The Steel Yard acts as a catalyst in the creative revitalization of the blighted Industrial Valley of Providence, RI. We work with area residents, businesses, and community groups in fostering the industrial arts and incubating small businesses, we seek to cultivate an environment of experimentation and a community strengthened by creative networks. As part of meeting this mission, the WVCB provides arts education, training, and other job force development resources in industrial and fine arts at its Steel Yard facility.

Located on the national historic register property that formerly housed Providence Steel and Iron, the Steel Yard's 9,000 square foot industrial shop features a ceramics cooperative, blacksmithing and welding shop, jewelry studio and glass fusing and slumping area as well as a full-equipped fabrication studio and extensive outdoor work and exhibition space. Since our incorporation in 2002, we have offered free industrial arts classes to low-income area students aged 13-18 and tuition-subsidized industrial arts community courses. Our Urban Furniture Department produces one-of-a-kind local-artist-produced street amenities for neighborhoods and communities across Rhode Island.

The Steel Yard also provides independent artists and trades people with access to workspace and specialized equipment through its Open Studios, the Ceramic Cooperative and low-cost studio rental opportunities. We foster micro-enterprise and small business incubation by providing entrepreneurs with the space and material resources needed to develop new products or commissions. We maintain an active jobs board that provides opportunities for private metalworkers to take on commissions that fall outside the scope of the Steel Yard’s Urban Furniture Program. Finally, the Steel Yard provides physical incubator space to a select number of paying and non-paying tenants including, among others, an architects’ collaborative focusing on green design, the non-profit Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and volunteer-run Recycle a Bike.

The Steel Yard

Join us in our appreciation for these companies who have donated to Action-Works an educational 501(c)(3) non-profit who brings Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) to our youth:

Stratom 
Interface Financial Corp 
SMGlobal 
Sum2 
Western Electronics