Established in 1967, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is charged by the state legislature to stimulate public interest and participation in the arts, and to serve as the liaison to the state's arts community.
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts’ Project Grant for Organizations (PGO) program offers up to $3,000 in support for arts and culture projects that hold relevance and meaning to Rhode Island communities. Targeting organizations new to RISCA funding, the program supports discrete activities with a clear start and end, including, but not limited to, festivals, shows, exhibitions, classes, series, and various thematic arts events. A core requirement for funded programs is their connection to and value for the community, aligning with RISCA's mission to foster a meaningful cultural life for all Rhode Island residents. The program emphasizes support for projects engaging historically and/or continuously marginalized communities as defined by the National Endowment for the Arts, which includes immigrant groups, BIPOC communities, rural populations, aging populations, those living in poverty or experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, incarcerated populations, communities recovering from trauma, and military service members and veterans.