Press Release from the Office of the Mayor, David N. Cicilline



	For more information on Bright Night Providence, and to find out how you can help make this night a success, log onto BrightNight.org .

Providence - Mayor David N. Cicilline announced today the City's financial support for Bright Night Providence: an exciting arts and cultural celebration created by local artists, which will bring more than 60 performances to downtown Providence on New Year's Eve. Cicilline made the announcement at the Providence Performing Arts Center surrounded by the Big Nazo puppets and local musicians.

“I am delighted to support Bright Night Providence, and I want to commend the local art community for creating a solid proposal for a fun filled New Year’s Eve celebration,” said Cicilline. “Providence is a great city with some of the most talented artists in the country.”

The City of Providence has spent the past several months searching for an appropriate New Year’s Eve celebration for downtown Providence. Earlier this month, artist Adam G. Gertsacov met with Mayor Cicilline to talk about his ideas during Mayor’s Night In/Mayor’s Night Out (a program initiated by Cicilline to give residents a chance to meet one-on-one with him once a month to express their concerns.) Gertsacov used the occasion to present the Mayor with a proposal, developed by local artists, to create an exciting New Year’s Eve festival that celebrates arts in Providence.



	For more information on Bright Night Providence, and to find out how you can help make this night a success, log onto BrightNight.org .

Mayor Cicilline directed Cliff Wood, the City’s acting director of Arts, Film, Culture and Tourism, and Paul Brooks, director of Protocol, to meet with Gertsacov to determine the best way to assist the artists in their effort to capture the spirit and enjoyment of New Year’s Eve festivities. Additionally, the Mayor committed $25,000 to Bright Night Providence from the City, and will be reaching out to corporations and individuals to encourage others to lend their support to the success of Bright Night Providence.

“We are very excited that the Mayor is supporting our efforts,” said Gertsacov. “It really shows the Mayor’s support for the arts and for local artists. “We are going to have lights in the water, lights in the sky and local stars on stages all over downtown.”

Bright Night Providence, which is expected to draw thousands of people to downtown Providence on New Year’s Eve, will feature everything from live music, theater and dance to a variety of arts, storytelling and puppetry.