AS220 IMPACT: Lynne McCormack
Lynne McCormack
Cultural Development Adviser
In 1985, I was a RISD student excited to be engaging with the arts community of Providence. Downtown was in its dark days, storefronts were empty, and businesses were struggling. The river was still covered by the widest bridge in the world. I was aware of Bert Crenca and a group of artists working to establish an unjuried and uncensored space. Soon I was an aspiring performance artist at the newly minted AS220 on the third floor of PPAC, covering myself in mud and setting movement to the poetry of local artists.
When AS220 moved to Empire Street, the mayor recognized the impact it could have on real estate values and the dynamic of the neighborhood. Bert understood the value of working with the existing businesses and community. AS220 created a development model of inclusion rather than gentrification, now recognized as a values-based arts & economic development strategy, ahead of its time. AS220 continues to be instrumental in breathing energy, vitality, and a sense of belonging in the evolution of our Divine Providence.