The Fort Adams Trust was provided with a matching grant of $150,000 in January at the Newport Art Museum by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Rhode Island Historical & Preservation Commission. It was part of a hosted announcement of the latest State Cultural Facilities Grant and State Preservation Grant recipients. The State announced awards of over $4.6 million for capital preservation work at 38 performance venues, museums, cultural art centers, and public historic sites around the state. Together, the projects represent $22,453,724 worth of construction activity.
Supported by 60.6% of Rhode Island voters in 2014, the Creative and Cultural Economy Bonds provided $5 million for State Preservation Grants and $6.5 million for the Cultural Facilities’ Grants. Administered by the R.I. Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission and the R.I. State Council on the Arts, the two competitive grant programs require applicants to provide matching funds for their project for which the Fort Adams Trust will match the grant with $150,000 from the Trust’s Capital Funds.
“The grant and matching contribution from the Trust are essential to the needed North Wall masonry repairs,” said Joe Dias, executive director for the Fort Adams Trust. “The natural elements are very debilitating to the integrity of the historic structure so the ability to have matching grants from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Rhode Island Historical & Preservation Commission to ensure the sustainability of the fort itself are so important,” he further added.
“The Trust is most appreciative of the grant and our ability to match it will ensure that important infrastructure repairs to the fort’s north wall are continued,” stated David Martland, president of the Fort Adams Trust. “On behalf of the Trust and its members, I cannot express enough, our gratitude to the state for the issuance of the grant and our ability to match it from our generous contributors,” Martland further commented.
In applauding this announcement, Governor Gina Raimondo commented on the important role that the arts and culture play in Rhode Island’s economy. “The arts and history help make Rhode Island a destination for visitors and a source of pride for our citizens,” Governor Raimondo said. “Maintaining and rebuilding our cultural infrastructure also strengthens Rhode Island’s economy – supporting our arts and cultural institutions and creating jobs in the building trades and beyond. These cultural improvement grants contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of our state.”
