About
AFRI Conversations are free, in-person events centered around topics like grant-making, general funding, and creative practices in Rhode Island. No prior experience with grants or the arts needed. Come by, listen, learn, and meet people in town doing cool stuff.
When and Where
Special Guests
For our first talk, we’re thrilled to present a conversation between Deidra Montgomery, co-founder of Congruence Cultural Strategies and Mollie Flanagan, Artist Programs Director at the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts (RISCA).
Contact / Help Out!
+ Questions? rhodeisland@awesomefoundation.org.
+ Learn more about AFRI at awesomeisland.org.
+ Download the flyer and images for social here
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Deidra Montgomery
Special Guest
Deidra (they/she) is a queer Black consultant, sound artist, facilitator, and coach supporting individuals, groups, organizations, and projects that seek to make the world more joyful and just. In 2024, Deidra co-founded Congruence Cultural Strategies, a cooperatively owned and operated consulting business that works with values-driven partners in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and government sectors on strategy, research, and facilitation. Deidra plays trombone in Undertow Brass Band and is a trustee of the Rhode Island chapter of the Awesome Foundation. She holds a Master's in Arts Administration from Goucher College and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Amherst College.
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Mollie Flanagan
Special Guest
Mollie Flanagan (she/her) is the Artist Programs Director at RISCA. She manages and oversees the agency’s support for artists, including grants, programs, and services. After a decade-long career as a lighting designer, stage manager, and production manager for a wide variety of performing arts, Mollie went to grad school for arts entrepreneurship and management. During grad school, she discovered a love for artist services – supporting individual artists in making art and making a living. She joined the RISCA staff in February 2017, and currently lives by the river in Central Falls. She is now a hobby crafter – knitting, crocheting, and making things out of cement (small planters, mostly).
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Ben Sisto
AFRI, Organizer
Ben Sisto (he/him) is an artist, father, and community organizer living in Wayland Square. Since the early 2000s he has been involved with over 2,000 public events, created residency programs for artists and researchers, produced a documentary that opened at SXSW and a related episode of the 99% Invisible podcast, and presently oversees the Rhode Island chapter of Awesome Foundation. He has received grants from the Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism, Rhode Island Humanities, and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts in support of a wide range of projects related to archives, public education, and increasing access to the arts.
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This will be a super fun talk—informal but informative. Doors open at 12:00 PM and the conversation itself will start at about 12:20. Come with questions, and stay after the talk to network one-on-one. No RSVP required; seating is first come, first served.
Don’t forget to check out the main Awesome Foundation Rhode Island page to learn more about our monthly grant cycle.