Thank you for joining us for Open Valley, an open studios concept launched by 50 Sims. Firstly, save the date, Open Valley will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 12:00 pm — 5:00 pm, plus some after party fun.

Each participating artist, studio, or larger studio complex is invited to do their own thing and make this day their own. Please note we are only including those studios, small businesses, and organizations operating in the Valley. Valley is bounded to the north by Chalkstone Avenue, to the east by Raymond Street, to the south by Harris Avenue and Atwells Avenue, and to the west by Academy Avenue. We love our neighbors in Olneyville, Federal Hill, Smith Hill, the East Side and beyond!

support + name behind open valley

Open Valley’s development is supported locally by Ben Sisto, an artist who lives in Providence.

Fun fact: in roofing, an “open valley” is a structural term — an essential part of building and protecting a home. It directs water safely, strengthens the structure, and ensures durability. In this way, it’s a form of framing. And that’s exactly what our artists need most: infrastructure, support, and visibility.

Organized by 50 Sims, for Everyone

Open Valley is supported in part by

sign up!

You may begin signing up now! This is a 5-minute form. Please confirm your participation by filling out our participant info form no later than March 8, 2026 11:59 pm. This deadline is critical for inclusion in promotional materials, social media, our website, etc. You can participate even if you miss this deadline however we cannot guarantee inclusion on marketing + wayfinding materials.

Have questions before confirming? Please reach out to Ben Sisto via events@50sims.com

SKIP TO SIGN UP FORM

benefits of participating

Together, we can grow our community, foster collaboration, promote public health, and advocate for improvements to civic infrastructure that benefit all artists, small businesses, and Valley residents. Valley is not a currently designated arts district, nor does it have a small business association. Open Valley is a tentpole event that showcases the creativity of The Creative Capital, offering participants increased visibility and voice to ensure future development here happens (or doesn’t) in ways that maximize the quality of life in Valley for as many people as possible. We hope this serves as an opportunity to connect neighbors and make friends, to build and strengthen networks, and for people to see great art.

after you
sign up

Once you submit your Open Valley Participation Form, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Ben Sisto. It will come from events@50sims.com. After that, expect event updates directly via email. You won’t be over-emailed. Messages will go out around things like printer posters being available, getting ready leading up to the event, etc.

Ben will also introduce the social media team for 50 Sims, who will follow up to see if you’re interested in being featured on one of our channels. Due to capacity we can’t promise a feature for every participant but, we’ll do our best!

contributions

We’re encouraging participants to chip in what they can. Funds will be used to offset the cost of printing posters, paying a poster artist, hiring a few photographers, and other basic production needs. We’re suggesting $25-$50 for those who can swing it; no one will be turned away due to a lack of funds.

We are unable to accept cash donations. We will accept personal checks, PayPal or Credit Card. Let us know on the Participant Form if you’d like to support and we’ll follow up with the appropriate info. Thank you in advance for the support and consideration.

Note: No dollars here are going to 50 Sims or Ben Sisto. 100% of funds, less any processing fees, go back into supporting future Open Valley events.

day-of
& prep

Expect a busy day! Consider having some extra staff / volunteers / friends to help with guest interactions, sales, and to give you time to enjoy the event itself. 50 Sims’ own team will primarily be on site at 50 Sims supporting our tenants. Each individual building is responsible for ensuring there are clean restrooms, plenty of trash cans, cleaning supplies, and whatever else is needed. Talk to your in-building friends and form collectives of volunteers with specific assigned tasks to ensure a super easy flow.

