A year-long professional development program for young artists under 30
WaterFire Accelerate is a year-long professional development program for emerging artists under 30 that is specifically designed to provide access to resources that will further participants’ artistic careers. WaterFire Accelerate engages young artists in areas outside the traditional art school experience through a series of meetings, workshops, site visits, and discussions. Professionals in the field share their experiences and learnings in open discussions where topics involving best practices, self-representation, marketing, finance and taxes, and technology surrounding art are explored. Each cohort represents the Providence community and is diverse in both the makeup of participants and their chosen mediums.
WaterFire Accelerate artists receive a stipend that helps them produce new works during the program and aligns with WaterFire Providence’s overall mission of supporting artists and recognizing the value of their craft. Aside from the group show, WaterFire Providence provides various opportunities for WaterFire Accelerate artists to showcase and sell their work throughout the program at WaterFire ArtMarts, downtown lighting events, as well as inclusion of their artworks and merchandise at the WaterFire Arts Center store.
WaterFire Providence Announces the 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort
The 2024-2025 cohort was selected by a WaterFire Accelerate Selection Committee that included local leaders in the arts: Melaine Ferdinand-King, independent Curator, Creative Producer, Writer, and Cultural Researcher; Gabrielle Walker, Curator at the RISD Museum; Andrea Pascual, 2023-24 Accelerate Artist and owner of Make Me Feel Better; Peter Mello, Managing Director + coCEO of WaterFire Providence; and Grechel Rosado, Programs Coordinator at WaterFire Providence.
Anyone interested in donating or supporting WaterFire Accelerate should contact Grechel Rosado, programs coordinator ([email protected] | (401) 443-0124.
Please join us on Thursday, November 7 from 6 – 10PM for Art Noir (@artnoirpvd)! A truly one of a kind networking event for New Englands creatives, art educators, curators, and lovers of art!
Caterina Maina (@4x5junkie) founded Art Noir as a way to bring together creatives of all kinds for intentional, genuine connection and celebration.
Rooted in supporting and uplifting the vastly diverse community of creatives local to us, Art Noir highlights the night with a silent auction of local artist’s works, which you can (and should!) bid on, and will walk away with at the end of the night! Featured artists include @sissysoll, @lucasnature_, @joakeem.gaston, @4x5junkie, and @uh.dolfo !!!
Come together for a night surrounded by local artists, activities, food, and community!
Music will be provided by @indi.irl and our evening will be hosted by @itsdebbyb! Drinks from @topochicousa and food from @hotline_pizza provided 🖤 Tickets include entry into a giveaway of a $100 @jerrysprovidence gift card and a $40 @riffraffpvd gift card!!
This is an 18+ event. Grab your ticket with the link in bio!
✨ Supported by @providencetourism ✨
Please join us on Thursday, November 7 from 6 – 10PM for Art Noir (@artnoirpvd)! A truly one of a kind networking event for New Englands creatives, art educators, curators, and lovers of art!
Caterina Maina (@4x5junkie) founded Art Noir as a way to bring together creatives of all kinds for intentional, genuine connection and celebration.
Rooted in supporting and uplifting the vastly diverse community of creatives local to us, Art Noir highlights the night with a silent auction of local artist’s works, which you can (and should!) bid on, and will walk away with at the end of the night! Featured artists include @sissysoll, @lucasnature_, @joakeem.gaston, @4x5junkie, and @uh.dolfo !!!
Come together for a night surrounded by local artists, activities, food, and community!
Music will be provided by @indi.irl and our evening will be hosted by @itsdebbyb! Drinks from @topochicousa and food from @hotline_pizza provided 🖤 Tickets include entry into a giveaway of a $100 @jerrysprovidence gift card and a $40 @riffraffpvd gift card!!
This is an 18+ event. Grab your ticket with the link in bio!
✨ Supported by @providencetourism ✨
Meet our 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort ❤️🔥
Ariel Tavares is a multi-hyphenate funky storyteller born and raised from Providence, RI.
She is a poet, photographer, host, model, creative director, visual artist, and most importantly a fierce learner – constantly trying new mediums to just express what she feels inspired to create. She believes in the power of words, the power of people, and the power of art to bring people together. Her work aims to make people feel seen, feel less alone, and feel beautiful – she aims to capture that same beauty from everyday life, mining magic from the mundane.
Meet our 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort ❤️🔥
Ariel Tavares is a multi-hyphenate funky storyteller born and raised from Providence, RI.
She is a poet, photographer, host, model, creative director, visual artist, and most importantly a fierce learner – constantly trying new mediums to just express what she feels inspired to create. She believes in the power of words, the power of people, and the power of art to bring people together. Her work aims to make people feel seen, feel less alone, and feel beautiful – she aims to capture that same beauty from everyday life, mining magic from the mundane.
Meet our 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort ❤️🔥
Elizabeth Alice-Isam Jweinat (Lizzy Sour) is a Providence-born artist with Jordanian roots, whose work transforms public spaces into vibrant, abstract canvases. Her distinctive style, developed from a lifelong love of freehand drawing, blends shape, color, and typography into a unique visual language. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, community organizer, and mentor, Lizzy is dedicated to supporting marginalized artists and fostering creative expression in the next generation. Through her murals, sculptures, and diverse artistic mediums, she weaves together her Middle Eastern heritage and the dynamic spirit of her city.
Meet our 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort ❤️🔥
Elizabeth Alice-Isam Jweinat (Lizzy Sour) is a Providence-born artist with Jordanian roots, whose work transforms public spaces into vibrant, abstract canvases. Her distinctive style, developed from a lifelong love of freehand drawing, blends shape, color, and typography into a unique visual language. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, community organizer, and mentor, Lizzy is dedicated to supporting marginalized artists and fostering creative expression in the next generation. Through her murals, sculptures, and diverse artistic mediums, she weaves together her Middle Eastern heritage and the dynamic spirit of her city.
Meet our 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort ❤️🔥
Sissy Rosso is a mixed media artist and designer from the Bronx, New York, and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. Their work delves into the intricate connections between space and memory, using collage, printmaking, and painting to evoke a sense of place and personal history.
Meet our 2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort ❤️🔥
Sissy Rosso is a mixed media artist and designer from the Bronx, New York, and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. Their work delves into the intricate connections between space and memory, using collage, printmaking, and painting to evoke a sense of place and personal history.
2024-2025 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort
- Elizabeth Alice-Isam Jweinat (Lizzy Sour)
- Janelle Geraldine Castillo
- Dorian Epps
- Catarina Maina
- Sissy Rosso
- Ariel Tavares
