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The Steel Yard is community of thinkers, tinkers, artists, makers and radical problem solvers! We pride ourselves in our open doors, open minds and experimental out-of-the box attitudes. Take a course, attend an event, hire a Yardie... there's a million and one ways to join our community and the first step is to get connected.
In this issue of the Spark: you'll hear from Howie our ED about the importance of arts programming in Rhode Island! You'll read about the $10,000 People's for Bike grant Public Projects & Weld to Work received AND you'll meet our Studio Manager and Studio Assistant, Ben & Michelle... not to mention our newest staff member, Rando.
PLUS you'll learn all about the upcoming and amazing programs, courses and opportunities here at the Steel Yard for the 2017 season. Thanks for reading!
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Last November I attended a conference for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) in Washington DC as a guest and representative of the New England Foundation of the Arts (NEFA) and the Steel Yard. It was an inspiring day of conversations and I met amazing creative leaders from across the country. Our stated goal was to consider the 50th anniversary of the NEA and look forward to imagine what the next 50 years might hold for the entire creative sector in America.
I was humbled by many of the incredible projects that I learned about and proud to share stories about the deep cultural collaborations happening in New England. But, where comedy and romance meet, drama and tragedy are not far behind. We all recognized deep cultural divides throughout the States and beyond our borders. In response, there was a resounding call for more access to the arts across economic, cultural, racial and otherwise diverse boundaries.
The Steel Yard can be one of the crossroads. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to express themselves and improve their community. So we design the Yard that way. Inclusively. When people come here to weld, or throw a pot or Make anything, they open themselves up to learn, teach and share. Their finished work can be found adorning our lives from museums to living rooms to public squares. Lets celebrate and thank all of the artists who help us define our spirit, express our needs and who create the places that we share.
Our partners at the NEA understand the complexities of our work and are key allies in leveraging oth
er state, local and private support for public-art, education and creative opportunities in RI. Jo
in me in recognizing the NEA, NEFA and the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts (RISCA) by remindi
ng your elected officials of everything they do for our community, and lets make sure we can all
take part in the
next 50 years of crafting our
culture.
Howie Sneider
Executive Director
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Stay connected with the Steel Yard!
We've been working hard to make it easier for you to connect with us at the Yard and you may have noticed some changes to our website!
In addition to subscribing to our bi-monthly newsletter... did you know, you could also receive exclusive Course information? Or join our online Private Request community and receive weekly updates on various custom work, educational & job opportunities? Or maybe you want to hear about our upcoming events like Iron Pour & Fire Camp. Signing up is easy, just click here to get all your Yardie news!
Our news & events calendar on the website also got a face lift. Our full schedule of courses, programs & special programs, open studio access, events, tours and Second Saturday Volunteer days are all available to look through at our Event + Calendar page. Check it out!
Still hankering for your daily dose of all things Steel Yard related? Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, Google+ and Yelp!
Thank you for Supporting the Possibilities
What a year! Thanks to all of you who pulled out all the stops and really made 2016 a year for the arts! Our annual appeal brought in close to $30,000... truly demonstrating what can happen when people come together. Each and every gift unlocks opportunity for everyone in our community to experience the Steel Yard.
Your investment is helping to support the thousands of people who access our shared facility. Community members use the Yard day and night as a hub for jobs and economic development, to practice and learn the industrial arts, to earn a living, place votes in local elections, utilize our open greenspace, attend cultural events and more. Thanks once again for supporting the possibilities!
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Applications are available for this Spring's 2017
Weld to Work sessions! You can find them on our website or in the Steel Yard office! If you know anyone who meets the basic eligibility guidelines and is interested in becoming more employable through an intensive and unique educational experience, please encourage them to apply!
Application deadline is March 13th, the first program begins February 27th. Weld to Work will be training up to 32 participants in four one-week programs this spring. Participants will be paid to learn to safely use all the tools and machines common to a welding shop and to fabricate a one-by-one bike hitch. 2017 participants will also receive personal employment planning, a year's worth of follow-up from our Workforce Coordinator and direct connections to a variety of community resources.
Additionally, this season's Weld to Work programs will be taught entirely by Weld to Work graduates! We are excited to welcome each of them back and continue to assist them in their professional endeavors.
Download the 2017 Weld to Work Application!
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For more information on the Weld to Work program,
shoot our Workforce Coordinator an email, or
give the office a call at
401-273-7101
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Hey! Who's that in the Studio!?
In case you were wondering who the new faces were in the studio, we'd like to introduce Ben Filchak, the new Studio Manager & Michelle Morrow, the new Studio Assistant. Ben and Michelle are a dynamic duo and force of nature! They have been cleaning, organizing, and rearranging every studio in preparation for the upcoming season. This winter they have gone through all of our tools and have made sure every machine is clean and running properly!
"I am very excited to start having the shop humming with activity as we ramp up for the upcoming season of classes and residences! We have been working very hard to make sure everyone can have a great time and be inspired and learn some great new skills in 2017." said Ben.
Ben Filchak was born in a small town in northwestern CT. Early in life, Ben found his passion for the arts and became obsessed with pottery and welding. After graduating from high school Ben moved to Providence, RI and fell in love with the city and its culture. He is an avid traveler and an enthusiastic life-long learner. Outside of work Ben enjoys exploring nature and fishing. Ben also has a pet turtle named Flippy.
