Artworks by folk and traditional artists are on display at the Atrium Gallery

Published on Tuesday, October 06, 2026

The Opening Reception is Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m.

Providence, RI -- The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) announced today the opening of an exhibit that features folk arts traditions, which have formed our state’s rich cultural fabric. The exhibit, Our Shared Traditions: RISCA’s Folk and Traditional Arts Program, An America 250 Program, is currently on display at the Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill, Providence.

There will be an Opening Reception on Thursday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., and will feature several cultural performances. It is free and open to the public. RSVP.

The Atrium Gallery is located on the first floor of the state’s Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence. 

The exhibit highlights selected artworks from the past 16 years of folk artists who received Folk and Traditional Arts Fellowship and Apprenticeship grants. Elena Calderón Patiño, RISCA’s Arts and Cultural Sustainability Director, was the curator for the exhibit.

“Through this exhibition we are celebrating the importance of preserving and perpetuating the cultural heritages that makes Rhode Island a vibrant state. The artwork by these artists and culture bearers shows us how cultural identity is shaped by traditions, stories, music, dance, and creative practices passed intentionally from generation to generation,” Todd Trebour, Executive Director of RISCA, said. “By supporting folk and traditional artists, our agency amplifies the power of Rhode Island’s rich diversity of cultures and traditions.

Prior to the Opening Reception, RISCA, RI Humanities, RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Committee, the RI 250 Commission, and the Secretary of State’s Office will be hosting The Mosaic We Make: A Cultural Call and Response, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at the R.I. State House Library. It will be facilitated by Harold Steward, Executive Director, New England Foundation for the Arts, and Silvermoon LaRose, Assistant Director of the Tomaquag Museum. 

At the conclusion of the program, Djembe Master Sidy Maiga will lead a musical procession from the R.I. State House Library to the Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill for the Opening Reception.

For more information, email: risca.contact@arts.ri.gov.

The exhibit Our Shared Traditions and the event, The Mosaic We Make: A Cultural Call and Response, are sponsored by funding from America250 via the National Endowment for the Arts.

Exhibit Details

• What: Our Shared Traditions: RISCA’s Folk and Traditional Arts Program
• When: Thursday, Oct 22, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Where: Atrium Gallery, First floor of the state’s Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence.

Directions to the Atrium Gallery

The Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill was developed to recognize artists from communities throughout the state. The Atrium Gallery hosts multidisciplinary exhibitions in partnership with diverse artists and cultural organizations. The Gallery features a stunning tall glass ceiling with light that cascades into an open space surrounded by three walls of artwork. This has become a destination point for visitors and the many people who frequent the administration offices at One Capitol Hill, while enriching the environment for hundreds of state workers in the building.