Providence, RI – Rhode Island Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy formally announced a Department of Education appropriation of $700,000 for Providence College's Smith Center for the Arts at a sold-out student musical performance in the Smith Center's Concert Hall on Sunday, April 3, 2005.

The College’s combined choirs, accompanied by members of the Providence College faculty and professional musicians from the region, presented Awake Psaltery and Harp!  The performance featured works of two major twentieth-century composers, Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein.

The funds are the direct result of Kennedy’s work as a member of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, the body which oversees all federal spending.    

A 1991 graduate of Providence College, Kennedy has served on the committee for two terms. His presence there enables him to earmark funds for important projects in Rhode Island

“It’s always a special privilege for me to support my alma mater, particularly in endeavors such as this one,” noted Kennedy. “During this era of cost cutting and budget crunching, we often lose sight of the importance of the arts in our lives and the lives of our children. I’ve always believed that cutting the arts first during difficult times shows a lack of creativity. That’s why I’m so glad that I was able to assist Providence College in obtaining these critical funds that will help keep the arts a vital and important part of campus life. This center will reap an array of benefits both for students and for members of the community. I salute Father Smith and his administration for their fine work on the center and look forward to visiting it often.”

Providence College's new Smith Center for the Arts was dedicated on October 29, 2004 in honor of Rev. Philip A. Smith, O.P., who will complete his service as the eleventh president of Providence College (1994-2005) on June 30, 2005.

In acknowledging receipt of the funds Father Smith noted, “Congressman Kennedy knows very well the significance of this grant to Providence College.  As an undergraduate he participated in theatre productions presented in facilities that unfortunately did not match the interests and talents of our students and faculty. We are very grateful that he used his influence to persuade his colleagues that our purpose was noble and our need was great.”

The 60,000 square-foot building – constructed at a cost of $18 million – houses the Department of Music and the Department of Theatre, Dance and Film, along with the full range of related faculty offices, classrooms, and rehearsal and production facilities. Performance venues include the 283-seat Angell Blackfriars Theatre, a 275-seat concert and lecture hall, and the Bowab Studio Theatre. The center also features a spacious dance studio and the Reilly Art Gallery.

“The facility expands significantly Providence College's performing arts capabilities for students and faculty, and will enable us to extend our arts outreach programming to the local community,” added Father Smith.

The federal appropriation will fund mechanical and lighting systems in the Angell Blackfriars Theatre, seating in the Bowab Studio Theatre, instrument lockers and music library corrals in the rehearsal areas, and classroom technology.

The appropriation secured by Kennedy is the third federal appropriation grant within the past three years that has been earmarked for the Smith Center for the Arts, according to Edward J. Caron, vice president for college relations and planning. With the assistance of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Kennedy, the College previously received more than $561,000 in grants from the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The three appropriations total some $1.26 million.

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