PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE ANNUAL RAISE UP THE ARTS CELEBRATION at the Wyndham Hotel

The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County (ACA) invites you to join us for our annual Raise Up the Arts event that will take place on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Easton's Pavilion upstairs at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI. The event will feature live music, small bites, and the presentation of four awards: the ACA Artist Award 2026, the Tinney Family Arts Scholarship Award, the Dominique Award, and the LeRoy White "Soul & Conscience" Award.

The Tinney Family Arts Scholarship will be awarded to Tiverton resident and MET graduate Sedra Smith, the 2026 Artist Award will be presented to Newport String Project, the Dominique Award recognizes and celebrates Rosalind Weir, and the LeRoy White "Soul & Conscience" Award will be presented to Princess June, a mystic-folk band from Newport.

A fundraising silent auction to help fund the ACA's awards will be held during the evening activities. Prizes include tickets to Newport String Project, the Audrain Automobile Museum, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, tickets to Jamestown Arts Center's Manhattan Short Film Festival, Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival Jazz Brunch, an overnight stay at the Wyndham with breakfast for two, two tickets to a Newport Classical concert, and more! So bid high and bid often!

This event is open to all. Come celebrate and raise up our local artists with us!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE ANNUAL RAISE UP THE ARTS CELEBRATION at Johnny’s Restaurant located at The Wyndam in Middletown, RI.

A night to celebrate the recipients of the Artist Award Spring 2024, the Tinney Family Arts Scholarship winner, the LeRoy White 'Soul & Conscience' Award recipient and the Dominque Award recipient.

PURCHASE YOUR EVENT TICKETS HERE via paypal or credit card:

Optionally to make a reservation and pay in person at the door with check or cash please email: NEWPORTARTS@GMAIL.COM

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s Arts Around the Fire will take place Wednesday, February 21, from 6:00-8:00p.m. Our guests will be Rose Island's Executive Director Sean O'Connor and board member Jen Thrum to let you know about the 2nd Annual Rose Island Artist Residency.

The Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamilton Trust work to preserve the historic and environmental integrity of Rose Island. The Artist Residency is an opportunity for Rhode Island based artists whose work may be uniquely inspired by the environment and/or history of Rose Island to stay on the island. Join us to learn more.

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done. Sign up for an artist membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County.

Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed.

The Alliance’s guest will be photographer and owner of CUSP Gallery Curtis Speer, who has created the newly formed Newport Artists Collective supporting galleries and independent artists in the area.

The Collective's first project, The Salon Series, will host a different artist each week, bringing awareness to the Newport community as to what the art scene is comprised of, be it a gallery owner who represents several artists or an individual artist with a studio that potential clients can visit.

"For 2024, my vision for the Newport Artists Collective is to have a confirmed gallery night again and potentially an Art Weekend. I really believe Newport can be a fine art destination."

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done. Sign up for an artist membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County. Please join us this month at Stoneacre Brasserie in Newport.

PLEASE NOTE: Our regular venue, Parlor, is closed the month of January 2024

LOCATION: STONEACRE BRASSERIE, 28 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840

We will be located in Chart Room (in the back of the restaurant). Hope to see you there!

The Alliance’s guest will be Kern Maass, the new president of the IYRS School of Technology & Trades. Maass has worked in higher education for the past 20 years, advocating for creative and applied disciplines. 

Prior to his IYRS appointment, he was the Dean of the College of Music and Media at Loyola University in New Orleans, LA. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience and is a former Trustee of the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans. He has a BFA and MFA from Savannah College of Art.

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done.  Sign up for an artist membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County.  Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed.

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s monthly networking event, Arts Around the Fire, opens a new season on Wednesday, October 18th from 6-8pm at PARLOR Bar & Kitchen at 200 Broadway in Newport.  The Alliance’s guests will be German pianist and Newport resident, Clemens Teufel whom has announced the creation of a year round arts inspired music series named PUDDINGSTONE FESTIVAL, which will combine performing and non-performing arts in an approachable 19th century-style salon. Teufel ‘s vision is of a Newport as a center of culture with music and art only a stone's throw away at every turn and accessible to the widest audience possible.

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done.  Sign up for an artist membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County.  Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed. 

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s monthly networking event, Arts Around the Fire, wraps up for the season on Wednesday, April 19th from 6-8pm at PARLOR Bar & Kitchen at 200 Broadway in Newport.  The Alliance’s guests will be artists and organizers of the LaFarge Arts Center.  

The Center has grown out of the restoration of the Newport Congregational Church, with its important murals and stained glass windows by American artist John La Farge. Parish house offices are now home to artists studios and arts entrepreneurs, and the magnificent sanctuary hosts live performances and events.  

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done.  Sign up for an artist membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County.  Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed.

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s monthly networking event, Arts Around the Fire, continues at Parlor Bar & Kitchen on Wednesday, March 15th from 6-8pm at 200 Broadway in Newport. The Alliance’s guest will be Susie Matthews, a Jamestown artist who recently opened Overlap, an artist run exhibition space, retail gallery and studio at 112 Van Zandt Avenue in Newport. Susie Matthews has been making and showing her artwork in Rhode Island for over 25 years. As a ceramist, she is familiar with the gray areas between art and design, sculpture and functional objects. She believes all types of art should be valued, creativity should be encouraged, and that art should be incorporated into our lives as much as possible.

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done. Arts Around the Fire features a cash bar and an informal atmosphere where artists and art lovers can connect. 

Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed. 

