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CELBRATING DIVERSITY: Bert Crenca, a Providence artist and founder of AS220, stands in front of “Types,” a series of five murals he painted on the historical façade of the Providence National Bank building at 35 Weybosset St, which is meant to celebrate the diversity of people. / PBN PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

Is Providence ready to make good on a 38-year-old commitment to public art?

By Mary MacDonald

02/23/2018

As founder of AS220, Bert Crenca travels frequently. He often speaks to national audiences about the alternative-arts organization, one of the largest such nonprofits in the country. Started at a time when downtown Providence was in decay, AS220 now owns three downtown buildings, provides work-studio space for more than 50 artists, as well as performance…