The First Night Providence Board of Trustees has announced that, due to severe financial constraints, the traditional New Year’s Eve festival may be compelled to take this year off, with hopes of reinventing First Night for 2005. At the same time, the organization revealed its intention to transform First Night into FirstWorks, an umbrella organization of multiple arts events.
First Night Providence – a catalyst to the Providence Renaissance for nearly two decades – has grown to include international as well as local performing artists, attracting up to 35,000 festival-goers from Rhode Island and surrounding states each year. Particularly noteworthy was First Night’s Millennium Festival 2000, which involved the thirty-nine cities and towns in an artistic extravaganza that featured three days of cultural activities.
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Like arts and other non-profit organizations nationwide, however, First Night has been hit with a triple-whammy of a nationwide economic downturn, increased costs and decreased corporate and government support. Anticipated significant reductions in support from its traditional governmental and private contributors for this year’s festival have led to the probable financial impossibility of producing First Night 2004.
However, while New Year’s Eve in Providence may not be presented for the first time since 1985, First Night is actively exploring ways to spread its special talent for gathering the community in arts celebration and redirect its contribution to the cultural and civic landscape of Providence. Foundations and long-time corporate contributors are supporting the First Night organization as it unveils new ideas to meet the changing times.
Under the umbrella of “FirstWorks,” First Night hopes to offer a series of smaller celebrations, beginning with a Children’s Festival in Spring 2004.
“We have always considered involving children and their families in the arts one of First Night’s biggest successes and priorities,” says Doris Stephens, Executive Director. The Children’s Festival is modeled on highly successful International Children’s Theatre Festivals in Pittsburgh, Portland, and Seattle.
The spring “Youth First Festival” carries on the First Night ideal of presenting affordable, accessible performing arts, with a portion of the tickets distributed to disadvantaged youth. Highlights will include professional performances and workshops. Kids will perform for kids, and artist residencies will actively involve students with artists. Talks are underway to engage the 25-member Saigon Water Puppet Troupe from Vietnam to perform as the headliner at FirstWorks during the group’s 2004 tour.
Launching the Youth First Festival and similar initiatives under the FirstWorks banner supports First Night’s long-term viability. It enables the organization to develop a more stable revenue base by diversifying beyond a one-night event. It offers the opportunity to broaden relationships that First Night has developed over 18 years with corporate and foundation sponsors, community groups, artists and audiences, and holds significant potential for striking up new partnerships with local arts and youth services organizations not possible during a holiday event. First Night will be able to seek new educational support sources.
Most importantly, the Youth First Festival will continue to fulfill the guiding mission of First Night: “To advance the appreciation of live performing arts in Rhode Island by bringing together audiences and artists in performance, arts creation, and arts learning experiences.”
“We believe strongly that the arts are essential to learning,” says First Night’s Artistic Director, Kathleen Pletcher. “Our new celebration will amplify the educational opportunities inherent in the performing arts for Rhode Island children and ultimately play a central role in enhancing Providence’s standing as a regional arts center.”
