PPAC's Community Outreach Committee is Now Accepting Applications for the ARTS Scholarships 2025 Program
RHODE ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
Providence, RI – The Community Outreach Committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) is pleased to announce that applications for the 2025 ARTS Scholarships program are now live at ppacri.org/scholarships. This year, 60 to 80 Rhode Island students in the 6th – 8th grades will have the exciting opportunity to receive up to $600 in scholarship funding to enroll in and attend summer arts-related educational opportunities of their choosing. Applications and supporting materials must be submitted through the ARTS Scholarships web page no later than 12P on Thursday, March 20, 2025. For more information, please contact Ricky Gresh at 401.574.3105 or email scholarships@ppacri.org.
“We encourage Rhode Island artists in the sixth through eighth grade to submit an application to be a part of this year’s ARTS Scholarships program,” said P.J. Prokop, Director of Marketing.
When the Marketing Department and the Community Outreach Committee developed the ARTS Scholarships program nearly thirty years ago, we chose to focus on middle school students, as they are developing their creative interests and passions. We are grateful to the Textron Charitable Trust, Ocean State Charities Trust, PPAC’s Annual Fund donors and WPRI 12 for their ongoing partnerships in support of these scholarships.
P.J. Prokop, PPAC Director of Marketing
The ARTS Scholarships program was created thanks to a portion of the proceeds from the First Annual Greater Providence Gospel Fest, a production of the Providence Performing Arts Center which featured local, volunteer gospel choirs.
Eligible students must reside in Rhode Island and be in grades 6th, 7th, or 8th, or the home school equivalent at the time of submitting their application. Applicants must be interested in the arts and demonstrate need, financial or otherwise.
Several recipients will receive special memorial Scholarships supported by the DePietro, O’Donnell, and Ragosta families to carry-on the artistic spirit of their loved ones.
Previous scholarship winners have participated in a broad range of summer arts programs throughout Rhode Island, including the Rhode Island School of Design, Artists’ Exchange, Trinity Repertory Theatre, Academy Players of Rhode Island, Blue Door Studios, Newport Contemporary Ballet, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, BalletRI, Providence Country Day School, the Moses Brown School and PPAC’s own Next Stop BROADWAY summer theatrical intensive, among others.
The ARTS Scholarships program is one of PPAC’s Outreach and Engagement initiatives that engage students, educators and families with the arts. These Outreach and Engagement programs are generously supported by PPAC’s Annual Fund, attendees of PPAC’s Annual Gala, and community granting and funding organizations. For more information, visit ppacri.org/outreach.
Community Outreach Committee
The Community Outreach Committee is a standing committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center’s Board of Directors and is comprised of PPAC Directors, Rhode Island educators and community leaders who share an interest in the arts and youth. The Committee’s mission includes developing arts education opportunities for Rhode Island’s young people and making the Providence Performing Arts Center accessible to Rhode Island’s diverse populations.
The ARTS Scholarships sub-committee is comprised of a panel of judges who review and select the recipients. The panel considers students’ written statements, samples of artwork or performance, recommendation from a teacher or advisor, and indication of need.