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 Alliance’s guest will be Leora Maltz-Leca, Curator of Contemporary Projects at the Redwood Library.  Maltz-Leca, who is also Associate Professor of Global Contemporary Art at RISD, will focus on the new Redwood Contemporary Arts Initiative, its mission, its logic, and its past and upcoming projects.

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 Salvation Café and an informal atmosphere where artists and art lovers can connect.

The Alliance thanks Salvation Café 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.