Looking for every advantage

PERFECTLY CLEAR: Benjamin Thomas, a photographer who owns a gallery, says designating an arts district in Wickford would be a economic boon for the bay-side village. / PBN PHOTO/CATIA CUEN
PERFECTLY CLEAR: Benjamin Thomas, a photographer who owns a gallery, says designating an arts district in Wickford would be a economic boon for the bay-side village. / PBN PHOTO/CATIA CUEN

Beth Kiepert appreciates that her jewelry and gift shop is located at 420 Main St. in Warren, within the boundary of the Warren Arts District.
“It labels Warren as a destination for the arts,” said Kiepert, owner of Muse. “It gives people who don’t know the area something to hold onto, to help them find what they might be interested in. It’s very good for tourism; people like artistic things.”
Being in an arts district also brings a tax break, one Kiepert is happy to take advantage of.
“I would definitely say it’s a benefit. … When you don’t add another 7 percent on top of that, it’s appealing,” she said.
Now, Wickford is trying to gain an arts district of its own. The North Kingstown village is home to the Wickford Arts Festival, one of the nation’s most renowned, hosted by the Wickford Art Association, as it has been since 1962.
But the bay-side village does not have one of the state’s 10 arts districts, which came into being after a 1998 law that provides tax incentives for artists to live and work in specific areas. Currently nine communities host districts – Little Compton, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence (with two), Tiverton, Warren, Warwick, Westerly and Woonsocket – and the benefits are real.
A state-designated arts district can help artists and gallery owners save money in three separate ways. For artists living and working in the district, any sale of work created within the district is exempt from sales tax, while any income they receive from the sale of said work is exempt from personal income tax. For gallery spaces, the sales of original works of art are exempt from sales tax whether or not they were created within the district.
There was hope that Wickford would gain an arts district when the state Senate passed legislation on May 30 establishing one. But the House Finance Committee held a companion bill over for study until the end of the session, killing the concept until after the next election. Wickford is not alone in wanting to take advantage of the arts-district benefits. In the municipalities of Pawtucket, Central Falls and Cumberland, officials are hoping the existing Pawtucket Arts District will be expanded, a plan endorsed by the planning and economic-development departments of all three towns.
“The current art district in Pawtucket has become very successful,” said Cumberland Town Planner John J. Aubin III, “and we are hoping that the artist community will expand as it has in Pawtucket. There are a lot of resources in the Blackstone Valley that would benefit from this tax classification. If we are to build this area as a destination place, people are going to want to shop and eat. This would help with that goal,” he said.
Gaining an arts district in Wickford would benefit many members of the Wickford Art Association, the nonprofit group representing more than 400 artists that produces the festival, slated to run July 7-8. The weekend event, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, supports the association’s exhibits in its gallery throughout the year, as well as some scholarships.
The festival displays original works of painting, photography and sculpture, with about 250 outdoor spaces reserved for artists. The average two-day attendance is usually between 50,000 to 75,000 people, according to the association. The event has merited numerous superlatives, including last year’s No. 1 ranking by Sunshine Artist Magazine of festivals throughout New England, and seventh out of the 200 best of the country.
“I think [an arts district is] a great idea but might be [too] limited in its scope,” said Bethany Mazza of Green Ink in North Kingstown. The store was founded by Betty “Bee” Givan in 1972 and is now co-owned with her daughter, Bethany. Green Ink carries unusual, clothing and shoes, as well as a full compliment of accessories and other gifts. “My mother, who owns the store with me is a painter,” said Mazza. “She paints things in the shop, but because she lives in North Kingstown – not in Wickford – her artwork wouldn’t be included in it. To me that doesn’t make any sense.”
At the Benjamin Thomas Gallery at 83 Brown St. in Wickford, Benjamin Thomas is familiar with the districts. Over the years, he said, several attempts have been made to create an arts district. When he moved to Wickford two years ago, he was taken aback to learn that it had not been done already. “With Wickford being known for its arts, it was surprising,” he said.
He felt it would be a huge benefit for the art-festival weekend. “It might bring in more people who could be able to buy things,” he said. “The tax isn’t ridiculous, but people are looking for deals. They are looking for any edge because the money they have doesn’t go far. I think it would help a lot. I would think it would start to bring more people into the area,” he said.
The proposed Wickford Arts District would include areas along Route 102, starting at the Hussey Bridge and heading west along Route 102. Also included would be Phillips Street, Ten Rod Road and Victory Highway, to the intersection of Routes 102 and 2, including Rodman Mill Pond.
From Thomas’ perspective, the arts district is a must – he is afraid of the future of Wickford.
“There seems to be more turnover of businesses and things are kind of down for now,” he said. “Maybe this [could be] the shot in the arm it needs to bring in some new businesses and galleries.” •

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