Arts In Common non-profit awarded $50,000 Grant to Support Walley School Transformation into a Center for Arts and Culture

FUNDS FROM RI STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS TO BE USED TO KICKSTART RENOVATION OF DECOMISSIONED SCHOOL ON BRISTOL TOWN COMMONS 
BRISTOL, RI – January 19, 2017 In a media event today held at Linden Place, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts’ Executive Director Randall Rosenbaum awarded Bristol-based Arts in Common a $50,000 grant to support the organization’s proposal to transform the decommissioned Walley School into a center for arts and culture. 
A collaboration between local artists and arts organizations, the town of Bristol, Roger Williams University (RWU), and community members, Arts in Common embraces and supports the shared goal to stimulate, make accessible, and sustain arts activities and organizations that promote educational, economic, and cultural growth. 
Accepting the award for Arts in Common was Chairman Michael Rich, accompanied by Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente. “We’re excited for the vote of confidence and support of the Rhode Island Council on the Arts of this effort to help fund a truly collaborative space for arts and culture,” said Mr. Rich. 
He added, “We at Arts in Common believe that art has the power to transform lives and transform communities for the better. A revitalized and repurposed Walley School that integrates artists and arts organizations, students, and members of the community will serve Bristol’s residents, increase collaboration between local organizations, generate economic activity, and foster appreciation of local historic and cultural assets.” Mr. Rich is also a professor and serves as program director of Visual Arts at RWU. 
“Our plan to transform Walley uniquely brings together public and private resources to create a dynamic new model for scalable, sustainable adaptive reuse of this cornerstone landmark on Bristol Town Commons,” said architect and Bristol resident Craig Fisher, Vice Chair of Arts in Common. Mr. Fisher and and local architect John Lusk are leading the Walley Transfomation initiative. 
“Roger Williams University is delighted about the possibility of being an anchor tenant for a portion of the building. Doing so not only provides RWU students in visual arts a richer academic experience via access to local artists and cultural professionals but also supports this important local initiative and helps further community engagement,” said Andrew Workman, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at RWU.