The LINK's Interim Use Program

Calling all creative Rhode Islanders! The LINK (195 Commission) invites all imaginative people in the state to enliven the community and activate public space with original creations for an interim period in Providence.

The LINK was created in late 2011 to serve as the responsible authority for the sale, marketing and oversight of approximately twenty acres of land freed up by the relocation of Interstate 195. Situated between the vibrant and eclectic communities of Downtown, the Jewelry District, College Hill and Fox Point, the I-195 land offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to knit together the parts of the city formerly divided by highway, and create a dynamic center in the heart of Providence for people of all ages and income groups to work, live, and recreate. It is estimated that the full completion of this project may take decades.

In these beginning phases, it is our hope to enrich the surrounding urban environment with an interim use program. Whether its a sculptural installation, a garden to cultivate, an apiary to tend to, or a performance piece to watch, the interim use program will generate excitement for the I-195 land while giving local individuals a very visible space to showcase their creative talents. 

The LINK will be holding an information session next Monday, December 2 at 5 PM at the offices of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, 02908). Submission guidelines and applications can be found here. Proposals are due Wednesday, January 15, 2014.