Rhode Island: Creative Economy Charrette

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee and the state’s Senate president and speaker of the House joined the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) and other partners to convene last month at the Rhode Island Arts Charrette, with a focus on economic development. RISCA and the state leaders organized the event to catalyze a strategy to foster a visionary creative economy. More than 100 business, nonprofit and government leaders attended, including a number of state legislators. Following remarks from the governor and the legislative leadership, participants worked in breakout groups to brainstorm how Rhode Island can become the nation’s “state of the arts.” They also recommended tools and partnerships to that end. A video of the charrette is available on RISCA’s website, along with the recommendations from the breakout sessions and other materials from the event, including a RISCA white paper, Economic Development and the Arts in Rhode Island. For more information, contact RISCA Executive Director Randy Rosenbaum.