December 15, 2009
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — This year’s Bright Night Providence festival for New Year’s Eve is suddenly looking brighter.A couple of weeks ago it looked dim. The city reported it cut its funding for the event by 75 percent because of budgetary constraints. Now an anonymous donor has made up some of the difference.Tuesday morning in Waterplace Park, in the company of colorfully costumed Bright Night characters, Barnaby Evans, founder and director of WaterFire Providence, announced his organization would celebrate its 15th anniversary on New Year’s Eve. And it would celebrate by supporting Bright Night — and adding an unplanned Dec. 31 "WaterFire.""It’s important for the city to have this celebration and this energy," Evans said. "The city cannot be in the dark."WaterFire had planned to celebrate its 15th anniversary, but not with a "WaterFire," until recently.
"We understand the economic times," Evans said. "We scaled back our schedule this year."
But when the Bright Night organization informed arts organizations in the city that it was financially struggling, Evans asked an anonymous WaterFire donor for help, and help was given: $16,000, which WaterFire is sharing with Bright Night.
Bright Night normally receives $20,000 in municipal services from the city, and this year is getting just $5,000."The festival was in peril," said Adam Gertsacov, director of Bright Night. "And these people stepped up."The money will make the festival bigger and better, according to Mayor David N. Cicilline."We wouldn’t have had a ‘WaterFire,’ but we would have Bright Night. This will make it better."Also offering financial assistance this year is the Local Union 1033 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, which is contributing $5,000, covering the costs of electrical, sanitary and (nonpolice) security services for the festival."When we heard there was a crisis and it was a financial one, we made a contribution," said Don Iannazzi, Local 1033 business manger.This year’s festival in downtown Providence will involve 150 performers at 15 venues. And it will also involve a ‘WaterFire,’ from 5:30 to 10 p.m. in the WaterPlace Park basin, and until midnight at a dozen braziers along Memorial Park.The Bright Night show was going to go on. Now, Gertsacov said, it will go on with more compensation to the participating artists, who had reduced or waived their fees for the event."The money we get is going right to the artists," Gertsacov said.The headline act of this year’s Bright Night is IllusionQuest, featuring magician David Garrity."He will make your jaw drop with awe," Gertsacov said. "If you’re wearing socks, watch out. He’ll knock your socks off."Bright Night, established in 2003, is the successor to First Night Providence. Advance tickets are $10, $15 if purchased after Dec. 25. Gertsacov said tickets sales are critical for the success of the event. He talked about the organization’s 2010 campaign of getting 2,010 people to give $20 and to tell 10 other people about the event. Here’s more information, including a schedule. While WaterFire is sharing some money on New Year’s Eve, but it’s also seeking it. The organization is conducting a fundraiser, a "Venetian Masquerade," at the Old Stone Bank, 86 South Main St. There will be champagne and a buffet dinner, art exhibits and art performances: tenor Nathan Granner of the "Three American Tenors," and Quixotic Fusion, an aerialist ensemble. Tickets to attend 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. are $250; and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. are $500.
