James Baumgartner

 Rhode Island College has announced its intention to suspend 20 degree programs as of this fall, including Gender and Women’s Studies, Latin American Studies, and education and masters level degrees in Art, Early Childhood Education and Music. Here to talk more about the potential implications of the cuts is Dr. Leslie Schuster, professor of History […]

This week on Artscape, producer James Baumgartner and editor Mareva Lindo highlight a few of their favorite festivals coming up this summer, from Providence Porchfest to New Bedford's Roots & Branches Festival.

A local artist poses the question “WTF Can Artists Do During a Fascist Takeover?” - that’s the title of a new web comic by Providence-based artist, educator and organizer Jordan Seaberry. He joined me in the studio to talk about the inspiration of the comic and his advice for artists. Plus: The latest plays on now at Trinity Rep and the Gamm Theatre.

Every year, the James Beard Foundation recognizes exceptional restaurants and chefs throughout the country, one of the highest honors in the culinary field. Earlier this week, they announced this year’s winners. Sky Hanuel Kim, the chef at Gift Horse in Providence, won “Best Chef Northeast.” The win came just a year after Kim was a semifinalist for “best emerging chef.” I visited Sky Kim at her restaurant, Gift Horse, shortly after she was named a semifinalist in 2024.

The rise of Val Lawson as president of the Rhode Island Senate put questions of conflict of interest front and center at the Statehouse this year. That’s because Lawson also serves as president of one of the state’s largest teachers’ unions. Lawson says she’s capable of policing her own potential conflicts, and the Rhode Island Ethics Commission offered an ok for her dual roles as president. But Lawson’s number two is a longtime former labor official and labor remains an influential special interest at the Statehouse. That’s a place where corporate lobbyists significantly outnumber advocates for nonprofit groups. In related news, efforts to modernize the state’s open records law once again ran into a brick wall on Smith Hill this year. So what did this legislative session show us about the outlook for good government in Rhode Island? How can everyday citizens make their voices heard in the corridors of power? And what can be done about the broader problem of political violence in our polarized w

George Kent, founder and longtime music director of the Chorus of Westerly, died June 17 at age 88. Kent also served as organist and choirmaster at Christ Church in Westerly for nearly 60 years, and was a former assistant conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. Artscape producer James Baumgartner spoke about Kent’s legacy with […]

UPDATE: During its July 17, 2025 meeting, the New Bedford City Council voted to restore $495,000 to the Zeiterion Theatre Inc. The Zeiterion Theatre opened in 1923 as the State Theater, a lavish vaudeville and movie house. It hosted the 1956 premier of “Moby Dick” with the movie’s star, Gregory Peck, in attendance.  But by […]

The New Bedford City Council voted Thursday night to restore $495,000 in city funds to the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. The money had been cut from the city budget during a marathon council meeting in June.

Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with two of the performers from the musical “Hairspray” at Theatre by the Sea through August 16, 2025.  Interview highlights: On her character, Tracy Turnblad Niki Metcalf – In a lot of ways I bring so much of myself to Tracy every night just because she feels like me. She […]

Rhode Island Latino Arts and three other arts organizations won a ruling against the Trump Administration on Friday when a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that a policy from the National Endowment for the Arts violates the First Amendment and other federal laws. The policy would have allowed the NEA to disfavor grant applications […]