In 1994 Donald King – an artist and native of Providence, Rhode Island – had a vision. His vision involved producing and presenting “artistic performances inspired by the cultural traditions of the African Diaspora that bring people together, provoke thought, inspire hope, and create understanding.” Don began organizing artistic workshops locally and by 1996, The Providence Black Repertory Company, or Black Rep, was born. Over the course of nearly 15 years, Black Rep would transform its community, particularly in downtown Providence. What Black Rep did best was provide opportunities, particularly opportunities for artists and students of color and people without means to platform their work, hone their craft, and experience great art. If you’d like to learn what happened to the Black Rep during its lifetime, you can view the timeline of Black Rep’s life or interviews with former members of Black Rep. You can also view a large collection of images related to Black Rep in the photo gallery. If you’d like to learn more about the process of this project, you can visit the about page.