Dance, Spoken Word, and Film.
  • Please review the Final Report (at the end of the Application) to be aware of information that will be necessary to track throughout your project.

REVIEW PROCESS (BEGINNING SPRING 2025)

  • Applications are checked by ACT staff for accuracy and completeness and then prepared for review by an advisory panel.
  • Applications are sent to panelists and are read and ranked online.
  • The review panel meets to determine the final funding recommendations.
  • Funding recommendations go to ACT staff for their review and approval.
  • Notification of grant awards will be made within one month of the application deadline.
  • All awardees will be required to attend a 1:1 meeting with the Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism’s Director of Special Projects, Rebecca Noon.


APPLY HERE!