Valerie Tutson
Title
Description
Valerie Tutson is an artist, storyteller, and arts administrator working in Providence, Rhode Island.
Tutson is Executive Director and co-founder of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers (also known as RIBS).<ref name=":0">Andrade, Kevin. "5 Women Honored With Pell Awards." Providence Journal (RI), 4 June 2019, p. 7. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=image/v2:1652098DCED03C80@AWNB-173D8990ADB80458@2458639-173D89A2DB4E13F7@6-173D89A2DB4E13F7@. Accessed 16 Dec. 2019.</ref> She is originator of, and a regular perfomer in, the annual storytelling festival and fundraiser for RIBS, Funda Fest.<ref>Smith, Andy. "Head's Up for Tales at Annual Funda Fest." Providence Journal (RI), 11 Jan. 2018, p. C1. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=image/v2:1652098DCED03C80@AWNB-1695CAD052B32E7B@2458130-1695CAD59D8A3693@27-1695CAD59D8A3693@. Accessed 17 Dec. 2019.</ref>
Tutson is an alumna of Brown University and studied theater at the university's Rites and Reason Theatre.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Klinkenberg, Liz. "At Rhode Island's Funda Fest, storytellers take center stage." Providence Journal: Web Edition Articles (RI), sec. Entertainmentlife, 11 Jan. 2017. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/163CED83610458C8. Accessed 17 Dec. 2019.</ref>
Awards
2019, Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts
2017, Rhode Island Council for the Humanities Public Humanities Scholar Award
2016, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Rhode Island Legacy Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pbn.com/big-brothers-big-sisters-marks-50-years-with-fundraiser115538/|title=Big Brothers Big Sisters marks 50 years with fundraiser|last=Gowdey-Backus|first=Emily|date=2016-07-08|website=Providence Business News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref>
2009, Rhode Island Foundation Sharon Chancellor Fellowship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pbn.com/rhode-island-foundation-names-12-brnonprofit-leaders-as-2009-fellows39730/|title=Rhode Island Foundation names 12 nonprofit leaders as 2009 Fellows|last=Staff|first=P. B. N.|date=2009-01-23|website=Providence Business News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref>