Latest news with #WaterFire
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
City of Providence eyes temporary location for Matunuck Oyster Bar at Waterplace Park
Emily Crowell, chief of staff to Mayor Brett Smiley, said talks haven't advanced yet, but the idea is the restaurant and event space at 1 Finance Way has waterfront space and built-in programming because the facility overlooks every WaterFire event held throughout the summer. The bigger picture: There are other efforts underway to support Raso's restaurant while he rebuilds following the accidental fire. State lawmakers are moving quickly But the Skyline space could be an attractive – and splashy – option if Smiley and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation can get it over the finish line. It could also be a significant political victory for Governor Advertisement It would also be a win for Smiley, who This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Advertisement Dan McGowan can be reached at
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WaterFire Sharon looking for volunteers
SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) – There's a need for volunteers to help with a premier event in Sharon. WaterFire Sharon returns to the water July 26. There will be two shows this year. More than 50 braziers are anchored in the Shenango River during an event, and they're set on fire after dark. There's an emphasis this year to find more volunteers who can be on the water as captains. There are also numerous opportunities on land during the event. It takes more than 200 volunteers per year to make WaterFire Sharon run smoothly. 'The reason the volunteers are so important is because they allow the visitors to have the best experience. Everything functions right. They are kind of that backbone that keeps everything together and running,' said Adrianna Padilla, land operations manager. If you want to help with the brazier installation, show up June 21 at 9 a.m. You can find more WaterFire volunteer opportunities on its website. The second WaterFire event is September 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Full WaterFire lighting being held to honor RISD graduates
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A full WaterFire lighting will happen in Providence Saturday night in honor of those graduating from Rhode Island School of Design this year. The lighting, sponsored by RISD, is the second full lighting from this year's schedule. Alongside celebrating this year's graduating class, the lighting will also celebrate the college's reunion weekend. READ MORE: WaterFire unveils 2025 season schedule The lighting will start at 8:30 p.m. Programming and vendors open at 7 p.m. The braziers will stay lit until midnight. There will also be a memorial ceremony starting at 9:30 p.m. More full lightings will take place this season until November. The next lighting will take place on July 4. NEXT: Special Olympics RI Summer Games continue Saturday Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Don't let generative AI in the arts snuff out Rhode Island's creative spark
WaterFire draws 1 million people to downtown Providence every year, proving that art is legitimate economic fuel in Rhode Island's 'Creative Capital.' (Photo by David Santilli/City of Providence) I first moved to Providence in 2023 as a student and an artist, adamant to understand the city's creative nature I had heard so much about. In one of my first classes, we visited spaces like AS220 and New Urban Arts, places that showcase, nurture, and invite creativity. The art scene easily stopped feeling like an abstract concept and became a reason this city began to feel like a second home. WaterFire 'Starts at Sunset' Presented by the Providence Tourism Council The season's first WaterFire 'Starts at Sunset' event is Thursday, May 15. Programming begins at 7 p.m., including live music and art activations along the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge. The five braziers will be lit at 8 p.m. and burn until 10 p.m. One of my earliest memories here is following a trail of music and light — until I stumbled across WaterFire, flames flickering along the river as strangers became a community. I can't imagine what my experience would have looked like if the flames had gone cold. This is why the recent rise of AI in the arts feels more personal than theoretical. The same creative community that drew me in is now under threat. Unchecked, AI could limit compensation, erase human authorship and weaken the artistic institutions. Generative AI challenges the foundation of our creative economy. In Rhode Island, a state where the arts fuel both the economy and identity, that loss isn't just creative. It's structural. It's social. We must act now to regulate AI thoughtfully, protecting artists' rights while embracing technology responsibly. Together, arts and culture contribute $2.2 billion to Rhode Island's economy and nearly 18,000 jobs. Through traditions, institutions, and organizations such as WaterFire Providence, AS220, and the RISD museum, creative capital drives commerce, education, and tourism. WaterFire, a public art installation of fire statues across three downtown Providence rivers, provides major economic benefits. The fires attract around 1 million attendees every year, serving to fill local restaurants and