NRF promotes and invests in the architectural heritage of the Newport community, the traditional building trades, and Doris Duke’s fine and decorative arts collections, for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all.
As a leader in the preservation of early American architecture, NRF supports research and education in areas directly related to its collections and issues of critical concern to the field of historic preservation.
Visit Doris Duke’s art-filled mansion and enjoy panoramic ocean views from the extensive grounds. Open late March to November.
The Vernon House is a site for expansive story-telling, contemporary dialogue, and preservation trades skill-building.
Newport Restoration Foundation holds one of the largest collections of period architecture owned by a single organization anywhere in the United States.
Celebrate excellence in historic preservation efforts within the City of Newport, Rhode Island.
Live amidst history by renting one of our many historic properties.
Newport, RI — Newport Restoration Foundation has been awarded $71,212 from The 1772 Foundation for the planning of a historic building trades apprenticeship program. The 1772 Foundation, based in Pomfret, Connecticut, plays a leading role in promoting historic properties redevelopment programs. At its quarterly meeting, its trustees awarded HPRP grants totaling $1,169,162 to 16 recipients. Individual grants ranged in amounts from $15,000 to $105,000.
Foundation President Margaret Waldock stated, “The 1772 Foundation approved over $1.5 million in grants at its first quarterly meeting of 2021. This is the largest single grant round in our foundation’s thirty-five-year history, a demonstration of our commitment to increasing our grantmaking to help alleviate the stress of this pandemic on nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve, and to advancing social justice and environmental sustainability.”
Mark Thompson, NRF’s Executive Director, stated, “According to the Associated General Contractors of America, roughly 75% of construction firms in New England report having difficulty filling skilled craft positions. At the same time, we know that the youth unemployment rate in Rhode Island is high. By training young people in the historic trades, we hope to address two community concerns with one program. We are extremely grateful for the support of The 1772 Foundation in helping us to initiate this effort.”
The grant will support the hiring of an individual for one year to examine other programs around the country, establish a framework, work out the details of the program, and initiate the necessary partnerships. NRF plans to begin the development of the program in spring of this year.
UPDATE: To apply for the Trades Program Planner position, click here.
About the Newport Restoration Foundation
The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is a non-profit organization established by philanthropist Doris Duke in 1968 to preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of 18th and 19th century Newport. NRF promotes economic and community restoration through historic preservation initiatives like Keeping History Above Water, which addresses the impact of sea-level rise on the built environment in the wake of climate change, and the Historic Trades Initiative, which harnesses the knowledge of local specialists to train the next generation of preservation craftspeople. In addition to a collection of more than 70 colonial houses, now rented to tenant stewards, NRF operates properties that are open to the public —including Rough Point, the Newport home of Doris Duke, and The Vernon House, a site of expansive storytelling, contemporary dialogue, and preservation trades skill-building. NRF is on Facebook /NPTRestoration and Instagram @NPTRestoration. Visit newportrestoration.org for more information.
