This annual lecture honors the late Claiborne Pell (1918-2009), who represented Rhode Island in the United States Senate from 1961-1997. He is best remembered for being a champion of education, the arts and humanities.

Senator Pell was the main sponsor of the Pell Grant, a financial aid program for U.S. college students, and he played a major role in the establishment of both the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities.

2009 | Jeremy Nowak, President & CEO of The Reinvestment Fund Presented on the role of art and culture in neighborhood regeneration, policy options for distressed cities, and the role of development finance for older industrial cities.

2010 | Cities, Bicycles and the Future of Getting Around
Explored how nurturing creativity can enrich civic life. The panel probed the intersections among urban planning, creativity and the joy of seeing the world from a bicycle.

Panel participants included musician, artist and author David Byrne; urban historian Samuel Zipp, Assistant Professor at Brown University; Thomas Deller, Director of Providence Dept. of Planning and Development; and Barry Schiller, a local bicycle advocate.

2011 | Donna Walker-Kuhne, President, Walker International Communications Group
Discussed the importance of increasing the accessibility to the arts by engaging our Nation's rapidly growing multicultural population.

2012 | Creative Placemaking: Providence The Creative Capital
A conversation about the role of arts and culture as a tool for building strong communities & revitalizing neighborhoods. More Info

2013 | Now Is The Time!: Expanding Access to Arts Education
A conversation about the role of arts education as a tool for developing a creative, 21st century ready workforce. More Info