Four Hundred and One
Postcards for the Arts
Sat May 3, 2025
11:00 AM–4:00 PM
The Steel Yard
27 Sims Ave, PVD
The arts are central to Rhode Islanders’ quality of life. Why are they underfunded?
Arts & cultural industries contributed $1.2 Trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023, which was 4.2% of GDP! ↗ Here in Rhode Island, the arts and culture sector generated $2,568,488,000, supporting 17,424 jobs. ↗ It’s the third largest sector economically in our state, just behind retail and construction. That’s a lotta clams! But consider this: the arts are just 0.02% of our state’s $13.96 billion budget. That’s 2/100’s of 1 percent!
We can do so much better! Join us on May 3rd at The Steel Yard’s Open House (flyer) and help decorate 401 postcards in support of increased arts funding!
GOOGLE MAP ↗
EMAIL US ↗
For Our Kids and Our Health: Arts funding must stop decreasing
Arts classes increase school attendance and lower dropout rates. While standardized tests are problematic, the arts do lead to better reading and math scores, too. Don’t take our word for it, read on from The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
In the public health sector, the arts facilitate healing and reduce stress for caregiving teams. Arts participation offers a powerful antidote to social isolation—people who attend or participate in the arts are more likely to be active in their communities.
Let’s Get Into the Weeds: RISCA
RISCA is the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. In 2024, RISCA made 277 grants totaling $1,123,210 across practically all of our cities and towns. Grants to artists, small biz owners, and public schools. Grants to health clinics, social service orgs, veteran’s groups, and arts orgs.
This fiscal year, RISCA granted 15% of their grant dollars directly to artists. Only 15% you say? Well get this: nationally, state arts agencies grant 4.8% of their total grant dollars to artists. Despite RISCA’s efficiency and clear ROI, their funding has been flat for over a decade, outpaced by inflation.
“Outpaced by inflation” sounds…bad.
That’s because it is. In 2015, RISCA’s total state appropriation was $2,237,440; in 2024, it was $2,292,758. Adjusted for inflation, their FY24 appropriation is $1,771,711 in 2015 dollars, reflecting a 20.8% decrease in the past nine fiscal years. Not cool.
Did you get a grant in 2025? It’s worth less than a grant in 2010. In the Governor’s proposed 2026 budget, RISCA’s budget includes $117,000 in “indirect cost recovery” for the first time—essentially a budget cut. We can fix this!
Help Us Send a Message:
Rhode Islanders Want Increased Funding for the Arts!
Help Awesome Foundation Rhode Island and Friends decorate 401 postcards in support of increasing funding for creative projects and jobs in Rhode Island. We’ll have supplies for artists young and old, postage included. That’s right: Your art, our stamps. Help our legislators imagine what Rhode Island would be like with more art!
@ The Steel Yard
Sat May 3, 2025
11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Free, Open to All
27 Sims Ave, PVD
GOOGLE MAP ↗
EMAIL US ↗
This project is organized by Awesome Foundation Rhode Island and Friends. Awesome Foundation Rhode Island is basically a tiny giving circle, the local chapter of a much bigger effort. Read more about us here. If you’d like notifications about AFRI projects, sign up below. 401 Postcards for the Arts’ mascot is Mr. ZIP, a Public Domain character designed by Howard Wilcox for the U.S. Post Office in the 1960s.
