Workshops – Rhode Island State Council on the Arts

May Workshops for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses in the Arts English- and Spanish-language MBE and WBE certification workshops to be cohosted by Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

May 18, 2023May 18, 2023fayezuckerman

The R.I. State Council on the Arts (RISCA) and the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) are hosting two free webinars on Friday, May 26, for Rhode Island arts businesses interested in being certified as Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and/or Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs).

The English version of the MBE application workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., while the Spanish version will be hosted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Business owners who are interested in participating in the webinars can register for English, and register for Spanish.

“RISCA’s partnership with the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is incredibly beneficial to artists and arts and culture businesses and nonprofits,” said RISCA’s Executive Director Lynne McCormack. “Educating these small business owners on the various business certifications offered by DEDI and how to get certified opens up opportunities for work, as well as diversifying and expanding businesses that the state looks to first for contract services, such as graphic design, videography, and more.”

“The workshops help Rhode Island expand the number of MBE and WBE certified businesses in the arts, and it provides the arts business community with increased opportunities to participate in state-funded projects,” said DEDI’s Associate Director Tomás Ávila.

Businesses that participate in DEDI’s MBE program receive training and technical assistance designed to support and strengthen their ability to compete in their industry, he said.

Rhode Island law requires that certified minority businesses on the MBE/WBE list shall be awarded a minimum of ten percent (10%) of all state contracts. Qualifications for MBE and WBE include the following:

• Firms must be for-profit.
• 51% of the firm must be owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
• Ownership and control must be real, substantial, and continuing.
• For a license industry, firm must hold a valid business license.
• Firm must be a small business concern and must have been in operation for at least 6 months.
• Personal net worth of applicant cannot exceed $1.32 million.

R.I.’s Diversity, Equity and Opportunity Division Provides Application Walk-Through for Minority and Women owned businesses

April 28, 2023May 9, 2023fayezuckerman

Join us for an online deep dive into the application process for the Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise Certifications

Friday, May 26, 10 a.m., in English; 2 p.m., in Spanish

We have teamed up with the R.I. Minority Business Enterprise Compliance Office (MBECO) so artists, arts administrators, and small arts and culture organizations can learn more about business certifications by state and government entities. State agencies, including RISCA, contract with a variety of small businesses and are required by law to seek out entities that are Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) or Women Business Enterprise (WBE).

By getting certified, you may get more work and/or make key contacts to help you grow your business!

Please join Ana Pimentel and Anthony Aquino, both Programming Services Officers with MBECO, for an online webinar where they present a thorough question-by-question walk-through of the applications for the Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise.

Event details

What: MBECO application review for Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise Certifications.
When: Friday, May 26, at 10 a.m. (English); 2 p.m. in Spanish.
Where: Online and RSVP required through Eventbrite. For English, click here; for Spanish, click here.

POSTPONED: Application Office Hours- Public Art at RIC

January 13, 2023January 23, 2023mollieflanagan

These office hours have been postponed. Please reach out to Molly Dickinson with any questions about the application at molly.dickinson.ctr@arts.ri.gov.

Interested in applying for the public art commissions at Rhode Island College’s Horace Mann Hall? Do you have questions about the opportunity, the state’s public art program, the selection process, or how to apply?

RISCA staff will be on hand in the lobby to answer questions on two dates:

January 23rd, 4-6pm
January 26th, 5-7pm

Horace Mann Hall at Rhode Island College, College Road off 600 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence. Parking available Lot K in front of building.

About this Call:
RISCA and Rhode Island College will commission two artworks for the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development’s Horace Mann Hall, through the State’s Allocations for Art for Public Facilities Act; an exterior artwork with a budget of $100,000 and an interior artwork with a budget of $35,000. The interior commission is restricted to Rhode Island artists only; emerging artists are encouraged to apply. The deadline is February 6th, and the application is free to submit.

More information is available on the RISCA blog ; application is available on CallforEntry.org .