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 duration of the program at WaterFire ArtMarts, downtown lighting events, as well as the inclusion of their artworks and merchandise at the WaterFire Arts Center store.
The 2023 cohort was selected by a WaterFire Accelerate Selection Committee that included local leaders in the arts: Judith Tolnick Champa, founder, and president of the Providence Biennial for Contemporary Art; Lizzie Araujo-Haller, Director, Department of Art, Culture + Tourism; Allison Barry, Cultural Affairs Manager, Department of Art, Culture + Tourism; Michael Rose, Gallery Manager at the Providence Art Club; Julio Berroa, former WaterFire Accelerate cohort member and Executive Director of Haus of Codec as well as WaterFire staff members Peter A. Mello, Managing Director + coCEO, and Nicole Nehiley, Community Relations Manager.
Anyone interested in donating or supporting WaterFire Accelerate should contact Nicole Nehiley, community relations manager ([email protected] | (401) 443-5543. Applications for the next cohort of Accelerate artists will be available in the fall of 2023 on the WaterFire website.
WaterFire Accelerate celebrated the spring equinox by visiting @michaelrosefineart at the @pvdartclub 🌼🖼🌷
Michael Rose, a multifaceted individual, curator, and artist gave the cohort a tour of the PVD Art Club’s incredibly rich collection and also gave us a private tour of his newly opened “Michael Rose Fine Art Project Space” which currently highlights works by two of our past and present cohort artists! He gave us insight on his experiences with galleries and curatorial work, starting his own project space, and provided us extensive knowledge on the history of the @pvdartclub 🌟
Thank you Michael for a wonderful afternoon and for everything you do! ❤️🔥
WaterFire Accelerate celebrated the spring equinox by visiting @michaelrosefineart at the @pvdartclub 🌼🖼🌷
Michael Rose, a multifaceted individual, curator, and artist gave the cohort a tour of the PVD Art Club’s incredibly rich collection and also gave us a private tour of his newly opened “Michael Rose Fine Art Project Space” which currently highlights works by two of our past and present cohort artists! He gave us insight on his experiences with galleries and curatorial work, starting his own project space, and provided us extensive knowledge on the history of the @pvdartclub 🌟
Thank you Michael for a wonderful afternoon and for everything you do! ❤️🔥
smiles, pizzas, + good vibes all around 😁🍕❤️🔥
The 2023 WaterFire Accelerate cohort met last night (minus Rhue – she was doing big girl art things) at their studio space in the Graduate Hotel for a relaxed, evening gathering.
Lots of great conversations and visions coming together. Stay tuned for the greatness. ✨
smiles, pizzas, + good vibes all around 😁🍕❤️🔥
The 2023 WaterFire Accelerate cohort met last night (minus Rhue – she was doing big girl art things) at their studio space in the Graduate Hotel for a relaxed, evening gathering.
Lots of great conversations and visions coming together. Stay tuned for the greatness. ✨
This month we were delighted to have @jordanseaberry stop by the WaterFire Arts Center to give a presentation to the WaterFire Accelerate cohort. He shared insight to his background as an artist while also instilling wisdom about navigating gallery spaces, time management as an artist, and understanding your values as an artist practice. 🌟📝
Jordan is a man of many talents (he is a painter, organizer, legislative advocate and educator) and we cannot be more thankful for his time and wisdom that he shared with us! ❤️🔥
This month we were delighted to have @jordanseaberry stop by the WaterFire Arts Center to give a presentation to the WaterFire Accelerate cohort. He shared insight to his background as an artist while also instilling wisdom about navigating gallery spaces, time management as an artist, and understanding your values as an artist practice. 🌟📝
Jordan is a man of many talents (he is a painter, organizer, legislative advocate and educator) and we cannot be more thankful for his time and wisdom that he shared with us! ❤️🔥
Looking for a perfect Valentine`s experience this weekend?! 💘 Spots are still available in this Friday`s R&B & Tuft Workshop (@tuftxpvd) instructed by Sav (@artxbyxsav) at the WaterFire Accelerate Studio & Shop at the Graduate.
One of six artists in the current @waterfire.accelerate cohort, Savaree “Sav” Hazard Chaney is a “401 adopted”, self-taught artist. She explores and grows through her foundational framework of culture, community and design. Sav introduced @tuftxpvd, Rhode Island’s first Black owned tufting studio. Through specially curated workshops, tufting and other artist resources will become more accessible to this growing Rhode Island community.
Link in bio to register!
Looking for a perfect Valentine`s experience this weekend?! 💘 Spots are still available in this Friday`s R&B & Tuft Workshop (@tuftxpvd) instructed by Sav (@artxbyxsav) at the WaterFire Accelerate Studio & Shop at the Graduate.
One of six artists in the current @waterfire.accelerate cohort, Savaree “Sav” Hazard Chaney is a “401 adopted”, self-taught artist. She explores and grows through her foundational framework of culture, community and design. Sav introduced @tuftxpvd, Rhode Island’s first Black owned tufting studio. Through specially curated workshops, tufting and other artist resources will become more accessible to this growing Rhode Island community.
Link in bio to register!
