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WaterFire Accelerate

WaterFire / / Accelerate

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. 

2022-2023 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort

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2021-2022 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort

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WaterFire Accelerate Press Clippings »