hotels. These free events generate an estimated $12 million to $15 million in tax revenue for Rhode Island, and stand as living proof that art is legitimate economic fuel. The recent rise of AI in the arts feels more personal than theoretical. The same creative community that drew me in is now under threat. A few blocks away, AS220 is an artist-run organization that invests in affordable creative space. Each year the organization supports 1,000 local artists and draws upwards of 90,000 people to its events. Further, in the past year, the RISD Museum brought nearly 120,000 visitors and hosted hundreds of educational programs for schools and the public. Enter generative AI, a modern challenge to Rhode Island's embedded creativity. AI art tools can learn and grow from existing artist's works without permission or pay. Local creatives worry their livelihoods could be the next casualty of unchecked, unregulated automation. Griffin Smith, a digital art instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design, warns that AI could 'eliminate a 'middle class' of designers and freelance artists' as algorithms begin to replace local talent. This isn't a hypothetical fear. Nationally, the Brookings Institution has identified creative jobs, especially in design, writing, music, and video production, as among the most vulnerable to AI-driven automation. A McKinsey report predicts that by 2030, as many as 30% of creative and media jobs could be displaced without meaningful regulation. In states like Rhode Island, where small arts organizations and independent creators keep entire neighborhoods alive, the consequences won't just be artistic, but social. We can't stop innovation, change, or progress. And we shouldn't try to. What we can do is channel new technologies with foresight. We need thoughtful regulation of AI to preserve the creative economy Rhode Islanders have built. First, copyright laws must catch up by requiring artists' consent before companies use their work to train AI, preventing labor extraction. Second, ensure transparency. AI-generated art and content should be clearly labeled so consumers know the origin of the work. By protecting artists' intellectual property we preserve trust in the creative industries. Third, lead by example. Rhode Island's leaders, politicians, and companies should discourage art built solely by AI in public programs and promote technology that enhances and assists rather than replaces human creativity. Providence is the 'Creative Capital' for a reason. Not because of algorithms, but because of our people. Let's not risk our identity, our economy, or our communities, a protection that demands public pressure. We can embrace new tools as they come our way, but on our terms: ensuring technology serves our people, not the other way around. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
This riverwalk in RI is one of the best in the US, per USA Today. How to go
If you like long walks in nature, consider checking out this trail along the water in Rhode Island. USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards just released its public space rankings, and one riverwalk in Rhode Island ranked among the best in the country. The annual 10BEST awards highlight the best in travel, food and lifestyle, and winners are chosen by a public voting poll after being nominated by industry experts. In the public spaces awards, highlighting the top parks, playgrounds, trails and more from across the country, The Providence Riverwalk ranked ninth in the best riverwalk category. Here's what to know about the top-rated riverwalk in Rhode Island. The Providence Riverwalk is a scenic nature walk stretching for 2.4 miles along the Providence River waterfront, from Point Street Bridge to the Waterplace Park basin. Along with aesthetic scenes of downtown Providence's nature and skyline, the Riverwalk offers views of historic sites like Memorial Park and the spot of the original Union Station. The Riverwalk is also loaded with public art pieces, shops and restaurants, from casual cafes to high-end seafood restaurants. During the summer months, the Providence Riverwalk becomes a hub for outdoor entertainment. USA TODAY recommends kayaking through the river with Providence Kayak, riding in an authentic Venetian gondola through La Gondola Providence or stopping to watch lights and fire burst through the river in a WaterFire show. Currently, the Providence Riverwalk is undergoing a resilience project that will increase ADA accessibility, improve the river's water quality and connect 55 miles of regional trail systems, among other renovations. The riverwalk is open to the public daily along the Providence River. Nature in RI: Where to see flowers in Rhode Island this spring: 6 photo-worthy places to visit Here is the full ranking of USA TODAY's top 10 riverwalks in the country: Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY Tampa Riverwalk - Tampa, FL Wilmington Riverwalk - Wilmington, NC Smale Riverfront Park - Cincinnati, OH The Wharf - Washington, D.C. Woldenberg Riverfront Park - New Orleans, LA Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale, FL Riverfront Park - Spokane, WA The Providence Riverwalk - Providence, RI San Antonio River Walk - San Antonio, TX This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Riverwalk named one of best in US. How to go
