The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County brought together the local arts community for its annual “Raise Up the Arts” event on Wednesday, June 25, celebrating outstanding contributions to the region’s cultural landscape.
Held at the Atlantic Pavilion at the Wyndham Newport Hotel in Middletown, the evening event drew supporters from across Newport County for an evening of recognition, performance, and fundraising from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The celebration opened with piano music by Kristine Langello, who Chris Vaillancourt joined for several musical selections. Outgoing Chair Susan Woythaler welcomed guests before Master of Ceremonies Andrea McHugh guided the evening’s program.
Award Recipients Recognized
Four awards were presented to recognize excellence in the local arts community:
The Tinney Family Arts Scholarship went to Aidan Chen, a Portsmouth resident and recent Portsmouth High School graduate, supporting his continued artistic education.
The 2025 Artist Award was presented to Revka Hovermale of “Revka Dance,” recognizing her contributions to the local dance community.
The Dominique Award honored Elizabeth Delude-Dix for her work in the arts.
The LeRoy White “Soul & Conscience” Award was given to Newport performer Chelley Knight, who delighted the audience with a vocal performance alongside guitarist Chris Vaillancourt following the presentation.
Silent Auction Supports Future Programs
A silent auction held during the event will help fund the ACA’s ongoing scholarship and award programs. Local cultural institutions and businesses contributed items to support the cause, including the Audrain Automobile Museum, Belcourt of Newport, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Jamestown Arts Center, Moore Blooms, Newport Art Museum, Newport Classical, Newport Contemporary Ballet, Newport Restaurant Group, Newport String Project, Preservation Society of Newport County, Puddingstone Music Festival, and the Wyndham Hotel: Newport.
New Leadership Takes Charge
The evening concluded with newly elected Chair Terry Dickinson presenting each award winner with a Rhode Island citation recognizing their contributions to the state’s arts and culture. The citation was facilitated by Representative Lauren Carson of District 75.
The ACA’s newly elected Executive Board for the 2025-2026 season includes Chair Terry Dickinson, Vice-Chair Katarina Diepholz, Secretary Julia Boron, Treasurer Warren McAuliffe, and Past-Chair Susan Woythaler. The board of directors consists of Dominique Alfandre, Christine Cocca, Shauna Maguire, Nycole Matthews, Nancy McAuliffe, Miki Ohlsen, Harle Tinney, Lori Turner, and Joseph Walewski.
The organization is already planning events for the coming season, with the 2026 “ACA Raise Up the Arts” event scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
