07-R 025

2007 -- H 5080

Enacted 01/16/07

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING MAYOR DAVID CICILLINE AND THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISH A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER IN THE MOUNT PLEASANT/ELMHURST SECTION OF PROVIDENCE

Introduced By: Representatives Giannini, Wasylyk, DeSimone, Diaz, and Slater

Date Introduced: January 16, 2007

     WHEREAS, The arts are an important component in maintaining the vitality of Rhode

Island's communities and in strengthening its neighborhoods and our schools; and

     WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of residents, particularly children, to express

themselves through the arts. The arts enhance positive awareness for neighborhoods, and promote

career and economic opportunities. They have a powerful impact on the lives and futures of all

residents of a community, and can increase the economic engine of a city; and

     WHEREAS, The arts are a vital part of education curriculum and after-school services

for all children and particularly for the most at-risk children, as well as their parents; and

     WHEREAS, The Mount Pleasant/Elmhurst section of the City of Providence does not

have a neighborhood community arts center. Without question, a community arts center would be

not only beneficial to this neighborhood, it would be an invaluable asset to the entire city; and

     WHEREAS, Locating the center at the Castle Theater on Chalkstone Avenue in

Providence would be ideal for serving the needs of the Mount Pleasant/Elmhurst neighborhood

and for a large diversity of Providence's population; and

     WHEREAS, The Castle Theater is currently unoccupied, is an eyesore to the

neighborhood, and is considered one of the ten most endangered historical buildings in

Providence. Utilizing this space for a community arts center would provide a noble and

purposeful usage for this building, and would afford a large diversity of the city's population with

a venue for multi-cultural activities, recitals, arts classes, after-school programs and a myriad of

multi-beneficial events; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby recognizes the importance of neighborhood community arts

centers and respectfully requests Mayor David Cicilline and the honorable members of the

Providence City Council to work to develop and implement a plan for the establishment of a

community arts center in the Mount Pleasant/Elmhurst section of the City of Providence,

preferably in the Castle Theater building; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mayor David Cicilline and to each member of

the Providence City Council.

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LC00605

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