Veterans Memorial Auditorium or better known as the VMA Arts & Cultural Center is a venerable downtown venue. Construction began in 1928, but it wasn't finished until 1950 due to the Great Depression. Today, the 1900-seat theater is known for its fantastic acoustics, its stage and of course the beautifully decorated interiors. The National Register of Historic Places put it on the registry in 1993 and the adjoining Masonic Temple (now a Renaissance Hotel) is an equally poignant building.
AS220 is a non-profit venue that foments love for art in all its myriad forms. They have various resources open to the public, some are free, others require a nominal fee. Some of the workshops and classes include computer labs that teach programming languages, darkroom skills for DSLR Newbies and print shop techniques for traditional media purists. Additionally, inside this 22,000-square-foot building, visitors will find several galleries and a stage where local artists display their talents. There is always something new at AS220.
Providence has plenty to boast about, from big-city nightclubs and old-school party halls to retro cinemas and unique event venues. The Columbus Theater fits right into this list. Its large main auditorium holds 800 comfortably. It has 650 orchestra seats and 150 seats on the mezzanine level, respectively. Every seat has a great view of the stage so you won't miss a single detail and the acoustics are quite impressive. The second venue called the Cinematheque is more intimate with 200 seats.
In 1984, seven members of Trinity Rep Conservatory established this theater to bring high culture to the area. However, in 2003, the stage outgrew its former space and moved to a larger one in Pawtucket. The name is an homage from local benefactor Alan Shawn Feinstein to his sister, Sandra Feinstein-Gamm. Today, the stage is housed inside the historic and grandiose Pawtucket Armory. The armory still stands larger-than-life just as it did when it was built in 1894 and is an attraction even from the outside. Inside, the 131-seat venue is very intimate and the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center allows visitors in even if they don't have a ticket to view a show.