01:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 2, 2006

BY BRYAN ROURKE
Journal Staff Writer

Gallery Night Providence grows.

Yesterday, at Bert Gallery in Providence, the organization announced the start of its 10th season, one marked by change.

There are slick new brochures, an enhanced Web site, signs and flags, monthly themes, partnerships with local hotels, and nearly two dozen member galleries.

In 1996, there were nine galleries; now there are 23.

"As we've connected, we've become a community," said Paula Martiesian, co-president of the organization.

"We're like the United Nations," said Catherine Little Bert, the organization's other co-president. "You don't know what it's like to get 23 arts organizations together."

What started as an essentially downtown idea has spread to Providence's East Side and West Side. The venues vary from public to private spaces, museums to institutions large and small.

The common denominator is art appreciation. And it's free.

The third Thursday of every month, March through November, buses will shuttle people to the participating galleries, which this year will be marked by signs and flags. And galleries will be participating in monthly themes: history, heritage, architecture, etc.

The season begins March 16. The theme is "creative genius," a celebration of innovation.

Last year, according to Bert, Gallery Night attracted more than 15,000 participants; of those, 50 percent were first-timers to Providence or Gallery Night.

Naturally, hotels expressed interest. And now, three -- Hotel Providence, The State House Inn and the Courtyard Marriott in Warwick -- are offering special Gallery Night packages.

In the future, according to Bert, restaurants may offer Gallery Night promotions, too.

"We're an arts organization," she said. "It's interesting that we have all these non-arts organizations approaching us."

This month's Gallery Night highlights include "Set In Stone: Women Sculptors" at URI; paintings by Saberah Malik at Space at the Alice; and wall sculptures by Ken Horil at Providence College.

In addition to offering a view of art, Gallery Night member RISD Museum also will let you hear about it, and try your hand at it. The museum is offering a free art lesson from 5:30 to 8 p.m.; a gallery talk at 6:30 p.m. by Emily Peters on the museum's collection of 16th- and 17th-century drawings; live music 6:30 to 8 p.m.; and a presentation by an artist, Andrew Raftery, a RISD professor of printmaking, who will be talking about his engraving techniques.

Bob Colonna, an actor and director and lifelong supporter of the arts, will be leading a walking tour beginning at 6 p.m. from Citizens Plaza, behind which is one of eight free parking lots for the night. The participating galleries will be open from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit Gallery Night Providence's Web site, recently refurbished by A. Michelle of South Dartmouth, Mass.: www.gallerynight.info.

brourke@projo.com / (401) 277-7267