Feel free to get creative with demonstrations, food, drinks, retail, music, and more! Each space offers a unique experience, so make it your own. Or, just kind of stand around and see what conversations naturally arise. Be sure to let us know about any demos or activities in the form.

run of show

11:00 AM
Come by the 50 Sims’ Welcome Center, check in, and grab your balloon

11:30 AM
Please be at your studio so we are 100% ready to go on time

11:45 AM
Have the balloon hung outside your door, indicating participation

12:00 PM
The event starts! People will start making the rounds, visiting studios

05:00 PM
The event technically “ends” but, stay and chat as long as you wish

05:00 PM
Some “after party” happenings may happen; TBD

wayfinding

Our amazingly talented friend Jules Kang Sharpe over at Binch Press / Queer.Archive.Work is designing and printing physical maps. Each studio building will have a stack, and there will be plenty at the Welcome Center at 50 Sims. Due to space constraints, maps may not list every individual participant’s exact location–but each participating building will be called out. The map will contain a QR code that links to our website with more detailed info.

Individual studio buildings are encouraged to get creative with exterior signage, from sandwich boards to whatever can be dreamt up.

helping promote

Digital Promotion

Participants will be listed here on our website: 50sims.com/open-valley
Share the signup form (this page) and/or the visitor RSVP (the landing page)
We will be sharing a digital asset pack (flyers, social media stuff, etc) in early March
We are using the hashtag #openvalleypvd
50 Sims is on IG at instagram.com/50simsri
50 Sims website is 50sims.com

Physical Promotion

We will have posters closer to the event. Can you help us hang them? Do you want some for your door, studio, favorite coffee shop? Please email Ben to coordinate. We appreciate it!

Press Outreach

If you have friends in the media you think might cover Open Valley, please reach out to Ben first, and as appropriate we’ll ask for an intro. This includes situations where an outlet may be covering you specifically, with Open Valley as a backdrop. We won’t slow things down, or tell you what to say. Just good to have all this for the archives and future marketing efforts.

weather, parking, accessibility

This event will take place rain or shine.

Participating studios and artists are encouraged to arrive early and park as usual; there will be no additional reserved parking.

Each building offers varying levels of accessibility. We will note accessibility details in our marketing materials to the best of our ability. Please make sure we have accurate information regarding ramp and elevator locations, as well as any potential obstructions that could make entry challenging. Please also be mindful that studio standards vary — from pristine to more working-in-progress spaces. If an artist requests no wet shoes inside, we ask that you kindly respect their preference.

after hours

We “wrap up” at 5:00 pm. At this time, our friends at New Harvest (on Sims Ave) are celebrating a new art installation that starts in the coffee shop and spills out into the walls of Farm Fresh RI. They’ll be offering cocktail service and tunes, so head on over to show your support.

Sims Ave is also home to several great spots for wetting one’s whistle. The Industrious Spirits Company and Buttonwoods Brewery are both open. Bounce around and create your own after-party! As you do, please be careful crossing streets and don’t block local traffic!

Participant Sign Up Form

**If you sign up but do not provide an image, we will not make assumptions and pull random images from your feeds.

Acknowledgments

“[Valley] is built on the ancestral homelands of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Indigenous people from many tribes and nations—near and far—live, study and work in Providence today. The amplification of Native voices and histories is crucial to rectifying the many violent legacies of colonialism, and we gratefully acknowledge the ongoing critical contributions of Indigenous people across our state, region and nation.”

This land acknowledgement was developed by RISD in consultation with representatives of local tribes; more can be read about their research and process here.

Open Valley is inspired by, and in debt to the countless artists, studios, and community organizers who’ve done similar projects here in the past at Nicholson File, The Wurks, The Steel Yard, and beyond. Thank you for building something so special in Valley; we hope to honor those efforts and keep the tradition alive.

Still Here, Gaia, 2018. Image via The Avenue Concept

Photo & Press Policy

We welcome photography and media coverage, including blogs and social accounts. If you’re a professional or professional-leaning media member, please give us a heads-up so we can notify our team and support you.

Please check in with studios, artists, and guests before documenting, as some works may be in progress or sensitive. We also encourage everyone to take breaks from phones, be present, and consider how documenting affects others’ comfort.

50 Sims has two professional photographers capturing Open Valley. By participating, you consent to these photos being used for marketing or promotional purposes across platforms. Mostly, we’ll share them on socials and for event promotion. If you’d prefer not to be photographed, just let the photographers know—they’re kind and will respect your comfort.

Participant info

welcome!