Michelle Morrow, born and raised in Connecticut, received her Bachelors of Arts with a concentration in Sculpture from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. As a traveler and avid nature lover, she moved to Colorado for many years to ski and explore. Eventually, Michelle's adventures landed her back in Connecticut near family and where she would be first introduced to the Steel Yard by her sister (who took classes there previously). Initially, as a volunteer, sweeping and organizing, Michelle enthusiastically jumped in and excelled at each opportunity the Steel Yard offered. Since then she has assisted in numerous Public Projects installments, fabricated a bicycle rack for the United Way '211' and was then hired part-time in the fall of 2016 as the Steel Yard's Studio Assistant. When she is not hiking with her two dogs and chillin' with her cat, Michelle plans on taking courses in every department at the Steel Yard, helping students, artists and volunteers in any way she can. And in any spare time, she plans on continuing to pursue her own sculpture with hopes of having her own studio, relocating closer to Providence and contributing to her new community!
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Rhode Island & the Steel Yard are gettin' Hitched!
The Steel Yard's
Public Projects department and Workforce Training program,
Weld to Work, received $10,000 from the
PeopleForBikes Coalition.
The grant will support the design, building, and installation of 32 custom 'OnebyOne' bike hitches in communities of high need throughout the State of Rhode Island, free of charge. This will be a year-long project that, in addition to employing and training under served Rhode Islanders, will provide functional and
beautiful public art in locations that would not necessarily be able to afford it.
"This is a very exciting project for us," claims Howie Sneider, Executive Director of the Steel Yard. "Our bike hitches are among the staples of our public community art projects, and we are so pleased to offer them free of charge to communities in need. The funding from this grant really makes the project possible by covering the cost of production and installation of our unique bike racks."
"As a bicycle commuter myself, I am very aware of the need for safe and sturdy bicycle parking," says Jennifer Sparks, Client Relations Manager at the Steel Yard. "This project will both encourage bicycling as a viable mode of transportation and expose more people to public art."
The $10,000 grant is one of seven Community Grants awarded in 2016 by the PeopleForBikes Coalition, a national bike advocacy organization, and foundation. Within the past year, PeopleForBikes has distributed more than $500,000 to non-profits, community bike programs and national advocacy organizations all across the nation.
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For more information on Public Projects,
or to make a Public Request contact our Client Relations Manager here, or
give the office a call at
401-273-7101
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2017 Residency Program
Applications for the Steel Yard's 2017
Residency program are currently available! This program is designed to assist emerging to mid-level artists in growing and strengthening their art practice in a supportive, cooperative environment through access to the Steel Yard's
studios and facilities. We have availability for artists working in ceramics, jewelry, and metals - during their time at the Yard, participating artists have the opportunity to work together, to take part in community events and sales and to be creative leaders in a vibrant community shop. Most of all, residents get an all access pass to our studios in pursuit of their own work.
Applications are due by 5pm on February 24th, 2017.
Scholarships
Here at the Steel Yard, we're dedicated to supporting individual artists in their pursuit of knowledge and financial independence. For many students our open enrollment courses can be just that; a chance to learn an art form or a trade in a setting that encourages experimentation and personal growth. We are proud to offer scholarships in all of our teaching departments, which make our open enrollment courses accessible to students who may not otherwise be able to afford this unique industrial arts opportunity.
For more info about how to apply for support, click here
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| Find out more about our registration and enrollment policies. You can also prepare for your first studio experience with our frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions, contact courses@thesteel.org |
PHOTO CREDIT: Howie Sneider
MEET RANDO!
It's no secret that the Steel Yard is a welcoming place to four legged friends. That's why we're so excited to introduce our newest Yardie & Texas transplant, Rando! Rando was adopted by his new people, Howie & Kiki, earlier this winter and quickly stole the hearts of the entire staff. He's a lover of snacks, fashionable collars, standing on two feet and occasionally chewing on boxes. Welcome Rando!
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PHOTO CREDIT: Kate Fischer
Kat
e Fischer is an on-location portrait photographer who resides in Rhode Island. She is a graduate of the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turners Falls, Massachusetts. She loves portrait photography and her personal work consists of hot rods & pin-up girls. She has had a passion for both since she was young.
Kate was introduced to the Steel Yard when she started going to the annual cruise night. After a few years of attending the cruise night and a love for the location, she asked for permission to be able to photograph on the grounds with a car and model. With the response of yes, she began planning the photo shoot at the Steel Yard. The model featured in this photograph is Anne Ransom who is posed with Brian Chaplin's 1955 Chevy. You can view more of Kate's work on her website at
www.katefischerphoto.com
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| Do you have a photo from a Steel Yard course, event or Public Project? Share it with us and it may be featured in the next edition of the Yardie Photo of the Month. Send all submissions to contact@thesteelyard.org, or tag us on Facebook, and please include a brief description. |
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The Steel Yard
27 Sims Avenue
Providence, RI 02909
T 401.273.7101
F 401.273.7105
The Board
Board Chair
Nat Harris
Board Secretary
Megan Boyaval
Board Treasurer
James Cournoyer
Rafael Cerrada
James Cournoyer
Jennifer Carnevale
Damian Ewens
Kristine Merz
Frank Previti
Bejamin Rackliffe
Manya Rubinstein
Emily Vander Does
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Join the Yard today!
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Funding provided in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by
the Rhode Island General Assembly, a grant from the National Endowment for the
Arts and Private funders.
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