First Night May Ride Again!

As you may or may not now, First Night is currently in serious doubt of happening this year (due to budget shortfalls, a deficit, etc) I met today with a bunch of artists, as well as the organizers of First Night, to see if there's something that we can salvage, and perhaps continue the First Night Tradition. All of the artists were in agreement-- we wanted First Night to continue!


We are asking people to write letters to their elected officials to help the ball rolling-- this is the letter that I wrote-- feel free to send your own to the Mayor of Providence, to the Governor, and to anyone you think can help!


Find your elected officials

---

MY LETTER

Dear Mayor Cicciline:



My name is Adam Gertsacov, and I am an artist and performer living

in Providence  I am the author of the best-selling book Rhode

Island A to Z  I’m also a professional clown and performer.



I recently attended a meeting of artists to discuss the possibility of

 making First Night happen this year.  At this meeting the 25 artists

or so that attended the meeting were all in agreement: we want First

Night to happen.  It may not be as big as it was last year, but we all

are going to work together and revive First Night..



I urge you as both a citizen of Providence and as an artist to make it

happen.  Champion First Night to corporate sponsors, to your political

supporters,  and to the city council.   Give First Night  the funding

that it needs to hire a staff person and get the ball rolling.  Speak

with the Police and the Fire units to donate services  or give at cut

rates the necessary services to make First NIght possible.  Help First

Night organizers find venues which will make in kind donations.  

Make First Night happen!



This festival is part and parcel of the continued renaissance of

Providence as an artist’s city.  Withdrawing city support will cripple

the efforts of the arts community to revive the festival, and

irreparably damage the reputation that Providence has as an arts

friendly community.



I urge you to become a champion of the arts, and a champion of First

Night Providence.



Sincerely,





Your Name