WaterFire – Providence

WaterFire Providence is an independent, non-profit arts organization whose mission is to inspire Providence and its visitors by revitalizing the urban experience, fostering community engagement and creatively transforming the city by presenting WaterFire for all to enjoy.

Started in 1994 as a single installation of 11 bonfires by artist Barnaby Evans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of First Night Providence, WaterFire has grown tremendously and today centers around an installation of 86 bonfires floating on the urban rivers of Downtown Providence.

WaterFire events draw over 1 million people a year to downtown Providence, making the City a popular international cultural tourism destination. WaterFire activity creates $114,000,000 of spending in local businesses, generates $9,300,000 in tax revenue for the State of Rhode Island and City of Providence and supports 1,294 jobs in the community.  WaterFire is recognized internationally as a sterling example of art’s ability to support and drive the economy.

Every WaterFire event is completely free and open to the public. Large-scale programming varies from event to event, making no two WaterFire lightings alike, and is often a result of partnerships with other organizations and groups. WaterFire partners with many community cultural organizations and groups to highlight the rich diversity that resides in the Ocean State, and in doing so, it shares inspiring, life affirming art that is accessible and free to millions of visitors. 2014 Sponsor and Corporate Partners include Brown University, Fidelity Investments, National Grid, Nortek Inc., Cox Communications, Amica Insurance, Alex and Ani, GTECH, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, Webster Bank and many more.

2014 Full WaterFire Lightings:

Saturday, June 28th

Full Lighting – Sunset 8:25PM

Sponsored by: Unitarian Universalist Association

Saturday, July 12th

Full Lighting – Sunset 8:21PM

Sponsored by: Fidelity Investments and Nortek, Inc.

Saturday, July 26th

Full Lighting – Sunset 8:11PM

C is for Cure: A WaterFire Lighting for RI Defeats Hep C

Sponsored by: Gilead

Saturday, August 9th

Full Lighting – Sunset 7:55PM

Sponsored by: National Grid

Saturday, August 23rd

Full Lighting – Sunset 7:35PM

Sponsored by: Amica Insurance and Cox Business

Saturday, September 27th

Full Lighting – Sunset 6:36PM

Sponsored by: Webster Bank and Confucius Institute

Saturday, October 11th

Full Lighting – Sunset 6:12PM

Sponsored by: Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation – Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life®

Saturday, October 25th

Full Lighting- Sunset 5:51PM

Sponsored by: Brown University in celebration of its 250th Anniversary

Saturday, November 8th

Full Lighting- Sunset 4:33PM

Sponsored by: Alex & Ani, Bank of America and thanks to the generous support of the Textron Charitable Trust

For more information on WaterFire and its 2014 season, please visit www.waterfire.org.

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