RI Foundation Awards 16 Grants to Promote Public Access to Records
GoLocalProv News Team
RI Foundation Awards 16 Grants to Promote Public Access to Records
The Rhode Island Foundation awarded grants to 16 nonprofit organizations to promote public access to community histories.
The funding is through the Herman H. Rose Civic, Cultural and Media Access Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.
“By providing the means to support libraries and other civic, cultural and literacy-focused organizations, we can bolster their position as community centers that encourage discussion around important topics,” said Rose, who created the fund.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOver the years, it has awarded more than $400,000 in grants.
The Grants
The Blackstone River Watershed Council in Lincoln received a grant for $2,800 to update its website in order improve public access to important documents and project updates.
“We are excited to launch a new and interactive website that will provide the general public with the knowledge and understanding of our long history of community service and stewardship towards the Blackstone River and its surrounding communities,” said John Marsland, president.
The Town of Bristol received $3,000 to fund the design of a modern audiovisual system in its future town hall meeting space.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to invest in systems that foster an open and transparent government,” said Steven Contente, town administrator.
The Davisville Free Library in North Kingstown received a challenge grant to support its 2019 fundraising campaign. The library will receive $2,200 if it reaches its goal of $27,500. The library could receive an additional $935 if it exceeds the goal by $1,000.
“Our little community library is non-municipal and therefore we rely on the support of grantors like the Rose Fund to continue to provide library programs and services to our neighborhood,” said Sarah Ornstein, director.
The Gamm Theatre in Warwick received $2,500 to create an accessible archive of 34 years of stage productions and educational activities. The work will include processing and arranging video, photo and print materials for long-term storage, preservation and accessibility.
"Establishing an archival program will improve our current administrative and artistic activities by maximizing our existing resources and putting our legacy to work for the future,” said Oliver Dow, managing director.
The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) received $2,000 to assist in designing professional interpretive materials and to purchase an interactive digital kiosk and multimedia educational tool to upgrade the exhibition space at Whitehorne House Museum.
“The kiosk and new materials will allow us to tell compelling narratives about 18th-century Newport furniture, and to share information about the style, identification and significance of Newport colonial furniture, the artisans who designed and made the furniture, and the 18th-century global trade system,” said Mark Thompson, executive director.
The North Smithfield Historical Association received $1,265 to purchase a scanning system that will enable it to share historical documents via social media and its website.
"For the past two years, the North Smithfield Heritage Association undertook the arduous task of digitizing the voluminous amount of historical photos, documents and historical manuscripts we hold in our headquarters, the Forestdale Schoolhouse. Some of these date back to the late 1700’s. With this grant of $1,265 we will purchase a more efficient scanning system that enables us to better share our treasure trove of historical documents on the web and via social media,” said Richard Keene, president.
The Pawtucket Public Library received $1,500 to continue digitizing back issues of the Pawtucket Times newspaper, including issues from May 1898 to December 1901.
The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) received $1,500 to complete the final phase of digitizing its popular 2003 publication, “PPS/AIAri Guide to Providence Architecture.”
“This first-of-its kind project for Providence supports our institutional goals to educate the community and engage new audiences using historic resources in Providence. It will ultimately be an easily accessible database of buildings and landscapes that conveys the history of Providence to visitors, residents and researchers alike,” said Brent Runyon, executive director.
The R.I. Council for the Humanities (RICH) received $2,800 to support the preservation of media items archived in its collections, including documentaries, podcasts and radio programs. For more than 40 years, the Council has supported the production of media that features the diverse voices, experiences and histories of communities across the state. The media will be preserved and highlighted through public programs and an online database.
Rhode Island Latino Arts in Providence received a $4,000 grant to create an archive that will display the rich and blooming history of Latin Americans living in Rhode Island.
The South Kingstown Land Trust (SKLT) received $500 to create informational signs for the kiosks at its 100-acre Weeden Farm property in Matunuck.
Southside Community Land Trust received $3,500 to improve communication with immigrant and refugee community gardeners in Providence. This includes hiring interpreters to staff more workshops, translating event flyers and gardening information and installing permanent message boards at three sites in Providence that now display information in English, Spanish, Kirundi, Swahili and Nepali.
The University of Rhode Island Library’s Distinctive Collections received $2,800 to prepare one of its women’s collections for access by the public.
The Watch Hill Conservancy received $4,000 to produce films that document the histories of three neighborhoods on the Pawcatuck River. The special project will commemorate the 350th anniversary of the founding of Westerly and The Watch Hill Conservancy’s 20th anniversary.
The World War II Foundation in South Kingstown received $4,000 to support public showings of and other educational activities around “D-Day at Pointe du Hoc,” a 50-minute documentary it produced for PBS
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