First Works/City of Providence set the bar high with arts festival

Don Fowler
Posted 6/18/15

FirstWorks and the City of Providence collaborated on the best night I have spent in Downcity in my nearly 40 years of covering the arts and entertainment in Rhode Island.

The Providence …

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First Works/City of Providence set the bar high with arts festival

Posted

FirstWorks and the City of Providence collaborated on the best night I have spent in Downcity in my nearly 40 years of covering the arts and entertainment in Rhode Island.

The Providence International Arts Festival last weekend was well planned and executed, drawing tens of thousands of people of all ages to our capital city to enjoy music, dance, ethnic food and a variety of talent unmatched in previous events.

It was a summertime First Night without the cold weather and distances between performance sites.

With much of the action centralized in Kennedy Plaza, families with young children and the handicapped were able to get around and enjoy such entertainment as the delightful Squonk Opera, the incredible Earth Harp, with musical strings reaching far up to the Superman building, resulting in a super performance repeated three times for all to enjoy.

With dozens of quality national and international acts going on, the only problem was trying to catch as many as you could.

Highlight of the evening had to be the stunning performance by African philanthropist and super star singer Angelique Kidjo.

Food trucks lining the plaza were faced with long lines as many people got their first taste of this growing trend in dining.

Special congratulations to Kathleen Pletcher, executive artistic director of FirstWorks, and Lynne McCormick, director of Providence’s Division of Arts, Culture and Tourism, both of who have Cranston ties, for their leadership in an event that hopefully will continue for many years.

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