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s monthly networking event, Arts Around the Fire, continues at the Parlor Kitchen & Bar on Wednesday, February 15th from 6-8pm at 200 Broadway in Newport. The Alliance’s guest will be Steve Heath, Executive Director of FabNewport. Steve Heath is the co-founder of FabNewport and PVD Young Makers, which serves more than 5,000 youth annually. The programs connect learners and community to their positive future vision through an equitable, youth-centered ecosystem of learning in Newport County and beyond. Heath is currently organizing a group of like-minded organizations to explore ways the arts can be connected to opportunities in the Blue Economy.

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done. This event features a cash bar and an informal atmosphere where artists and art lovers can connect. Sign up for an artist membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County. Please join us, utterly informal, no reservations needed. Info at www.newportarts.org

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s monthly networking event, Arts Around the Fire, continues at Cabana on Wednesday, January 18th from 6-8pm at the Post & Beam room at 140 Broadway in Newport. The Alliance’s guest will be Rebecca Bertrand, newly appointed Executive Director of the Newport Historical Society.

Rebecca will be familiar to all as the former Executive Director of newportFILM and the New York Yacht Club Foundation for Historic Preservation. She will share some of her plans for her newest leadership role in Newport’s cultural landscape.

Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done. Arts Around the Fire features a cash bar, complimentary hors d'oeuvres donated by Cabana, and an informal atmosphere where artists and art lovers can connect. 

Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed. 

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s is pleased to welcome newportFILM's Executive Director to their informal gathering for artists and art lovers in the Post & Beam room at Cabana Restaurant, 140 Broadway in Newport, RI.

Cathleen Carr joined newportFILM as their new Executive Director in October of 2021.
Since 2013, Carr has served as director of programs as well as director of innovation and engagement for New York City’s Opening Act, which brings theater-based programming to over 50 NYC public schools. As part of the senior leadership team, she focused on program expansion, organizational growth, strategic planning, external communications, public engagement, fundraising and development. Under Carr’s guidance, Opening Act increased partnerships by more than 80%, launched corporate engagement programming, exceeded digital fundraising goals, doubled audience size for live performances, and created innovative virtual programming. Prior to Opening Act, Carr worked as a producer and performer in Chicago, Boston, and NYC.

Arts Around the Fire features a cash bar, complimentary hors d’oeuvres donated by Cabana and an informal atmosphere where artists and art lovers can connect. The Alliance thanks Cabana for their hospitality. Sign up for an artists membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County.

Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed.

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s announces the post-covid return of its monthly networking event, Arts Around the Fire. The informal gathering for artists and art lovers continues in the Post & Beam room at 140 Broadway in Newport, now known as Cabana on Wednesday, October 26th from 6-8pm

The Alliance’s guest will be the new Executive Director of the RI State Council on the Arts, Lynne McCormack. Meet Lynne and hear about her vision for RISCA’s mission to support RI’s arts and cultural community. Arts Around the Fire is an opportunity for artists, writers, performers and audiences to engage with colleagues about events affecting the cultural community and learn about new ideas and good work being done.

Arts Around the Fire features a cash bar, complimentary hors d'oeuvres donated by Cabana and an informal atmosphere where artists and art lovers can connect. The Alliance thanks Cabana for their hospitality. Sign up for an artists membership or become a supporting member of the Alliance, a coalition of individuals and non-profits committed to the advancement of arts and culture in Newport County.

Please join us, free, utterly informal, no reservations needed.

Please join us to celebrate Raise Up the Arts! a reception celebrating Newport County’s artists and students! This year we present ACA Artist Award to Katie Moorhead of Island Moving Company; The Tinney Family Arts Scholarship presented to recipient Sophia Rey of Newport; The Dominique Award will be presented posthumously to Newport musician Leroy White. The award will be accepted by his family along with a very special announcement in Leroy’s honor.

All proceeds from Raise Up the Arts! will go towards funding our Artist Awards, the only grant specifically for artists of any discipline in the six towns of Newport County. The fundraising raffle will also help support the ACA’s awards and sponsorships to local artists.

Raise Up the Arts! will feature live performances by: Caleb Hilyard, saxophone; Olivia Brennan, vocalist; Newport String Quartet; Greg Badigian, guitar and fiddle; Tom Perotti, guitar and mandolin.

Tickets are $20 for ACA Members and $45 for Non-Members

To become an ACA Supporter today, please visit our Support page for further info

RAFFLE ITEMS:

Newport Art Musem: Two “Dancing & Dessert” tickets to Newport Art Museum’s Summer Art Party. Join us on July 15th from 9pm-11pm at the Art Museum located at 76 Bellevue Avenue in Newport. Tunes by Chicago DJ Meghan Taylor and Desserts by Blackstone Catering.

Aquidneck Land Trust: Gift bag that includes a 1 year family membership, Hat, Car Magnet + Trail map

Island Moving Company: 2 Flex Passes to July Dance Festival, July 19-24th; Use your passes to attend one evening with 9 friends or come to all five evenings of programs featuring IMC Company & an international roster of guest companies. Seating is outdoors at the Great Friends Meeting House. Picnics encouraged. Value $330

Newport Classical Music Festival: 2 tickets to The Junction Trio, July 3rd

Cruise Brothers RI: $100 discount on a cruise

Island Moving Company: 2 tickets to Gala, July 29th

Artscapes: A Garden Soiree of Art, Cuisine and Dance at Ronald Lee Fleming’s Garden at the Bellevue House. Performances, dinner and dancing. Value $600

Please purchase Raise Up the Arts! Tickets sold here: