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Providence Commemoration Lab

A collaboration of the Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism and the Rhode Island Historical Society. Funded in part by the Mellon Foundation and the American Rescue Plan.

Welcome to the Providence Commemoration Lab

Funded by the Mellon Foundation and the American Rescue Plan, The Providence Commemoration Lab is a program co-administered by The Department of Art, Culture and Tourism (ACT) and the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS). The Lab sites and stages new, temporary projects on public property that invite unexpected ways of understanding commemoration as a communal process of historical redress and spatial reclamation.

ACT and RIHS have commissioned nine creative practitioners to interrogate the ways that Providence residents construct and share memory and culture at three distinct sites: Columbus Square, Roger Williams Park, and Public Street.

Nine, twelve-month (one-year) artist residencies began in spring 2024. The total budget for the Providence Commemoration Lab is 1.4 million dollars to be spent down over two years.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, July 26, 5pm - 7pm, FKA Columbus Square - Opening/Unveiling for The Storytelling AncesTree

Lab artist Val Tutson unveils her Storytelling AncesTree. To learn more about her project, go to her artist page here.

Lab artist Raffini celebrates the opening reception and unveiling of, “I (Eye) Am Woman.” The unveiling will feature an event songs, stories and poetry by Sarah Montero, Charlotte Abotsi, Lawrence (Elder) Nunes, and Becky Bass, among others! See here for the exact location in the park.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

This community celebration starts with a welcome, blessing, and performance at Mashapaug Pond followed by a short procession to the former Columbus Square, where there will be 2-3 poetry and live art performances and a 15-minute play. The festival concludes with a community ritual of stories and offerings for commemoration. This is an intergenerational event with culture bearers of various lineages, artists, neighbors, and families. Includes a tabling of activities with PCL Activity Book and food/refreshments. For more information, go to Shey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

A performance and intergenerational community event to observe Indigenous Peoples Day, as part of the broader programs in the city that will honor this day. Community blessing ritual and story circle, family-centered activities with the PCL Activity Book, and live performances about Commemoration as Storytelling. Includes a tabling of activities with PCL Activity Book and food/refreshments. For more information, see the FKA Columbus Square page.

Celebrate ancestors with art activities and bring clothes/hats/gloves donations in preparation for the winter season. For more information see Val Tutson’s artist page.

Past Events

Saturday, May 10, 11a - 2pm, Rosa Parks Resource Center (312 Prairie Ave, Providence, RI 02905) - Seed Starting Event

Seed Starting Event to provide plants to the community and facilitate connections with sites for planters. To learn more about Planters for Public go to Dana and Moy’s artist page.

PCL and the Roger Williams University Co-Lab came together on Saturday, June 21 at 11am – 12:30pm for Reconciliation & The Providence Commemoration Lab, a site visit at the former Columbus Square (24 Reservoir Ave). Participants engaged in a conversation with the artistic team and writer at the site to learn about how they are addressing issues of public memory and spatial reclamation in the city as they prepare for a public exhibition scheduled for later in July. This event was free and open to the public, and was supported by the PCL and SHAE Dean’s Office at Roger Williams University. To learn more, go here. 

Lab artist Shey Rí Acu Rivera Ríos presented Museo de las Ancestras, a series of living ancestral statues originally scheduled for FKA Columbus Square, but held at 1005 Main St., Pawtucket in collaboration with Arte Latino New England (ALNE) and The Village Theatre. The event was family-friendly and accessible. Snacks and restroom access were provided.

Below find links to posts from the PCL Instagram feed. Click through to access readable text ALT-text and additional information.

Welcome to the Providence Commemoration Lab

Funded by the Mellon Foundation and the American Rescue Plan, The Providence Commemoration Lab is a program co-administered by The Department of Art, Culture and Tourism (ACT) and the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS). The Lab sites and stages new, temporary projects on public property that invite unexpected ways of understanding commemoration as a communal process of historical redress and spatial reclamation.

ACT and RIHS have commissioned nine creative practitioners to interrogate the ways that Providence residents construct and share memory and culture at three distinct sites: Columbus Square, Roger Williams Park, and Public Street.

Nine, twelve-month (one-year) artist residencies began in spring 2024. The total budget for the Providence Commemoration Lab is 1.4 million dollars to be spent down over two years.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, July 26, 5pm - 7pm, FKA Columbus Square - Opening/Unveiling for The Storytelling AncesTree

Lab artist Val Tutson unveils her Storytelling AncesTree. To learn more about her project, go to her artist page here.

Lab artist Raffini celebrates the opening reception and unveiling of, “I (Eye) Am Woman.” The unveiling will feature an event songs, stories and poetry by Sarah Montero, Charlotte Abotsi, Lawrence (Elder) Nunes, and Becky Bass, among others! See here for the exact location in the park.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

This community celebration starts with a welcome, blessing, and performance at Mashapaug Pond followed by a short procession to the former Columbus Square, where there will be 2-3 poetry and live art performances and a 15-minute play. The festival concludes with a community ritual of stories and offerings for commemoration. This is an intergenerational event with culture bearers of various lineages, artists, neighbors, and families. Includes a tabling of activities with PCL Activity Book and food/refreshments. For more information, go to Shey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

A performance and intergenerational community event to observe Indigenous Peoples Day, as part of the broader programs in the city that will honor this day. Community blessing ritual and story circle, family-centered activities with the PCL Activity Book, and live performances about Commemoration as Storytelling. Includes a tabling of activities with PCL Activity Book and food/refreshments. For more information, see the FKA Columbus Square page.

