Providence RI, 02903
401-831-9327
In 1992, we embarked on an effort to own our own home in downtown Providence. We acquired a 21,000 square foot, three floor building on Empire Street that was severely blighted and almost totally abandoned. By the following year we achieved code compliance and 100% occupancy, with Groundwerx Dance Company, Perishable Theatre and a number of resident artists helped to fill every room. This was accomplished with a very limited budget of $1.2 million dollars, tremendous community support, highly imaginative fund-raising, and most significantly, tons of sweat equity. What was once an almost lifeless block in downtown Providence is today a thriving mixed-use arts complex and a destination an estimated 50,000 people each year. This project was one of the first significant steps in the creation of the Providence Arts and Entertainment District.
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Between 2003 and September of 2006 two million additional dollars were raised for the first phase of The Capital Campaign for AS220, which funding major improvements to the Empire Street complex including: restoration of the facade, expansion of the AS220 performance space and street level gallery, upgrades to the street level HVAC and electrical systems, sound and lighting improvements and the creation of a complimentary venue dedicated to food and beverage, AS220's bar and restaurant.
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Today, Empire Street provides a home to AS220's Performance Space, The AS220 Bar, AS220 Foo(d), AS220 Youth Studio, the Paul Krot B&W Community Darkrooms3 of our 4 Gallery Spaces, and twenty live/work studios for artists. Empire Street is also called home by some tenants and partners: Perishable Theatre, Roberto's Barber Shop and Muldowney's Pub. The non-profit College Visions, inhabited Empire Street from its founding until November 2010 when it relocated to the Mercantile. AS220 Labs and the Fab Lab at AS220 also called Empire Street home until relocating to an expanded two level space in the Mercantile in December 2010.
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Residential Studios
Download the floor plan for Empire Street's third floor residential hall
The third floor of Empire Street has 12 residential studios that range from 245 sq. ft to 410 sq. ft. Rent for 11 of these spaces runs from $333 to $446, with one studio offered free of charge to an artist visiting AS220 by way of staff invitation. Spaces are leased on an annual basis to artists who qualify for low income housing by earning less than $26,000 annually. Empire Street studios include a private room plus shared kitchen and bath facilities as well as all utilities and basic maintenance. Residential artists at Empire Street must be committed to its cooperative living structure. Every artist who lives at AS220 is responsible for 5 hours per month in community service within AS220, communal chores on Floor 3, attendance at monthly floor meetings and respectful use of common facilities. There is a 5-year term limit for residencies on Empire Street. Every month, a visiting Artist-in-Residence lives and works in a studio on Floor 3 reserved specifically for this purpose
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Work Studios
Download the floor plan for Empire Street's second floor work studios and program spaces
Download the floor plan for Empire Street's second floor work studios and program spaces
On the floor below Empire Streets communal residencies, you find a similar community of artists inhabiting the building's work studios. Four of these studios ranging in size from 140 sq. ft to 320 sq. ft with rents from $98 to $226 per month, are occupied by active artists from the larger community.
You can learn about any available vacancies, learn more about the application process and download AS220's application to live or work on Empire Street at our Live/Work Page.