The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County will wrap up its Arts Around the Fire series for the season on Wednesday, April 15, with a conversation featuring Hilary Fagan, the new executive director of the Newport Restoration Foundation.

The free event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sardella’s Restaurant, 30 Memorial Blvd. West, Newport. No reservations are required.

Fagan, a Newport native, joins the Newport Restoration Foundation with a background in economic development, finance and energy.

Arts Around the Fire is a monthly networking event that brings together artists, writers, performers and audiences to discuss topics affecting the cultural community and share new ideas and artistic endeavors.

More information is available at newportarts.org.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...