Celebrate ancestors with art activities and bring clothes/hats/gloves donations in preparation for the winter season. For more information see Val Tutson’s artist page.

Past Events

Saturday, May 10, 11a - 2pm, Rosa Parks Resource Center (312 Prairie Ave, Providence, RI 02905) - Seed Starting Event

Seed Starting Event to provide plants to the community and facilitate connections with sites for planters. To learn more about Planters for Public go to Dana and Moy’s artist page.

PCL and the Roger Williams University Co-Lab came together on Saturday, June 21 at 11am – 12:30pm for Reconciliation & The Providence Commemoration Lab, a site visit at the former Columbus Square (24 Reservoir Ave). Participants engaged in a conversation with the artistic team and writer at the site to learn about how they are addressing issues of public memory and spatial reclamation in the city as they prepare for a public exhibition scheduled for later in July. This event was free and open to the public, and was supported by the PCL and SHAE Dean’s Office at Roger Williams University. To learn more, go here. 

Lab artist Shey Rí Acu Rivera Ríos presented Museo de las Ancestras, a series of living ancestral statues originally scheduled for FKA Columbus Square, but held at 1005 Main St., Pawtucket in collaboration with Arte Latino New England (ALNE) and The Village Theatre. The event was family-friendly and accessible. Snacks and restroom access were provided.

Below find links to posts from the PCL Instagram feed. Click through to access readable text ALT-text and additional information.

Welcome to the Providence Commemoration Lab

Funded by the Mellon Foundation and the American Rescue Plan, The Providence Commemoration Lab is a program co-administered by The Department of Art, Culture and Tourism (ACT) and the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS). The Lab sites and stages new, temporary projects on public property that invite unexpected ways of understanding commemoration as a communal process of historical redress and spatial reclamation.

ACT and RIHS have commissioned nine creative practitioners to interrogate the ways that Providence residents construct and share memory and culture at three distinct sites: Columbus Square, Roger Williams Park, and Public Street.

Nine, twelve-month (one-year) artist residencies began in spring 2024. The total budget for the Providence Commemoration Lab is 1.4 million dollars to be spent down over two years.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, July 26, 5pm - 7pm, FKA Columbus Square - Opening/Unveiling for The Storytelling AncesTree

Lab artist Val Tutson unveils her Storytelling AncesTree. To learn more about her project, go to her artist page here.

Lab artist Raffini celebrates the opening reception and unveiling of, “I (Eye) Am Woman.” The unveiling will feature an event songs, stories and poetry by Sarah Montero, Charlotte Abotsi, Lawrence (Elder) Nunes, and Becky Bass, among others! See here for the exact location in the park.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

This community celebration starts with a welcome, blessing, and performance at Mashapaug Pond followed by a short procession to the former Columbus Square, where there will be 2-3 poetry and live art performances and a 15-minute play. The festival concludes with a community ritual of stories and offerings for commemoration. This is an intergenerational event with culture bearers of various lineages, artists, neighbors, and families. Includes a tabling of activities with PCL Activity Book and food/refreshments. For more information, go to Shey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

For more information see Linsey’s artist page.

A performance and intergenerational community event to observe Indigenous Peoples Day, as part of the broader programs in the city that will honor this day. Community blessing ritual and story circle, family-centered activities with the PCL Activity Book, and live performances about Commemoration as Storytelling. Includes a tabling of activities with PCL Activity Book and food/refreshments. For more information, see the FKA Columbus Square page.

Celebrate ancestors with art activities and bring clothes/hats/gloves donations in preparation for the winter season. For more information see Val Tutson’s artist page.

Past Events

Saturday, May 10, 11a - 2pm, Rosa Parks Resource Center (312 Prairie Ave, Providence, RI 02905) - Seed Starting Event

Seed Starting Event to provide plants to the community and facilitate connections with sites for planters. To learn more about Planters for Public go to Dana and Moy’s artist page.

PCL and the Roger Williams University Co-Lab came together on Saturday, June 21 at 11am – 12:30pm for Reconciliation & The Providence Commemoration Lab, a site visit at the former Columbus Square (24 Reservoir Ave). Participants engaged in a conversation with the artistic team and writer at the site to learn about how they are addressing issues of public memory and spatial reclamation in the city as they prepare for a public exhibition scheduled for later in July. This event was free and open to the public, and was supported by the PCL and SHAE Dean’s Office at Roger Williams University. To learn more, go here. 

Lab artist Shey Rí Acu Rivera Ríos presented Museo de las Ancestras, a series of living ancestral statues originally scheduled for FKA Columbus Square, but held at 1005 Main St., Pawtucket in collaboration with Arte Latino New England (ALNE) and The Village Theatre. The event was family-friendly and accessible. Snacks and restroom access were provided.

Below find links to posts from the PCL Instagram feed. Click through to access readable text ALT-text and additional information.