25 years ago a small group of musicians had this radical idea: What positive change could come from a string quartet in residence — rehearsing, teaching, and performing — in a diverse community?
Inspired by possibilities, the musicians founded Community MusicWorks, operating from a small storefront on Westminster Street in Providence’s West End neighborhood. More than two decades later, the innovative concept of building community through music education, performance, and social justice has proved itself through the organization’s growth into a thriving, award-winning nonprofit. In 2010, founder Sebastian Ruth’s MacArthur “genius” award cemented CMW’s national impact as initiatives inspired and supported by the program emerged across the continent.
CMW’s impact on musicians, students, families, and the community is made visible in every lesson, concert, and community dinner. Through the organization’s unique model connecting musicians with the community as educators, performers, and mentors, CMW students have come to envision themselves as artists and as citizens with an important voice. Performances by the MusicWorks Collective have connected audience members across neighborhoods and across traditional lines of difference through a common participation in music.
Community MusicWorks has accomplished all of this — now with 14 resident musicians teaching 150 students — based out of that same small storefront on Westminster Street.
Now, a new question: What if the community had a dedicated home for CMW’s work?
The History
IN DECEMBER 2017, CMW purchased an empty lot at 1326 Westminster Street, just one block from its storefront, and engaged the architectural firm 3Six0 to create preliminary designs for the Community MusicWorks Center.
IN THE SPRING OF 2021, friends gathered at the site of CMW’s future home to honor the past, present, and future of the land and celebrate the world premiere performance of a commissioned piece: Traces. Traces is a sonic collaboration between Community MusicWorks, composer Shaw Pong Liu, the Rhode Island Historical Society, and numerous individuals from our community and neighborhood with the aim of tracing, acknowledging, and celebrating the history of what is now called 1326 Westminster Street, Providence. Learn more about the Traces project and watch the concert video here.
IN MAY 2022, in a groundbreaking kick-off celebration that includes student performances, refreshments, special guest speakers, and a “walk-through” of the building, The Community MusicWorks Center project gets underway!
The Vision
The Community MusicWork Center will be a central, inclusive gathering place in the heart of Providence’s West End that embodies CMW’s mission and values; an anchor in the community where students, families, audiences, and neighbors can comfortably engage with a remarkable spectrum of cultural activities; a welcoming space supporting ongoing dialogue, inspiration, and connection. Please join us in building CMW’s new home. We will thrive with the support — the ideas, time, investment, and care — of this entire community.
The Plan
Build a gathering place, a place for music and spirit, a place for belonging
Expand programs, lessons, and community performance opportunities
Establish financial reserves for a secure future
Plans for the 24,000 square foot facility include:
- A central atrium and ground-floor café that will serve as a gathering area and performance space
- Second-floor classrooms and practice spaces equipped with smart-space technology and built-in recording equipment
- A fully equipped media lab
- A music library housing CMW’s collection of 4,000 scores and teaching resources
- Administrative office