The Bannister Community Art Project, led by members of the Providence Art Club (PAC). community leaders, and organizations in Rhode Island, was initiated to commemorate the life and legacy of the Black artist, Edward Mitchell Bannister, a founding member of the Providence Art Club. The project was launched in 2022 when artist Gage Prentiss proposed the creation of a life-sized sculpture that would memorialize Bannister in his role as a prominent member of the art community in Rhode Island. Under the auspices of PAC, the Bannister Community Art Project raised the funds for the completion of the sculpture, which now sits on a public bench by Market Square, looking out at the Providence River, sketching his wife, Christiana Carteaux Bannister in his sketchbook. The sculpture has inspired passersby to learn about this person and how his life and his art relate to our time.

The Bannister Community Art Project, utilizing the examples of both Edward and Christiana, has proven to be a catalyst for many programs and activities that speak to who this artist was and the significant contributions that he and his wife made during their lifetime. The success of BCAP can be seen in several community projects in his honor that continue to engage the public in dialogue that encourages community partnerships and cross-cultural relationships.