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Updated 3/19/2024

THE STEEL YARD

  • R

    RI

Institution/Business Type: School of the Arts

The Steel Yard offers arts and technical training programs designed to increase opportunities for cultural and artistic expression, career-oriented training, and small business incubation. Primarily, it is a professional industrial shop, allowing for community access to equipment for welding, blacksmithing, jewelry, ceramics and the foundry arts. In the evenings and weekends the facility is used for training and educational programs, in all of our core disciplines and throughout the year plays host to numerous free demonstrations and events. 

Our campus is located on the National Historic Register site of Providence Steel and Iron, along the Woonasquatucket River in the heart of Providence's Industrial Valley. To further our mission of community revitalization and small business incubation, our 12,000 sf studio workshop is programmed year round in a variety of ways. The Steel Yard has created paying jobs for artists and fabricators, and supported creative expression and beautification, for neighborhoods and communities statewide by producing artist-made public amenities including trash cans, bike racks and benches. Each year, a portion of these projects are completed during paid, on-the-job training courses for local youth. 

Since they began in 2008, the Weld-to-Work programs have graduated more than 80 at-risk 18-24 year olds. The Steel Yard's signature mix of the industrial arts, shop safety training and community engagement has a 90% graduation rate and clearly demonstrates how a creative lesson plan can inspire personal and professional growth. The Steel Yard’s two-acre site is a great destination for your conference, reception, meeting or performance. The outdoor space is available between April and October each year. The Steel Yard’s work is made possible through a combination of program-related earned income, private and government grants, corporate giving and individual philanthropy. 

Find Me

Adam Chuong
Job Title: Education Director
Address:
27 Sims Avenue
Providence, RI 02909

Social Media:

Additional Content:

  • Courses at The Steel Yard

    Take a course at The Steel Yard and join the culture that strives for a world made by hand!

  • Sign up for The Steel Yard's monthly newsletter!

    Be among the first to know about all things related to The Steel Yard: News, application openings, course releases, and more!

  • Hire The Steel Yard for your Public Projects!

    TSY’s Public Projects dept. works directly with municipalities, neighborhood organizations, businesses and nonprofits to design, fabricate and install custom artwork. Our Team will guide you through every step of the process from concept to installation.

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

School of the Arts

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Independent

Year Founded:

2003

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

School of the Arts

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Independent

Year Founded:

2003

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Visual/Crafts - General

Additional Disciplines:

  • Visual/Crafts - Sculpture

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Design Services
  • Manufacturing / Fabrication
  • Public Art Projects (In Free, Public Spaces)
  • Residency - Other
  • Venue Rental
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
  • Community Arts
  • Exhibitions
  • Artist Market

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Artists
  • Businesses
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • LGBTQ Populations
  • Nonprofits
  • People with Disabilities
  • School Groups
  • Teens
  • Youth-At-Risk

Languages Available:

  • English

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility
  • Access accommodations for people who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Venues for Rent/Use

The Steel Yard
Venue Address: 27 Sims Ave Providence, RI 02909
Venue Phone: 401-273-7101
Venue Type: Park
Venue Capacity: 1500
Venue Accessibility: Facility is physically accessible (such as parking, entrances, accessible restrooms, seating, backstage). Accessible website and/or multimedia for people with sensory disabilities.
Stage Details: Thrust Stage
Venue Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Venue Features: Outdoor Stage, WiFi
Additional Comments: Located deep in the heart of Providence’s historic ‘Industrial Valley' the Steel Yard’s two-acre site is a great destination for your conference, reception, meeting or performance. The site is available between April and October each year.