About Rhode Island Expansion Arts Program
Supported by a collaboration between Rhode Island Foundation, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), and Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (RICH), the Rhode Island Expansion Arts Program (RIEAP) offers funding and organizational assistance to community-based, culturally diverse arts and cultural organizations.
It supports small organizations whose programs and missions center on the cultural practices and traditions of Rhode Island’s diverse peoples. RIEAP provides the skills and tools these organizations need to grow as equal partners in the Rhode Island arts and cultural community. Priority is given to newly-emerging groups and those with little history of grant funding. In seeking to build the capacity of these organizations, RIEAP recognizes the broader role they play in strengthening their communities including cultural preservation, education, and youth development.
Funding from RIEAP focuses on developing resilient organizations, including governance, financial management, fundraising, marketing and audience development, documentation and evaluation, youth development, and strategic collaborations and partnerships. Funding also fosters greater connection across the arts and humanities and provides leadership and professional development for a broader network of RIEAP-eligible arts and cultural organizations.
2023 – 2025 Cohort
Andean Cultural Center of Rhode Island
Preserving the Andean cultures, particularly the Quechua and Aymara cultures: the Quechua and Aymara cultures are an integral part of the Andean cultural heritage.
Our mission is to inspire curiosity for learning and to nurture the next generation of world citizens, embracing diversity with health-conscious lifestyles.
Our vision is to honor, celebrate, and enhance our connectedness as humans through music by fostering deep connections with and between various rich Indigenous musical cultures in Rhode Island, especially those of African refugees and immigrants.
Raíces Rhode Island Folk & Cultural Association
The mission of our organization: “Keep alive the customs, traditions and the cultural and folkloric legacy of our ancestors in the new generations; through Colombian folk dance, to the children, youth and adults of the state of Rhode Island.”
Rhode Island Black Film Festival
The Rhode Island Black Film Festival is among those who give a voice and platform to filmmakers, especially those filmmakers of color. The RIBFF exists to inspire audiences with thought provoking cinematic stories from visionary talents in independent filmmaking, to provide a platform for emerging artists to advance their craft, engage the community and promote the industry leaders.
2026-2028 Rhode Island Expansion Arts Cohort - This application is currently closed. The next deadline will be in 2026
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Rhode Island Foundation, RISCA, and RICH select four organizations to participate in the three-year Program which includes:
· $10,000 grant each year for three years to each organization
· Participation in four to six capacity building workshops
· Access to professional consultants
· One-on-one consultation with an experienced arts and culture administrator
· Scholarships to attend regional and national conferences
· Opportunities for seed grants supporting such areas as youth development and intercultural collaborations
· Convenings with RIEAP alumni that include national keynote speakers such as María López De León and Carlton Turner
Organizations that are eligible to apply:
· Small organizations whose programs and missions center on the cultural practices and traditions of Rhode Island’s diverse peoples
· Organizations that reflect and engage the people and experiences of racially diverse communities in our state
General Questions:
About the RI Expansion Arts Program and the RIEAP Emergency Relief Fund, please contact:
Elena Calderón Patiño, Director Arts & Cultural Sustainability Program, RI State Council on the Arts | Elena.Patino@arts.ri.gov | 401.222.6996
Note: All applications must be submitted online through the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities’ grants portal.
RHODE ISLAND EXPANSION ARTS PROGRAM WEBSITE https://rhodeislandexpansionartsprogram.org/
For more information about upcoming events, please subscribe to the Rhode Island Expansion Arts Program newsletter.
THIS APPLICATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.
THE NEXT DEADLINE WILL BE IN 2026.
“I believe all peoples possess innate knowledge and a generous spirit that guides each of us to find our purpose and place in the world.”
Maria LopeZ De Leon | President and CEO of National AssOCIATION OF LATINO ARTS AND CULTURES
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